Tag Archives: Advance snowboard lesson

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How To Actively Snowboard Bumpy Terrain & Moguls

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There are perfect conditions for snowboarding and wakeboarding. Lakes are glass when there aren’t many boats out and there’s no wind to make the water choppy. In snowboarding we get fresh powder or the snow gets groomed but can get bumpy when folks turn and push the snow around. We need to be able to Absorb & Ride Bumpy Terrain. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snake Course, Snowboarding Chutes, Building A Race Course, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

We learn how to snowboard on flat groomed terrain with a gradual slope. After you get comfortable with this terrain step up to steeper slopes. When there is more of an incline you gain more speed. This steeper terrain requires you to turn more to keep your speed in control. On powder days snow is pushed around much more and easy blue slopes that were groomed in the morning might have moguls to start forming in a very short time. You will have to be able to navigate this bumpy terrain to get down. If you use some basic movements and can survey the terrain you’ll do fine.

When I’m teaching students how to ride moguls I choose good terrain. I like to start on blue groomers and get them to start developing rhythm. There are different types of movement patterns and some are better than others in certain situations. Check out Dynamic Flex & Extend Movements For Snowboarding to get a better idea about what I’m referring to. After students are moving their bodies dynamically I can get them off piste. I choose blue terrain that has moguls on one side and is groomed on the other. This way they can try to ride bumps and if they’re not getting it they can jump back onto the groomed terrain.

I like to use Active Absorption Versus Passive Absorption. I will actively lift my front leg up as I approach a bump and then push it down as I go over it and do the same with my back foot. You really want to use independent foot steering, flexing and extending your legs. One might be extended while the other is flexed. It is a good workout to ride moguls. If I only have a short time to ride and want to burn the most calories I ride the moguls. Moving more creates more energy. If you want to be cruisy stay on the groomers and if you’re looking to be more aggressive get off piste and into the bumps. 

Look down the hill and try to plan your line at least 5 turns in advance. I like to just follow the fall line or gravity and choose the path of water or the least amount of resistance. I will change edges across the fall line and will turn uphill to bleed off speed. Snowboarders and skiers both make moguls but because they are faced downhill with narrow skis and boarders are sideways with wider boards we ride the bumps a bit differently. I turn on the bump using it as a berm. I can ride moguls like a skier or a zipper line but my upper body gets out of alignment on my toeside edge and this can cause injury. I prefer to stay stacked over my board finishing my turns in alignment. I plan ahead and if they are obstacles I have no problem avoiding them and keeping my flow.

You should work on being consistent in your turn shape staying on your toeside as long as you stay on your heelside. It will take some practice to get these movements fine tuned. You might get it right away or it might take you a long time but keep with it. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Improve Your Snowboard Skills By Riding The Snake Course

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One of the best ways to improve your race skills is to Build & Ride The Snake Course. Turning over and over in the same spot pushes the snow and creates a berm or banked slalom course. This is a great way to improve your skills! Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Building A Race Course, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

I have a video that gives some Tips On Building A Race Course that is similar to a snake course. The big difference is that a snake course requires several riders to turn in the same place to move the snow. This is what happens on steeper slopes. This is how we create moguls or bumps. Peeps turn in the same place pushing the snow into mounds. Skiers and snowboarders have a slightly different timing when turning. The ski is much more narrow than a snowboard is. It takes a ski less time to go from edge to edge. A snowboard is wider so we ride moguls a wee bit different. We turn on the bump and avoid the trench. Turning in the same place will create a trench and that’s way in races they have folks slip the course to fill in those trenches so it stays smooth.

The snake course is for someone that is more of an advanced rider. Start by riding a race course and once you feel good doing that then we can step it up by riding a snake course. It’s easy to create a snake course when the snow is softer. I see these courses pop up when the weather warms up. It will only take a couple runs if you have a larger crew helping to shape it. It’s great to go out with other riders that are at your level or better than you so that they push your limits. If you like to snowboard, find a crew that will go out and rip with you. You’ll get better when you are riding with advanced riders on steeper terrain.

Get dynamic when you snowboard the snake course. I talk about this in Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend if you are wondering what I’m talking about. The snake will really get you to vary your Timing, Intensity and Duration. TID will create a different rhythm when you snowboard. Try to turn every 3 or 4 seconds so that your turn shape is the same on both edges. This will create symmetrical turns and people behind you can predict when you turn. After you can make turns in rhythm, get more dynamic and you’ll be more of an efficient snowboarder. Get low and extend through your turn. This will let you flow and ride the bump or berm. 

I like to turn in the same place to make a snake course but I can also create jumps by doing this. I teach on the beginner slope and it’s nice to create some features that I can jump and spin off of. Making the lips, berm and bumps can turn plain terrain into more advanced terrain. This will help to take your riding to the next level. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Why Alta Doesn’t Allow Snowboarding

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The world as a whole has changed drastically over the last year. We’ve had the Covid-19 pandemic, a president that had his base raid the capitol and cops that have killed innocent people. There is a ton of hate that needs to be changed. Fight To Free Alta & Allow Snowboarding! Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

The term Free Alta came from my mate Michael Johnstone. He along with his other 2 business partners George Media and Brandon Peterson had a snowboard shop called Experience in Angel Fire, New Mexico. I took a position down there. The determining factor was that they had a race team that I was on. I wanted to make sure that I could take time off to compete. Most of the competitions for that region were all at Angel Fire Resort. I quickly got sponsored and was spending a lot of time at the shop. I coached the race team. I was getting paid to compete and coach. The Experience team had come up with the saying Free Taos because they wanted Taos to allow snowboarding. They were successful and in 2009 Taos started allowing snowboarding! Johnstone saw on social media that I was hiking and snowboarding Alta a lot. Alta still doesn’t allow snowboarding and he would always post #FREEALTA!

I knew Johnstone had brain cancer and was in a constant battle. I made sure to follow his stories on social media. Johnstone and I started making plans to ride Alta and I started posting hashtag Free Alta whenever I was up there. Folks started to see that they could snowboard Alta when the resort closed. The resort leases the land from the Forest Service and anyone can come up and use the land. We never got to ride Alta because he passed away last year. George was his best friend and he rolled his cement truck and died. This was too much for Johnstone and a few days later he went to sleep and didn’t wake up. 

Why do skiers think that snowboarders are bad people and shouldn’t be allowed on “their” slopes? When snowboarding first came out there weren’t schools teaching you how to ride. You learned on your own. They would just get down however they could. Slide slipping or skidding down scraped all the good snow off and made conditions worse. Folks were out of control and crashed sometimes into others. We snowboarders got a bad reputation. Resorts started making snowboarders take a safety test before they could ride. Really I think everybody should be tested because I’ve been hit by skiers that don’t know how to stay in control. Skiers have kept that hate for snowboarders for over 40 years. Snowboard schools have been teaching students how to ride for over 30 years. A lot of snowboarders are younger and older folks don’t like change. Well, times have changed and hating somebody for the color of their skin or the way they get down the mountain is segregation and discrimination. Skiers that hold this hate might realize that this behaviour is not acceptable anymore but closed minded folks can’t see the writing on the wall.

Resorts like Mad River Glen, Deer Valley and Alta pride themselves on not allowing snowboarding. I don’t think they will ever change. When Alta first opened in 1938 only men were allowed. No women and children permitted. I would like to think they could change since they did start allowing women and kids. People come to Utah to ski Alta because there are no snowboarders. I’ve traveled all over the world for snowboarding/video and I was told by a few folks in management that when Colorado resorts allowed snowboarding at all their resorts they saw that they lost clients that would rather go to Utah and have no snowboarders. I have given up hope on people to change. I will keep enjoying my time snowboarding Alta but will just have to hike up it or access it from Snowbird where snowboarders can ride the lifts and are welcome.

Snowboarders got a bad wrap and have been banned. Snowboarding is an Olympic sport that is recognized around the world. Resorts like Alta could give a shit less and will remain prejudice to anyone that snowboards. The mentality of skiers are better won’t change unless you are a skier and tell others that we are equals and that’s what FREE ALTA means! You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Learn To Snowboard & Snowmobile

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When Covid hit everything closed up including the resorts. I was laid off and only got 1 week of pay. I had a job at Cardrona, New Zealand. It would have been exquisite to live and ride there for a season. Covid hit some of us real hard. We were getting good March storms and I called around for snowmobile rentals. I found a place on Daniel’s Summit & Went Snowboarding Behind A Snowmobile. I’ll give you some tips on how to snowboard whilst snowboarding. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

If you are not a good snowboarder already I do not recommend you doing this. I’ve waterskied and wakeboarded behind boats since I was a wee lad. If you have experience getting pulled then you should be able to do this. You want to get all the slack out before you start. It is important to get the slack out or you can get injured pulling your shoulder out or catching an edge. Start slowly and increase the speed. The driver needs to have the skill to pull you just like in wakeboarding. Once you start going, keep your knees, ankles and hips slightly bent. You will still initiate your turns with your front foot but I put more weight on my back leg. I’ve done this by being pulled by a car when I lived on Donner Summit, California. Two of us were pulled behind my car. If you do it on a road, keep the board flat. Too much edge angle will dig down to the street and you’ll crash. It hurts, believe me!

It’s best to do this with fresh powder. Good snow conditions give you more confidence with big rewards and smaller consequences. It’s easier to go up the snow walls and banks. The powder will spray out and look cooler. If the conditions aren’t good then you probably should reconsider getting pulled. Nothing wrong with being safe rather than sorry. As a well weathered veteran I want you to learn from my mistakes.

Riding the snowmobile is fun. I started renting and driving snowmobiles when I was 14. My mum told the snowmobile outfitters that I was legal to drive, thanks mum! We went up to West Yellowstone a couple times and all the streets have snow on them sharing the roads with the snow machines and automobiles. There are tours into the park if you don’t want to drive. I recommend doing it at least once just to see nature’s beauty. I grew up near the mountains and we had 4 wheelers and motorcycles. At 14 I drove the snowmobile like a 16 year old. You might have to wait until you’re at least 16. Most folks reading this according to YouTube analytics are over 18. That means you should be able to rent and drive a snowmobile and have a marvelous time!

Holding the rope with one hand will keep your upper body aligned with your lower body. When you’re going uphill you should hold on with both hands because you get worn out. When it’s flat is when it’s the best to cut back and forth. Your driver needs to keep the rope tight and keep a constant speed. The driver needs to look back or you can use your mirrors but they need to keep an eye on their rider. If you start going downhill be careful the rope doesn’t get caught in the snowmobile’s tracks. The rider should let go of the rope and just snowboard like normal.

I recommend doing it on a machine that holds two peeps. That will let you be able to ride back if you’re not keen to continue. It was a great way to get my snowboard on during the pandemic of Covid-19! You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

 

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Learn How To Snowboard Better By Mountain Biking With Greg Gibb

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In the US we have no snow right now but we can Develop Our Snowboarding By Mountain Biking. Mountain biking is very similar to snowboarding. You use gravity especially when you’re going downhill. I’m joined with a good mate Greg Gibb to give tips on biking and snowboarding. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

After you’ve been teaching snowboarding as long as I have, you transfer teach. If you can relate body movements and muscle memory from other sports the student will learn to snowboard more efficiently. It’s best if they have done any board sport in the past. Out of surfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding/longboarding and mountain boarding I think wakeboarding is the most similar to snowboarding. Most folks that have never snowboarded haven’t done these board sports but most people know how to ride a bike. I can use the movement patterns to relate to snowboarding. When you learn to ride a bike you need to have good balance or you fall. When you ride a bike it’s easier to keep your balance with a little more speed. If you go slow you lose your balance or have to put your foot down to keep you up. Snowboarding is easier when you have a wee bit more speed to help balance yourself.

One of the first things that you need to do in snowboarding is choosing your front foot. There are many ways to do this but the best way is to ask the student if they ride a bike. Most folks will have ridden a bicycle. I have them think which foot they put down when gliding or which foot is in front. That is your front foot in snowboarding and it works almost %99 of the time. We steer with our front foot in snowboarding and being able to ride a bike is a great precursor for snowboarding.

When I go fast on a bike I lean into my turns and turn the front wheel less. When I go fast on my snowboard I can start using the sidecut and edge angle to turn. The snowboard has technology designs and if you can ride the board the way it’s meant to be used you’re riding efficiently. If I pivot the board around I’m not really steering it and it won’t stop. You need to tilt the board and ride the edge. I’m a raft guide in the Summer and I think about snowboarding and carving when I steer the boat. I like to relate any sport to snowboarding but sports that involve speed and racing will transfer to snowboarding better. Mountain biking also helps you to learn how to survey the terrain. When you survey the terrain you plan ahead and are prepared. I will turn up the hill to slow me down and use gravity on my bike and snowboard. This way I peddle less, save my breaks and I flow on both my board and bike.

Mountain biking is an excellent way to stay fit for the snowboard season and it’s very similar to snowboarding. If you’re thinking about learning how to snowboard, get out on your bike and watch more of our How To Snowboard Videos. If you already snowboard, mountain bike to keep your skills up. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Learn How To Develop Rhythm By Setting Up A Race Course

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Snowboarding is an action sport that relies on timing so Develop Rhythm With A Race Course. This will help you to snowboard moguls with flow and to rip through glades with confidence. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

Grab dead tree branches and I place them in the snow placing them in the snow staggering left and right to make an “S” turn shape. I don’t want to go straight down the fall line. The more you turn in the same spot you create an actual berm the snow gets pushed up and you create a bank slalom! We’re going to turn in the same spot and we’re going to create a bank slalom, a snake course or a bobsled course. This helps improve your snowboarding because when we’re riding in trees, off piste and in moguls there’s a pattern or a rhythm where people turn in the same spot. This is going to help you to develop rhythm. It’s going to help you become a faster, better rider in glades, bumps and off piste conditions. Depending on what you want to practice, place the sticks farther apart and it becomes a giant slalom the closer together it’s more of a slalom course. You want to have a pitch that’s pretty steep. You don’t want your course to be too flat because we’re really practicing on gaining speed and turning quickly. 

I’ve talked about turning above the gate or obstacle in other articles and videos. I want my turn to start early. As I’m coming across the fall line is when I’m going across the gate. That’s what you want to do. You want to turn it eight to ten feet early in front of the gate. We’ll be turning in the same spot and you’re going to start banking up to the snow creating berms. It’s really great to go out and do these courses with a lot of people. This way the course is formed a lot quicker and you’re creating your own freestyle terrain park, banks slaloms, bobsled courses. The berms are great ramps and you can actually start jumping off of those doing your tricks. You can ride them as a bank slalom or a berm and that becomes a nice way to turn. This is going to help you into the bumps too because if you go into the bumps that’s what a bump is. It’s snow being pushed up peeps turning in the same spot. That’s pretty much what bumps are is a bank slalom people turning in the same spot. Skiers turn differently than a snowboarder. 

Sometimes the bumps form differently for a skier than a snowboarder and this drill is great for a skier too if you’re a skier you want to get out here and start doing the same thing because you want to be able to turn quickly as well as a skier. Skiers can practice turning on one ski helping them carve. It also makes them ready to balance on one board or becoming a snowboarder. 

Plan your line by looking ahead. This will help you to predict what the best gravity fall line is. This will make you a more advanced snowboarder. Get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques by going back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills, improve your knowledge on equipment, safety, terrain and weather. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Tips For How To Wax A Snowboard

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Get Super Stoked for Winter! Snowboarding is much better if you can go fast! I’ll give some snowboard tips on Waxing Your Board. If you wax your board it will go faster and protect the base. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; How To Repair Snowboard Part 2, How To Repair Core Shots, Snowboard Binding Types, Binding Angles, Picking The Right Size of Snowboard, Demo Snowboards, Snowboard Camber Technology, & Sizing Boots & Bindings.

Who doesn’t want to go faster on a snowboard?! You can learn riding techniques and skills that will help you to be more comfortable on your ride. Building Rhythm in snowboarding will help you to transition from edge to edge smoother.

 

There are many other snowboard tutorials you can watch to learn those movements but what about your equipment. Your snowboard can go faster if the base is free of core shots, scratches and has wax on it. There was a tennis player named John McEnroe that would never blame himself. It was always the refs, the weather, the court or tennis racket. You too can blame your equipment especially if you’re not using it how it should be used.

I’ve been competing, teaching and coaching snowboarding for a long time and it works to not get down on yourself. Blame your equipment and if you fall off a horse get back on it. It really works to have a competitive spirit and to be your best. If you’ve snowboarded think how many times you’ve been a wee bit too slow or when you’ve got stuck. If you had waxed your board you probably wouldn’t have lost as much speed. I’ve seen a lot of peeps get stuck in deep powder fields and have to expend a ton of energy to get free. If you have the right movement patterns and good equipment it can make your day on the mountain that much better.

There are different temperatures of wax you can apply. All purpose or all temp is a good choice. I will sometimes blend that with either a colder wax or warmer wax depending on conditions. If you apply the wrong wax it can cause more friction so choose wisely. Melting the wax into the board’s base is easy, just use an iron. There are irons that you can buy that don’t have holes in the iron for steam. They will cost a bit more. They will give a more even melt and application but a clothes iron will work fine and is cheaper. Make sure the iron temp isn’t too hot. You will see smoke if it is and you don’t want burnt wax on your base. Too cool won’t melt the wax so find the perfect temp and then mark it on your temperature dial.

I like to let the snowboard dry out before waxing. Waxing in the morning gives my snowboard plenty of time to dry out and to warn up. The wax will bond better to a board that is warm compared to a cold board left outside. Get it all melted in and then let it sit for at least 30 minutes. The longer you can let it sit the better. You can then scrape the excess wax off with a plastic scraper. A metal one can scratch the base. It is alright to not scrape and just let the snow do it but you will get a little more speed if you do. If you race you want to scrape right before your run. You can also but other things like hydrofluorocarbons you can add to the base but Hydrofluorocarbon Can Be Bad To Environment and Health. There are saver alternatives or just use wax.

Take care of you snowboard and wax it about every 3-5 days you snowboard. Scrape of any excess wax and repeat. You’ll protect your snowboard, give it more life and you’ll go faster if you learn to wax your snowboard right! Get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques by going back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills, improve your knowledge on equipment, safety, terrain and weather. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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How To Fix A Snowboard Part 1

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Snowboard conditions are getting better but there are rocks out there that can damage your ride. This snowboard tutorial will give tips on How To Repair Core Shots. You’ll want to fix core shots soon because water will get into your base and can ruin your board. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos;  Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

Most snowboards have wood in the core or other materials similar to wood. When wood gets wet it expands and can deteriorate. If your base expands the edges can come apart and then your snowboard is useless. When you get core shots you need to fix those right away. The board needs to be sealed correctly and water tight. Snowboard companies will not warranty your board if you damage it. Core shots will happen and you can fix them by yourself. It’s important to take good care of your ride so it lasts for many seasons. You can seal your board with different materials like p-tex and adhesives but keep that board sealed tight.

The main tools you’ll want to have are a razor knife, scrub pad, p-tex, iron, flame, and scrapers. If your core shot is really bad get some adhesive glue, scrap wood and clamps. You can also do a base weld, heating and pressuring in the core shot area. When I start working on my board I like to make sure it’s dry. If you can let the board sit for a day so it is dry. If you are trying to fix a board that has just come off the snow the board will be cold with water and snow. You want the board to be warm and dry so that the material can bond. That’s why most concrete and sealing jobs are done in the warmer weather. If you don’t get things dry the fix won’t hold and you’ll be doing it over.

Minor fixes can be done with just p-tex. I make sure to cut off any excess p-tex with a razor knife and scratch it up so the new p-tex has something to grab onto. I will scrub the area to give a better bond as well. Make sure to get the p-tex to burn blue. If there is too much oxygen the flame turns orange and carbon gets in the fix. Place the p-tex closer to the board to get that blue flame. You don’t want black carbon in the base. You can damage your board if you burn the base so be careful. If you don’t know what you’re doing watch Fixing Your Board Part 2 to help you get a better understanding. 

The more you ride the more you know where rocks are that you can avoid. It sucks getting a core shot but you can fix it for very little money and time. Get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques by going back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills, improve your knowledge on equipment, safety, terrain and weather. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

 

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How To Snowboard Deep Powder At Alta

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We’ve been getting tons of powder for an Early Start To the 2020-21 Snowboard Season! There is over 3 feet of powder that I’ve been shredding up at Alta. I’ll give you important tips on how to ride deep powder and to be safe. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos;  Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snake Course, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

I wasn’t sure how much snow would be up at Alta when I went up for my first run of the season. When I got there the parking lot was full and tons of super stoked folks were coming to hike up and get some powder turns. The snow guns were blowing making more snow and conditions better. When I saw how much snow was up there I was ready to hike and shred the gnar! This is the 3rd season in a row that I’ve been able to hike and ride Alta before the resorts opened. Free Alta! Allow snowboarding during the regular season! It’s always great to get the early snow if you love flowing down the mountain on your snowboard. With Covid-19 sticking around being outside snowboarding is a great way to social distance whilst having a blast.

In deep powder you want to keep your speed and keep the board flatter. If you get the angle of the edge up to high the snowboard digs and it sinks. Keeping the board flat allows for more speed. I like to keep flat so I float on top of the snow and not let my nose dig in. This is great for safety incase I hit something underneath. If you hit something with your nose you’ll be pushed over the front and crash. Be cautious and ride light. When I say ride light I don’t want to sink. In flatter terrain pump like a surfer does to keep their speed on a wave. If you have good flow and rhythm you’ll rip down the mountain. Lower level riders can burn a lot of energy by getting stuck and having to dig themselves out.

It’s been real cold and the snow is in excellent condition. You don’t need to have a split board to go hike. Grab your Rock Board and get out and start ripping! Resorts are opened and Park City, Vail and other resorts are opening this Friday. Get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques by going back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills, improve your knowledge on equipment, safety, terrain and weather. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.

 

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Learn How To Snowboard Early Conditions With A Rock Board

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It is snowboard season with resorts like Wolf Creek, CO opened and others like Keystone, CO that are opening this weekend. Early Conditions Are Rocky so don’t ruin your new equipment. Take out your rock board for these conditions. Follow us by subscribing on YouTube to get all our new videos & tips. Flowing Freeride will teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you and drills to improve your skills. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you sign up that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos;  Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Superman Eruo Carves, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Eruo Surfer Carves, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

I do like to chase the snow. I’m making plans to head over to Keystone next weekend. Colorado has got some early snow and cold conditions to open up their resorts. Resorts are opening all over Colorado! Finally snowboarding is back in the US! It’s election day today so go vote! Today marks the 5 year mark of how long 2020 has lasted. Two more months and 2020 will be in the past. I know going riding will help to forget how bad things are. I was able to hike Alta, Utah the last couple years as you can see in the Alta Roctober. I have mates in Colorado that are asking me to come ride. With the lack of snow in Utah, Colorado is looking good. 

I love to hike and ride as soon as there’s enough snow. I scout places out so I know what’s underneath the snow. I like hiking/riding Alta (before they open or when they close snowboarders are allowed!) because it has graded ski runs with early man made snow. There are some risks like hidden obstacles under thin snow. Be safe when going out. It’s better to damage your equipment than yourself. Bring equipment that still works and no worries if it hits rocks. It should have functioning metal edges and a decent base. We call this a rock board or rock skis if you swing that way. Wax Your Snowboard that will protect the base and make it faster. Repair Core Shots and big scratches so that water doesn’t seep in and destroy your ride.

You can burn through equipment if you hit rocks. I ride the Rocky Mountains and they are just that, Rocky! Steeper mountains like A-basin, Snowbird/Alta, Telluride, Beaver Creek and of course Jackson Hole need a lot of snow to bury the sharp pointy rocks. I work in repair shops and have seen the most core shots at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. That place is one of my favorite mountains to ride in the world. It’s steep and deep. It can be icy and bullet proof as well. I usually wait until January to get on my new snowboard to avoid damaging it. You can avoid hitting rocks by riding terrain that doesn’t have rocks under it. Scout your terrain in the Summer by hiking or biking. I know what terrain has grass, shrubs, saplings or rocks underneath. 

It didn’t take me long to learn how to Ride Right™! It costs a lot of money to buy a new snowboard. It takes even more money and time if you hurt yourself. There are going to be risks in the early season or late season so take caution. Sometimes there is very little snow covering a huge obstacle. Early powder can deceive and temp you into riding into a boulder field. In late season one day there might be snow there and the next day it’s a big muddy rock patch. If you carry to much speed you can’t stop and you’re riding over all that mud and rocks. It’s going to scratch the base but better your snowboard than you. 

If you really enjoy snowboarding you probably get a new board and keep the old one. Boards love to be waxed and tuned. Take care of your ride and you can keep riding it as your Rock Board! Get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques by going back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills, improve your knowledge on equipment, safety, terrain and weather. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.