3 Different Types of Snowboarding

Snowboarding Freestyle

So you’ve gotten off the couch and away from the snowboarding games on XBox and have finally made the transition to become a real snowboarder. You’ve got the equipment (hey, even if it’s used), you’ve got the gear, and you’ve got the season pass. You’ve taken a few lessons and you’re really starting to make progress.

Where do you go from here?

Well, if you really plan on developing your skills as a snowboarder, you’ve got to avoid a plateau. The “plateau” typically happens after a novice has developed his/her way to intermediate skills and finds snowboarding much more enjoyable. What’s the problem here? The fun you’re having can often make you forget about some of the earlier struggles, and instead of growing and working on your skill set, you plateau.

Luckily, there’s a way to avoid this plateau. You’ve got to figure out what kind of snowboarder you would like to be, and then pursue that avenue with the same vigor you had as a beginner. This will help you crush through the plateau and become an even more efficient, agile, and spectacular snowboarder.

Here are three different types of snowboarding to pursue:

-Freestyle:

Freestyle snowboarding is pretty self-explanatory, and there’s a pretty good chance you’ve already been doing this. Freestyling usually is tied to the skateboarding roots of snowboarding, such as doing tricks on a half-pipe as you improvise your own ride. Freestyling also might simply refer to taking a run down a hill and enjoying the scenery, perhaps showcasing some of your talent, but having no specific goal in mind.

-Racing:

Snowboard racing is much more intense and sometimes more competitive than freestyling, as you’re finally pitting yourself against other snowboarders to see who is the fastest. Racing can be a discipline in snowboarding that really amps your skills up to a whole new level, and if you’re really serious about becoming a great snowboarder, this is probably the discipline for you.

-Mountain:

Mountain snowboarding is similar to freestyling, but with an even less formal edge to it: you’re not looking to perform tricks for an adoring crowd, but simply board for yourself. An “All-Mountain” snowboarder might look for different scenery to conquer, but typically isn’t looking to become the fastest or the flashiest snowboarder on the trail.

What discipline sounds most like you? Are you highly competitive (racing)? Do you enjoy the flashier tricks and maybe showing off a bit (freestyle)? Or are you only on the hills to dabble, enjoy the scenery, and get off the couch (mountain)? Once you pick your style, you can really focus your skills and make some huge improvements.

Photo Credits: MunsterNet

Originally posted 2009-03-24 05:15:05.

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