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How to start an adventure with a board and what should a beginner snowboarder pay attention to? Snowboarding instructor Michał Starkowski tells about which board to choose, what mistakes are the most common causes of injuries and why it is not worth being afraid of ski lifts.

Where to start my snowboarding adventure? What to pay attention to when choosing the equipment?

MS:The key element is physical condition, so it is worth taking care of it at least a few weeks before going to the slope. Be sure to pay special attention to leg strengthening exercises, which play a significant role in skateboarding.

Equipment, if you are at the beginning of your adventure with snowboarding, I recommend renting it. This way, you do not risk spending money, and the board will turn out to be something that does not turn you on, however. However, if you decide to buy equipment, it is worth investing in better used equipment: it will last longer than a new one of poor quality.

When choosing equipment, first of all, you should pay attention to its condition, but not the appearance of the top of the board, as we usually do. The most important category is not whether we like it visually or not, but its bottom (glide). Check for any tears or cavities. The holes near the edge of the board are especially dangerous. The second important thing that we need to pay attention to is whether the board is delaminated.

If you want to try snowboarding, you don't have to buy all the equipment right away. You can rent not only snowboard equipment, but also the entire outfit.

If you are not sure yet whether the snowboard is really for you, you can buy a used board that is slightly delaminated on the front or back of it. However, you should be aware that a board in this condition will only give you pleasure from descents for one or two weeks.

In addition to choosing a good board, you should also pay attention to the bindings - the buckles must not jam. If this is the case, it will make it very difficult to use the equipment comfortably.

Another element of snowboarder's equipment are boots that must be perfectly fitted, comfortable and warm. What is also important - they should stiffen the ankle well.

Plus of coursethere is appropriate clothing, i.e. waterproof pants, a decent jacket with a moisture-impermeable membrane, a helmet, goggles and very important - decent gloves .

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How to choose the best board for you? What types of boards are there?

MS:First, we need to specify what the board is for. Generally, we can distinguish three types of boards.

The first isfreestyle boards , characterized by the fact that they are wide and very stable. They have a symmetrical construction that allows driving in any direction. As a result, they are easy to maneuver and are considered the best boards for beginners (they are soft, so they forgive the beginner rider's mistakes). They are intended mainly for riding in snow parks. We choose this type of board by placing it vertically in front of us and checking its length, which should be in the range from the shoulders to the chin.

Another type isfreeride boards . They are quite wide, and due to the different type of binding, they are perfect for riding on powder. In this case, it is checked that the board is in the range from the nose to the forehead of the snowboarder.

And third- alpine boards , i.e. hard (they are narrow, long). First of all, they are intended for riding on hard, prepared slopes. These boards are perfect for lovers of fast driving and sharp turns. Here, depending on whether it is a slalom board or a gigantic board, its length in the first case should be in the range from the neck to the nose, in the second - from the nose to the forehead.

Another important element arebindings , which can be divided into hard, soft and so-called stepin. For beginners, I definitely recommend the soft ones, which are mostly fastened with straps. This gives the board the greatest flexibility, so you can use it for freestyle. Hard bindings are designed for fast descents and sharp turns. They give the greatest control over the board, but are recommended for people with more experience. And the last one - stepin shoes, make it easier to attach the shoe, but they must be associated with a specific model of shoes. Nevertheless, these bindings do not have a positive effect on driving control. For this, they are often not used due to incompatibility.

It is widely believed that snowboarding is more difficult and dangerous than skiing. Is it really so?

MS:In my opinion, it is just the opposite. In the case of learning to skate, the first days are the worst, when we learn to fall or stand up properly, but then progress ismuch faster than with skis. Of course, as in any sport - there is a risk of injury.

While skiing, the most vulnerable to injuries are the knees and ligaments, while snowboarding - the wrists and shoulders. That is why it is so important to listen to the instructor carefully from the very beginning and follow the rules on the slope.

Speaking of safety, it is impossible not to mention the helmet. This is the basis, regardless of whether an adult or a child is riding. Another protection are pads, for example, on the wrists, knees, etc. Do you have to put them on? There are two schools of thought when it comes to the usefulness of wrist protectors. One says to use them, the other says not necessarily, because then the hand breaks elsewhere. For my part, what I can do is learn to fall safely - when you fall, try to lower your center of gravity as quickly as possible. It is in fact one of the most proven and safe "protectors".

What mistakes do novice snowboarders most often make?

MS:The most common mistake is speeding and overestimating your skills. Many people think that after a few lessons they are great and already know everything, and thus choose routes completely unsuited to their abilities. And while driving, it turns out that they are out of control and cause an accident.

The second common cause of injury is ignorance of the safety rules on the slope, e.g. the basis is to look up while driving in a cut, or even to look around when starting in a group to see if no one is coming.

What else beginner snowboarders should pay attention to is the way we fall. Remember not to roll over on your hands. This type of support may result in serious injury or fracture.

Another irregularity, also very common, is improper clothing, which, after a long stay in the snow, may cause the body to cool down. It is similar with mismatched shoes or poor quality gloves, which may cause frostbite to the fingers.

What to look for when choosing a snowboarding instructor and how many lessons should you buy at the beginning?

MS:It can be very difficult for us to choose an instructor, so at the beginning it is worth going with a proven and reliable company for an organized trip, as part of which we have already provided training. If, on the other hand, we want to look for ourselves, let's read internet forums, opinions on social channels, ask our friends.

Let's also pay attention to whetherthe instructor chosen by us has valid SITS qualifications (Association of Snowboard Instructors and Trainers), because this (in principle) guarantees a higher quality of teaching than other types of qualifications issued by independent schools.

As far as the number of lessons is concerned, it cannot be clearly specified. Some people will be able to slide down after just two hours, others will need five hours to learn the same skills.

We often hear: "I'm too old to start skateboarding." Are there really any age limits to start snowboarding?

MS:It's never too late to learn snowboarding. I saw really mature people who were just starting their adventure with the board and were doing very well. It does not matter age, but physical fitness; whether we are able to get up without any problems or safely fall down.

What are the most common problems novice snowboarders face?

MS:The orc is a bane of beginners. Virtually no snowboarder likes the T-bar lift, but contrary to appearances, it is a great method of learning to snowboard, during which we learn to control and properly load the board. Therefore, there is nothing to be afraid of, you just have to try. Among other problems that beginner snowboarders have to deal with are leg or muscle pain caused by poorly selected equipment or technical errors.

Another thing is the fact that our clothes are not adapted to the prevailing weather conditions, sometimes we are cold, sometimes too hot.

Of course, the biggest problem is all kinds of falls, collisions, etc. That's why I always urge everyone to wear a helmet.

Especially at the beginning of learning to snowboard, you have to remember that it is very easy to catch the so-called the opposite edge, which creates a very large force, acting as a catapult, which can hit your head in the snow.

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Winter sports