Beginner Tips
Pretty soon, you'll be ready to ride with the pros. To help get you started, I've listed some tips for first timers and those who've gone and are ready to advance.

Stance

When you first start snowboarding you'll end up doing a hill slide all the way down the mountain. Once you begin to get comfortable on your snowboard though, you'll begin to put one foot forward. This will become your "dominant" foot, like how you use one hand more than the other. It'll probably be the foot you land with in front the most and will help you when you start learning backside tricks.

Regular foot is putting your left foot forward. Riding with the right foot is called goofy (really).

Here area few ways to help you decide. These will give you an idea, but you'll have to go on the slopes to be sure:

• Run and jump like you are about to slide across ice. Whatever foot you went forward with you should try.

• Lay down like you are about to do a pushup. Jump up reall fast and put one foot forward. Try this foot. If you do both of these and end up using both feet, do them a couple of times each and see if you use one foot more.

Keep in mind that some people can ride good both ways. If you're having trouble picking regular or goofy you'll either have to deal with your talent to be able to go both ways, or force yourself to pick one.

First Time

When you go out for your first time you're going to be on your but a lot (but it's still fun). Here are some tips to get you down the hill:

• Bend your knees and try to center your weight over your snowboard.

• Try to controll your speed without falling. Slow down by leaning back on your heels. Concentrate on what your legs are doing and learn to balance while leaning on your heels.

• Try to put your dominant foot forward. This will get you going in a straight direction. To learn to turn, see the intermediate section of tips.

Stopping

Once you learn to get going down the hill, you'll need to master stopping at the end. You can stop from sliding down the hill on your heels by just leaning on your heels. When you start putting a foot forward, learn to stop without falling on your butt.

• Using your back foot, try to turn the board. Get it to a position like you're going to slide down on your heels, and now stop.

• Once you learn to use your back foot for turning, you'll be ready to try leaning on your toe edge.

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