Tag Archives: Online Snowboard Lesson

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How To Pick the Right Size Snowboard

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This online snowboard lesson will go over How To Pick the Right Size Snowboard. You want to have a snowboard that isn’t too tall or too short. This is a great time to get your snowboard. The new 2020 snowboards are out on the sales floor. There are a lot of factors you want to consider when picking a snowboard. There are different styles of snowboarding and riding types. Watch this snowboard tutorial on 3 Types of Snowboarding to get a feel of what type of rider you are. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How To Twist & Flex Your Snowboard, Snowboard Pads, Snowboard Training Hill, What To Wear Snowboarding, & Basic Carving: Circle Drills. 

I like to say that the best way to size your board is for it to between your chest to nose. Sometimes a snowboard that only goes to your chest is too small. There are times that a board to your nose is too small. The best way to size your snowboard is to use an algorithm that calculates your weight. When your weight increases the size of your snowboard increments in the same direction. The more you weight the bigger or longer your snowboard should be. When you snowboard you want to be able to float on the snow especially in powder conditions. If you don’t have enough surface area the snowboard will sink and floating or surfing the snow is something that makes snowboarding so cool. Ripping powder on the right size board is something you’ll never forget.

There are boards that have different levels of flex. Some snowboards have a different shape of sidecut. There are flex patterns or the camber shape of your snowboard from tip to tail. As a beginner you want soft flex with a twin tip shape or sidecut. The soft flex is more forgiving helping with balance. The twin tip will let you go in both directions symmetrically or goofy and regular the same way balanced. The camber should be flat or reversed camber to prevent hard edge changes or catching an edge. The board should be a little more smaller or shorter to help the beginner to maneuver the board easier that a longer snowboard. As you move up in your skills to intermediate to advanced you might want a longer, stiffer board with a directional sidecut. Depending on the style of your riding will be the type, length, shape & size of your snowboard.

I was up hiking today at Ata, Utah and the snow is amazing with powder conditions. I was on a wider board. It helps me to  be able to get a higher edge angle without booting out. Booting out is when your feet hang over you board. If you have larger feet thinner boards can cause boot out lifting your board off the snow and usually results in a crash. A wider snowboard also allows you to float in the snow with more surface area. The cons to a wide board is that it weighs more and it takes more time to switch from edge to edge. That makes me feel like I’m snowboarding a wee bit slower but it does prevent boot outs when I’m laying down huge carves on groomers. There are a lot of variables when you buying a snowboard but a good rule of thumb is between your chest and chin. I like to sometimes ride a snowboard up to my nose especially to deep powdery conditions. This video will help you keep your snowboard running fast How To Wax Your Snowboard.

You can learn more by watching  How To Pick the Right Size Snowboard and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills. You can signup 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 Snowboard Buttering Basics & Snowboard Tricks

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This snowboard tutorial will go over Basic Buttering Techniques. Buttering is a cool trick to be able to do on your snowboard. It’s when you start balancing on just your nose or tail of you board. Think about applying butter on a piece of bread and that’s where the term buttering comes from. It’s easier to butter on snowboards that are softer in their flex pattern. Reverse camber or banana boards are built to butter. You will loose other efficiencies but it that’s your style go for it. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park techniques. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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.

Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. After you’ve drawn the line in the snow you’re going to try to jump from left foot to right foot landing on that line. Use the board to absorb your landing. Instead of landing flat on your foot land on the nose and tail. Get the board to flex as your landing. This will bend the board and make it easier on your body. Think of jumping on a trampoline. The springs and matt flex and absorb your weight and then pop you back up. When you land flat on your foot your body absorbs the impact. Use your board to create pop and it will be easier on your body allowing you to snowboard longer.

The first thing you want to do is start leaning right and left foot forward making a 90º angle in that leg that you’re putting more weight on. The left leg and then right leg making a 90º angle. Then you’re going to start putting more weight lifting the board off the snow. Then get the nose and tail off the snow a little bit. Then you’re to start doing the drill jumping from left foot to right foot landing on that line. If you can’t see the line well use your glove. That will make a good line so I can see where I’m suppose to land. After you’re able to do that start moving around and lifting up. You’ll start to see that your board will start to spin a little bit. Keep your snowboard flat that’s a big key. Don’t keep it on it’s edge keep in really flat and don’t keep it on it’s edge. Keep your snowboard really flat. We’re going to start buttering on our snowboards.

Buttering is great for freestyle but it can also help you avoid obstacles on the snow like a rock. Lifting your board over an obstacle prevents you from damaging yourself and equipment. See you out on the slopes! You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Buttering Tricks & Freestyle and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. You can signup to get 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 To Snowboard & Get In Your Flow Zone Like Basketball & Baseball

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This snowboard video will help you get More Dynamic in Your Snowboarding. What that means is I want to move a little bit more the whole time I’m riding. I have some drills where I talk about rhythm. Adding to dynamic riding by turning with rhythm. I want to build on that. The whole time I’m riding I’ll have a bit of a beat. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park techniques. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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.

Moving a bit having my knees, hips and ankles soft. That way when I’m out on the snow I can absorb any little variable that comes at you. Sometimes when you’re in a powder field there is a ice chunk or a rock or something else. Something that throws you off balance. If you’re able to absorb that you won’t crash. If you can bounce and be nice and soft in your body you’re able to absorb. We’re going to go out and just move. A good thing to do is to get some type of musicI really love riding to music I love doing a lot of things to music. It helps you just flow. That’s what Flowing Freeride is about, is rhythm and being in that state of flow. I know a lot of people talk about this in psychology. Time slows down, where athletes talk about being in the zone. That guy’s on fire! Basketball for example. These basketball players when they’re in the zone it’s like Stef Curry he shoots a 3 from almost half court because he’s on fire it just goes in. Swish nothing but net. That’s what I’m talking about.

When we’re out here snowboarding I want you to feel that flow and feel that rhythm. I want you brain to almost turn off. You’ve done it so much that you’re in that zone in that state of flow. We’re going out and bouncing to a rhythm. We’re going to get our either speaker or ear buds and listen to music. We’re going to put that into our ear, not both or a speaker. Some people don’t like doing that. I prefer ear buds. Riding to the beat the whole time that’s the drill. Ride to that rhythm and try to get into that state of flow. It’s just reaction. You can do anything. You’re really in rhythmIf you’re practicing at that state you get to be where a lot of these professional athletes are. Doing things so many times they’re in the zone. Baseball athletes are getting a baseball thrown to them at 100 mph and they’re able to hit that. It’s amazing! I’m talking about time kind of slowing down because they’re in that state of flow. This drill we’re going out listening to music as we’re riding bouncing to that beat and rhythm. So we’re in flow. Look at other videos on rhythm by clicking in the right corner. When you’re out riding with music make you sure you have one ear available. Take out one of your ear buds so you don’t have both in and can hear what’s going on around you. You don’t want to be deaf to the environment around here.

There are going to be people that come up on you, 2 inches away from you. I don’t know why they do it but you want to be aware of that. When you are out riding with music take one out to hear with one ear what’s going on around you. See you out on the slopes! You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Getting More Dynamic With Better Rhythm and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. You can signup to get 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 To Snowboard & Staying Healthy By Avoiding Stress

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboard Tips For Avoiding Stress. We need to eliminate stress in our lives to stay healthy. Snowboarding is a sport or activity that can keep you healthy with excellent exercise. Being up on the mountain is good for your soul. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper movement patterns, jumps, freestyle and riding techniques. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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.

We’ve all had crazy things happen to us or we’ve had crazy people in our lives that cause stress. Find a healthy way of dealing with it and release that stress. I’ve found that I love being in the mountains. Shredding the gnar takes away the crazinesses in my life. I love steeps and deep powder. Snowboarding gives me a natural high and a great work out. Stay fit and young by taking care of your body. You can learn to snowboard and get better by signing up for our online snowboard school at flowingfreeride.com. 

I’ve been hiking Alta and snowbird the last few days. I met up with me mate Luke Shumacker and we were ripping the fresh powder getting face shots. It’s memorial weekend and there’s tons of snow to spray huge snow walls. Tip, dip and Rip the snow. Many resorts like Abasin, Breck, Mammoth and Snowbird have extended their seasons. It’s an Endless Winter with record snow fall. See you on the slopes mates!

You can learn more about Snowboard Tips For Avoiding Stress and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills. You can signup 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 Snowboard Jibbing

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding Jibbing Tips. When you’re able to flow around the mountain you use everything out there as your playground. When you’re in the park there are man made features and jumps. There are similar features on the mountain that are natural. Train your eye to spot these treasures and jib them. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park techniques. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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.

When were out riding and we jump up and hit something it’s jibbing. You can use it as a verb to to jump off of something or to jump over an object. The object that you’re jumping over is jibbing it. Now as far as a drill what I like to do for jibbing is to go out and find as many things that I can jib off of, jump over use it as an actual a feature that I’ll jib off of. Maybe it’s a branch or I’ll be going up a quarter pipe and at the top I jump up and maybe twist and tweak my board to hit a branch or something. A lot of parks have a jump setup where there’s maybe a ball or some barrels something where you get the speed off it and then you actually bonk off of it jib off of it.

There are a few different phrases when you hit these objects but a good drill is to go out and find natural features outside the park. Maybe you find a little stick or logs whatever and try to jib off of them different ways. You can jib things with a flat board or your edge. Maybe you’re actually tweaking it and hit it with your board. Maybe you actually are going off a jump and you’re spinning one way and then you hit it and switch yourself back the opposite way. I’ve talked about some features outside of the park but the man-made features you might see a gong, big old bells, mail boxes and cars. You’ll even see urban rails with steps in there. You might see a lot of the metal objects and you’re like Wow! There are boxes and and all types of rails. These are great but I would recommend that you go out and first practice outside the park and as you feel a bit more comfortable gradually progressing in there.

One thing I really like about jibbing is once I get to my apex if there’s something I can jib off of and actually create more bounce. You’ll get a little bit further. It actually looks really cool and it makes you feel good. There are a lot of things you can do. It’s a fun little drill to go out and just jib over anything. You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Snowboarding Jibbing Tips and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. You can signup to get 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 To Snowboard Safe Backcountry Terrain

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Backcountry Snowboard Terrain. There’s nothing better than to hit a fresh powder field. Virgin powder will get chewed up as soon as the lifts open. If you have ever had one of those epic days off knee deep powder or hip deep POW then you know how special it is to Rip this type of snow. I have tons of backcountry/Pro snowboarding experience and knowledge that I want to pass on to you. I’m opening FFR Backcountry Snowboard School and Tours soon. Hope to see you there. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper backcountry and efficient snowboard techniques. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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, 5 Red Flags of Avalanches, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, 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, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

Wow what a treat to go out in the backcountry to Rip untouched freshhhhhh powder. It’s the Best Thing Ever!! If you have ever got that chance I’d agree that it’s going to be the memory that you’ve ever had. Imagine a fresh powder field with tons of snow that has no consequence if you eat shit! If you suck then bullocks you eat a mouth full of snow. That’s what I was seeing today and the last few day. Mates this last week has been the best snow showers I’ve been in for years. I’ve been all over the world from Utah, Colorado, Californias, Canada, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, England(Indoor and Carpet), New Mexico, Vermont, Maine, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Oregon, etc., My board puts me on top of the powder and it’s a love that just connects. I love to Rip through that Fresh POWDER!

There is a ton of great inbound terrain now so I don’t recommend you go out in the backcountry by yourself. It is always going to be tempting to hit that Virgin Powder no matter where you are. I have become more of a guide to tour high level riders around the awesome terrain. The best part of riding a new mountain is to find the best terrain. Mountains have little hidden secrets that only a local may know. When there is a huge blizzard the mountain will change a ton. That is the same with the backcountry. You need to have a guide to help you tour through that ruff terrain. I know many mountains have cliff faces that will tear you and your snowboard apart. I’ve been riding Super Steep Terrain these last few days because of all of these powder days. Things are filling in making conditions excellent. I dealt with a crushing commute normally 30 minutes to 2.5 hours but I made it up the Canyon.

Park City, Utah is where I live. Check it out on the Map. We have one of the best locations for Winter Sports. Salt Lake City, Utah had one of the best Olympics on record. We are a Snow Town! We have huge mountains and an international Airport within 35 Minutes of Multiple Snowboard Resorts. Making FFR a huge destination Snowboard School. What are you waiting for? Come visit the Best Snow On Earth and Book A Lesson with a Pro. There are a ton of things to do with your family or got tons of Night Life for whatever age you are. Visit Main Street in Park City to visit an Old West Atmosphere and visit High West Distillery to get a taste of Utah. All the transit or Buses Are Free to travel around Park City. There are many ‘Hidden Gems’ that have excellent terrain but they take so long to drive to or little airports that make things difficult to arrive. One of my favorite resorts Jackson Hole has steep mountains on both sides of the airport and a short runway making it my least favorite airport. I’m a TV Producer and visited JH, WY many times. In deep snow with short runways makes for fishtailing on the runway. Yes Planes Fishtail!

When you head out into the backcountry you need to have some basic skills to survey the terrain. Slopes that are 30º or less won’t slide because they don’t have the potential energy to slide. Slopes that have a sharper slope will slide when there is a layer of faceted snow. You should hire a guide and take avalanche classes to prepare you for the backcountry. You can learn more about backcountry terrain and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. You can signup to get 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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Riding Jackson Hole Powder January 2019

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This snowboard video will give you tips on Riding Deep Pow At Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a long drive in a blizzard to get to Jackson Hole, Wyoming but it was worth it. There was 1 ½ feet of fresh powder when we arrived. Our first day was short due to the storm but it made the conditions epic. We almost slid off the road several times. We were on a highway with cars cruising in the other lane. Snow plows created white outs where we couldn’t see for 3 seconds and then seeing a line of cars. The snow drifts were a foot deep. We saw plows go by and a few miles down the road the drifts were back only allowing one lane of traffic through.There was a large group of AASI Level 3 Full Certified snowboard instructors training together. We ripped this steep mountain doing tons of trees, chutes and cliff drops. To get you prepared to ride this steep mountain watch this snowboard tutorial on steeps and alignments.

There is a resort in town called snow king that we could see from our hotel. The town has a great vibe and is fun. We drove up to the village catching some amazing views. When Jackson Hole gets tons of snow conditions are epic.

It’s important to really move fore and aft on your snowboard in these conditions. Build up your fore and aft riding skills before you get into powder and steep mountains. Jackson is one of the steepest mountains around having over 4,000 feet of vertical from the top of the tram to the base. To help you train yourself to move fore and aft on your snowboard watch the snowboard video Dolphin Turns.

This progression will help you move towards the front of your board at the beginning of your turn then to move towards the tail at the end of your turn using your whole board as it was meant to be used. Your core is moving fore and aft from edge to edge making a circular motion. Start to flow down the mountain with more rhythm getting dynamic on your snowboard. You can submit video clips to get movement analysis back of your riding by clicking here taking you to Flowing Freeride.

I strongly recommend that you ride Jackson Hole, Wyoming at least once to see what we saw. We met some cool people at Franco Custom Snowboards and you should check out their shop. It takes a bit of a drive through steep passes to get there but it’s worth it. Riding with other high skilled riders pushes you to ride more aggressive. This will improve your riding. Seeing how others ride the mountain and the lines they take will train your eye to survey the terrain. I hope that the snow gods are sending snow to your mountain. 2019 is off to a great start! You can signup to get access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard right online with flowingfreeride.com. 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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Teaching Children To Snowboard Part 3

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This snowboard video will give you tips on Teaching Kids To Snowboard. If you love to snowboard sharing that passion with your children will create endless positive memories. Get them to love snowboarding. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over equipment technologies to teach you how to get the best gear. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup that cover every step and feedback from your coach. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard weather and equipment to bring on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How to Snowboard: Balance Twist, Beginner Snowboard Stance, Snowboard Pads, Snowboard Training Hill, Demo Boards, Snowboard Camber, Building Rhythm, Snowboard Freestyle Boards, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, & How To Size Your Snowboard. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

I’ve been talking to my brother about taking his kids out snowboarding but they live in Phoenix, AZ. We finally got the chance with the great early conditions this Thanksgiving to get up on the slopes. My boys went out with their cousins. I knew this had a good chance of being successful because I brought several adults along. They were willing parents and grandparents that had a stake in outcome. They helped with the difficult times. A big part of teaching kids is the preparation. Some of the cousins had taken a snowboard lesson with a negative result. One was good at skateboarding. Their parents had prepped them to be excited and grateful. That made it easy for me to teach. The kids ranged in age from 3 to 12 so I was dealing with multiple cognitive developments. I studied child development in college and have my Advanced Children Educator  ACE 2 certification. I talk to the kids to see what hobbies/interests they like. If you have knowledge of the shows they watch, sports they play or books they read you can talk about those subjects to get them to relax and not over think snowboarding.

When you have really young kids just be prepared for them to break down. Every child has a unique personality. Get down to there level when teaching them. Some kids are happy and stoked to be out snowboarding while others will throw tantrums and outbreaks. These kids are too young or need extra attention. You might have an idea of difficult kids before you take them on the slopes but you won’t know until you take them up and try. You can use the leash systems or hold their hands but they need to be able to go by themselves. When a child starts crying take a break or call it for the day if it’s a real bad outbreak. Remember this is suppose to build positive fun memories, so that they want to do this with you in the future.

The older kids are more likely to be coachable because their brains and bodies have developed. I will teach things to the group and then let a stronger rider demo things for me. I like to use a reward system or let the children compete amongst themselves. If you can make things a game and fun it will keep them engaged. Some games are to see how long you can ride without a fall. Time them to see how long they can go straight. Who can do the best stop and so on. I know last Easter I brought an egg up with a toy in side. I let my son find it and told him it gave him magic powers to snowboard better. He was so excited and confident. It was his best day snowboarding ever. I might have to teach the skill differently to kids that don’t have much of an attention span or don’t listen. Teach something and then let them discover things on their own. You don’t have to always be teaching, give them time just to practice on their own.

I took them to our shop where I sized their boots, boards and I set up there snowboard angles to 9º, -9º. I’ve talked about how to setup a beginner binding angles in an earlier video. Binding Angles. To get the kids going we strapped in one foot and skated around doing circles, figure 8’s and straight glides. I taught them that it was important to lift the board up and not keep it flat. Using big strong power moves would make them crash. It took a bit but they started to edge their boards. Get the kids to lift the snowboards up. Practice with them by spotting them so the can get the right balance. I talk about this in some early videos but the twist drill is something you should know by watching this video, to help teach your kids edging and to twist the board. Once they’re doing that they are ready to practice gliding and stopping. If they aren’t stopping have them practice lifting their edge up. They can drag their toes or heels in the snow to act as an anchor but I’ve found it better to just go right into edging the board to stop. They want to step uphill or towards their uphill edge. Kids want get the board around quick using upper body strength but they keep the board flat and unless they lift the edge up they usually will fall. (crashes)

This first part is where they hike and skate in flat terrain. This are is where you can help kids get their balance because it’s flat and they’re not moving a lot. They will build muscle memory by repeating the drill of skating and stopping. Bring water and take breaks because the kids will get tired. If you have other adults during a break you might get to go take a quick run to get your shred on. After they can stop on toeside and heelside let them start going down the beginner slope. This slope should be fairly flat but steep enough to keep speed. Have them make laps on this area stopping one foot in. Surface lifts are the best for beginners so find an area that has a conveyor belt or a gondola to make laps. Refer to this video to help with lift knowledge. Getting on and of the chair lift comes later. You may need to help the kids but use caution because this is where they move and more likely to fall. I will have them practice the ankle, knee, hips and spine flex and extension movements for toe and heel stationary and then while they go down the mountain.

You might have to stay on this practice slope for a while doing one foot in stops. When they’re doing toeside and heelside stops strap in the back foot. I will sometimes help spot the kids to transition from toeside and heelside or making C-turns. Get the kids to do that and make sure they can stop with two feet in. If one kid is advancing faster then teach them S-Turns. The focus is steering the board with their front foot, getting the board to across the fall line then parallel to it. Let the board flow down with gravity and focus energy to their ankles/lower body to steer not their shoulders and arms. When they balance on the edges and stop they’re ready for the lift. Check out loading the lift video.

The next Teaching Children Snowboarding video I’ll give tips on how to load and unload the lift safely with kids. You can signup to get access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard right online with flowingfreeride.com. 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 Snowboarding Upper/Lower Body Separation

Blake Tholen Clark Certified Snowboard Instructor, Flowing Freeride Online Snowboard School, Free Snowboarding Lessons, From Your Snowboard Coach, Snowboarding Tips, , , , , , , , ,

This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding Upper/Lower Body Separation. There are certain times and places that we want to separate our upper body from our lower. It helps in tight situations like in trees, freestyle, glades, chutes and steeps. Freestyle moves on features like boxes and rails look super stylie. You can use slash turns and power stops to spray snow or to stop quickly. In chutes you can make fast turns to avoid obstacles and escape danger. Have this movement in your ‘snowboard tool belt’ to help you avoid injuries. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignments, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freeride carving rhythm. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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 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, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

I ride most of the time with my body in alignment. I can absorb better and prevent myself from tweaking my legs or back. When I hit bumps my natural body movement is to absorb in alignment. If I’m riding with my upper and lower body separated all the time I’m going to wear my body out. After a long day of riding your muscles and joints get tired. If you’re riding out of alignment and using a lot of strong movements instead of finesse you’ll feel it the next day. There are techniques and movement patterns that will keep you snowboard fit. There are many times that I need to separate my upper/lower body when snowboarding. I have a set stance that I go back to or refer to. It’s my natural body stance except I angle my feet out. I keep my ankles, knees, hips and spine slightly flexed so I’m able to move smoothly and I my upper body is naturally aligned with my lower. We’re going to move in and out of alignment so we’re ready to handle whatever is thrown at us on the mountain.

Gravity pulls us down the mountain and the most direct path gravity takes is called the fall line. In steep terrain we follow that line much more. When we point our front hand down the slope we are setting ourselves up to be aligned with the fall line. This will make it easier to start your turn but it’s more difficult at the end of the turn. In tight situations you need to turn immediately to avoid trees, rocks or other obstacles. We want to be able to slow down and stay in control especially in steeps and trees. The upper/lower body separation drill will help you be able to ride through advance level terrain better.  

Start on mellow terrain that has some slope like a Blue or intermediate (in Europe Red). If it’s a Green or Easy (in Europe Blue) slope that is too flat this drill won’t work well. Point your front hand and upper body down the slope. Your lower body will be very dynamic rotating your snowboard around from toeside to heelside. Think about focusing more energy into your hips to help pivot. Bend your hips, knees and ankles to make the board flow around easily. Be sure to keep the front hand pointed down the slope. It is easier to achieve on the heelside. Really focus on the toeside to keep you arm pointed down the mountain. Your turn shape should be small and done quickly. If you’re still having trouble getting this movement review Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend to give you another example.

After you’ve got the drill on Blue terrain move into steeper Black Advance trails. As you get better flow down tree runs and steep chutes using this technique to Rip the whole mountain. You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. You can signup to get 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 Snowboard Carving

Blake Tholen Clark Certified Snowboard Instructor, Flowing Freeride Online Snowboard School, Free Snowboarding Lessons, From Your Snowboard Coach, Snowboarding Tips, , , , , , , ,

This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboard Basic Carving. Carving is something you want to be able to do so you can turn without skidding and slowing you down. You want to be able to carry that speed to get you through flat terrain. Carving is when the back foot follows the exact same path as the front and there is no skid. You are balancing on your edge using the sidecut of the snowboard. The sidecut is a circle diameter of 8M or 10M that is cut into the board. Your edge has that diameter circle shape that makes your edge arched and not straight. This helps to make Circle Turns. That’s what we’ll be working on in this snowboard drill. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignments, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freeride carving rhythm. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup 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 Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Eruo Surfer Carves, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right! Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

When you start carving find mellow terrain. You don’t want it to be too steep because it’s hard to hold your edge on steeper terrain and it should be very wide to make big turns. It should have no obstacles on it and very low traffic because carving takes a lot of space and you turn back up the mountain. The snowboard terrain should be groomed and flat without bumps so that you’re able to keep your balance better. Fresh groomed snow creates a firm top layer that allows you to really hold an edge and conditions are usually best for carving in the morning. The terrain choice is huge groomed, mellow slope, very wide, no obstacles and low traffic. Go out and scout your carving terrain to find these kind of conditions. Once you find this type of terrain we can start trying to practice Circle Turns.

You need to have enough speed to balance on your edge. I have my students point their boards parallel to the fall line to gain speed. Keep your snowboard flat to increase momentum. I have them start lifting their edge up bending their ankles and knees, focusing energy to these joints and balancing on their edge. Start to turn up the mountain and see how far up the mountain you can get. Your turn shape will start as a J-Turn and progress into a full Circle Turn. Try to drive your pressure directly down on your edge. That’s what you want to do. Don’t try to complicate it with extra movements. Focus in your feet and Steering From The Bottom Up and once you’re getting that you can get Dynamic Flex & Extend. Get enough speed to be able to turn up the mountain and lift your edge up keeping your ankles nice and soft. S-turns are two half circles and when you just keep turning you make Circle Turns.

It’s very important to find the correct carving terrain. I love finding fresh groomed corduroy in the morning getting the best conditions. Carving eliminates the pivot movement and the board doesn’t rotate to eliminate skidding. Balance on the edge of your snowboard using minimal movements to use your sidecut to make arching turns. You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. You can signup to get 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.