If you are looking for a new hobby or sport to try, why not consider snowboarding?
Snowboarding is an exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping sport that many people want to try but don’t know how to get started.
Riding on the slopes of the mountain is a great way to enjoy nature, but what if you can’t make it up to the mountains? Luckily there’s a solution! This article will show you how easy and fun it can be to practice snowboarding at home in 6 straightforward steps.
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How To Practice Snowboarding At Home
Snowboarding is a sport that requires skill, patience, and persistence. Although you can take a snowboarding trip to the slopes to practice honing your skills, it may not be possible for everyone.
Fortunately, there are other ways that you can build your snowboarding skills right from home and reduce the chance of injury when doing the real thing. If this is something you are interested in, read on to find out how you can start practicing at home.
Exercising at Home
If you have the time and space, practicing at home is a good way to start. You can invest in some pieces of equipment or repurpose your existing gear for this purpose.
If you are short on space, here are four exercises that don’t require much room or extra equipment but will help improve balance and coordination skills required for snowboarding:
Hopping
Try to jump over an object such as a pillow or book while standing on one leg. This will help improve the balance and coordination skills required for snowboarding.
Step-ups onto a Chair or Box
Place your right foot on top of something elevated like a low table, step stool, or even chair. Then step up with the right foot and bring your left leg next to it. Step back down with the same leg that you used for stepping up. Repeat this process a couple of times but now use the opposite feet, so do a few reps on each side.
Push-ups
Doing push-ups on a comfortable surface helps improve body strength in the arms needed for snowboarding as well as core muscles. Plyometric exercises are also great for building strength.
Trunk rotations
Be in a standing position with feet shoulder-width apart. Make sure your back is straight and core engaged. Rotate at the waist to one side as far as you can go comfortably, hold for five seconds, and rotate slowly towards the other direction on count three. Repeat this process ten times on each side.
Jumping Jacks
Jumping jacks help improve a combination of endurance, core strength, and balance abilities required for snowboarding. If jumping jacks are not something you’re used to doing at home or can’t do because of a medical condition or risk of injury, avoid this exercise and try one of the others.
Using a Balance Board for Practicing
If you have some space in your home and would like to purchase some safety gear specifically for snowboarding practice, there are a few things that can be helpful. A balance board is a good investment as it helps improve balance which is key when learning how to snowboard.
You can use the balance board for other exercises such as those mentioned above or even just standing on it and rocking from side to side. This will help improve your balance, poses and skills so that when you hit the slopes, you’ll be able to stay on your feet more easily.
If you are interested in trying out exercises that use a snowboard training board to help improve your snowboarding skills, here is what you can do:
- Start by standing on the edge of the balance board with feet hip-width apart. Make sure there is enough space for both feet since they need to be shoulder-length apart when you’re doing the snowboarding maneuver.
- Get into your stance and bend your knees slightly while leaning forward a bit. Make sure that when you do this, there is no board between your feet; they need to be shoulder-length apart at all times during this exercise.
- Place one hand in front of you on the ground for balance and slowly slide the other foot to the back of the board. Keep your toes pointed down towards the ground and hold this position for five seconds.
- Next, slide that same foot back up to the front of the balance board while keeping your toes pointed down. Remember to keep your hands in front of you for balance.
- Finally, slide the back foot up to the front of the board and then quickly step off with that same foot.
You can also do this exercise while standing on one leg if you’re feeling adventurous or have a better balance that way. As you get better at these exercises, try to increase the number of repetitions you do and the length of time for each repetition. This will improve your boarding skills even more and make a huge difference when you get out on the slopes.
Watch Snowboarding Videos and Movies
In addition to practicing at home, you can also watch snowboard instructional videos and movies. This will give you a better idea of what you’re doing when you hit the slopes.
It’s always helpful to see things in action before trying them out yourself. Not only will this help your skills improve, but it’ll be more enjoyable too. It is also great mental practice for competitions.
There are a variety of different snowboarding videos and movies out there that cater to all levels of riders. If you’re just starting out, there are plenty of snowboard instructor videos that can help teach you the basics.
Once you have those down, move on to watching more advanced videos that will take your skills to the next level. There are also some videos that are just for entertainment and not meant to help you learn how to snowboard, so watch out for those
Use a Simulator to Practice
One way to practice snowboarding is by using a simulator. There are many different types of simulators on the market, but they all work in a similar way. You strap yourself into the machine and it will move you around as if you were on the slopes.
This is great for practicing your turns and learning how to control your speed. You can also try out new aerial tricks and learn how to land properly.
One popular simulator is the Halfpipe Trainer on MX Simulator. This allows you to practice on a half-sized pipe at your own pace, so you can slide along it as if downhill skiing or snowboarding without having to go down an actual hill.
You simply push yourself around with your feet. Another popular simulator is the Snowboarder Xtreme. This simulates real snowboarding, complete with bumps and jumps. It’s great for practicing how to adjust your speed as you go down different slopes which increases your chances of grabbing extra points along the way.
Practice Other Board Sports
If you’re looking to improve your boarding skills, practicing other board sports can also help. This is because they all use similar muscle groups and techniques. Skiing is a great sport to practice if you want to improve your snowboarding as it will help with your balance skills.
Surfing is another great option to train your balance as it will give you a better idea of how to control your speed and become a balance master. Board sports are also a great way to get outside during the winter months when it is too cold or icy to hit the bunny slopes.
You can practice this sport in your backyard, snowboard parks, or neighborhood allowing you to enjoy snowboarding year-round. Plus, they’re all great workouts that will get your heart pumping and burn some serious calories.
Get on the Actual Snowboard
The best way to practice snowboarding is by getting on the actual snowboard. This will give you a feel for how it moves and how to control it, getting you ready for the real thing. It’s also a great way to test out new box tricks you’ve been working on.
If you’re not comfortable going down a hill just yet, try practicing in an open area where you can easily stop.
While on the board, practice bending your knees and squatting. This will help you stay in control when you start to pick up speed. You should also practice turning while on the board. This can be done by shifting your weight to one side or the other, or by leaning into the turn.
Conclusion
The best way to learn snowboarding is by going out and practicing it in the real world, but there are some ways you can practice your skills without having to go outside in snowy weather. The most important thing is that you get on the board and start moving even if it’s just in your living room.
Remember that the more time and effort you put into it now, the better off you will be when hitting the slopes for real. It’s never too early or late to learn some new tricks. We hope this article has been helpful in giving you all the information on how to practice snowboarding at home to help you ultimately succeed on the snowy ground.