What is snowboarding? Facts and Tips
There are many sports listed under “extreme” sports and I admit that many of them are indeed extreme. But if you take a closer look to what is snowboarding, then you may discover interesting facts, such as that this sport has a level of extremeness depending on what you choose to do while snowboarding.
So, what is snowboarding? It is a winter sport that generally implies descending a slope from mountains covered with natural or artificial snow, using a snowboard attached to the feet with ties and boots. Those who practice this sport are called snowboarders or boarders. It was inspired by skateboarding, surfing (windsurfing) and ski, some tricks being borrowed from one sport to another. Still, those who ski well are not necessarily good snowboarders, because these two sports are different and involve different moves. For example, the balance in snowboarding is moved to the heels, while in skiing the balance changes from one foot to another. A video posted at the end of the document will show you better what is snowboarding.
What style of snowboarding fits you?
The style you want to practice will affect the way you will descend, the equipment you need to buy and the places you want to practice. The most common styles are: freeride, freestyle and freecarve or alpine.
Freeride is the most practiced style of the three. It implies: descending any type of slope, it can include different tricks in the air or on various ramps (borrowed from freestyle) and carving (similar to the alpine style).
Freestyle: it is practiced usually in snowpacks by performing the different tricks on rails, boxes, half-pipes, quarter-pipes, etc. (it involves man made terrain, as diverse and innovative as possible).
Alpine: it has three branches – all-mountain, freecarve, race). I will discuss the all-mountain style here. It is a style best defined by the great downhill speed, involving only descending without tricks. It is very similar to skiing.
The equipment
If you want to know what is snowboarding, you cannot do that unless you get a minimal idea on the equipment used: snowboard, boots and bindings as the basics. Don’t forget clothes – waterproofed and a bit large to let you move, goggles and protections (for knees, elbows and casket). Of course, there are different accessories to buy, but only after you decide if you like this sport or not.
Some snowboarding tips regarding the equipment
When you choose the board, its length it is not influenced by the rider’s height (as it happens in skiing), but by their weight.
The boots must be very tight so that they can be easily controlled.
Some last advice, although you will learn what is snowboarding only by practicing it. Snowboarding is as safe or unsafe as you make it. Although you are permanently exposed to a certain amount of risk, the majority of problems arise from piloting errors. Pay attention to the slope. Be in control of your snowboard. Don’t go to prohibited or dangerous areas. Make a fair assessment of your limits and try to go beyond them on a step by step basis. Some learn faster than others. Learn at your own pace!












