Learn the "Snowboard Alphabet" on MontanaPictures.net (Page two of four)
| We'll look at the basic four snowboard turns so you can ride down any hill in control. | |
| Each turn carves a "letter" in the snow. | |
| The four "letters" carved in the snow represent the "Snowboard alphabet." | |
| The most basic snowboard "slide" |
 |
| is the | |
| Letter "Z" turn | |
|
Stand in “Army Man” position. |
|
| Place your weight on your left foot. | |
| Slowly slide diagonally to the "Fall line." | |
| Come to a complete stop | |
| by pressing your heels on the UP-Hill | |
| edge of your board. | |
| Catch your breath and pat yourself | |
| on the back for completing | |
| your very first snowboard turn. | |
| Shift your weight on your right foot. | |
| Slowly slide diagonally to the "Fall line." | |
| Come to a complete stop | |
| by pressing your heels on the UP-Hill | |
| edge of your board. | |
| -What happens if you fall - |
 |
| How do you get back up? | |
| 1.) Lay on your back parallel to the "Fall line." | |
| Point your head up hill & your board | |
| down hill, perpendicular to the “Fall line.” | |
| 2.) Now, "Flip" your board over until you | |
| are face down in the snow. | |
| You just did the "hard part" so let's | |
| stand up. (Hint: If the slope is really | |
| steep, dig out a little ledge or plateau | |
| in the snow with the "toe-side" of the | |
| board. This will give you a flat "platform" (Click on the picture to see how to get back up) | |
| to standup on.) | (.WMV File size 598KB) |
| Your choice NEXT: | |
| 3.) Get up in a kneeling position to look around and wave at people. | |
| OR | |
| 4.) Gather your legs under your torso until you are in a squatting position. (Pictured above) | |
| 5.) From the squatting position, PUSH your self up using your arms & legs. | |
| In Gym class, this exercise was called a "Squat thrust" or "Burpee." During the typical | |
| first three days of beginning snowboarding you will perform this exercise over fifty or more times. | |
| 6.) Stand up in the “Ballerina” position. | |
 |
|
| More Letter "Z" turns | |
| Stand in the “Ballerina” position. | |
| Place your weight on your right foot. | |
| Slowly slide diagonally to the "Fall line." | |
| Come to a complete stop | |
| by pressing your toes on the UP-Hill | |
| edge of your board. | |
| Really fight hard to press the UP-Hill | |
| edge of your board. | |
| If you fall forward, that's O.K. (Click on the picture to see a boarder really fight for a toe hold.) | |
| in snowboarding a "face-plant" is | (.WMV File size 391KB) |
| considered a "fall." Everything else is just | |
| regaining your balance or "resting" for your | |
| next series of turns. | |
| Wow! Watching beginners carve "Z" turns looks like hard work. | |
| Yep, no getting around it. You will sweat like a horse, until the you feel comfortable on the board. | |
| The work is worth it because you learn the subtle changes required to make a turn or | |
| come to a stop in the future. This learning process can take the entire first day. | |
| Montana snowboard class (Page two of four) |
| Got a special Montana location you're longing to see? |
| All Photographs on this site are copyright © MontanaPictures.net. All rights reserved. |
| Return to MontanaPictures.net Home page |