| Ranked Posts: 4 |
| South Yorkshire |
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 #1 Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 12:57:16 |
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Hi all
I just happened across this site and you all seem a friendly bunch, so just thought I'd ask for a bit of advice.
I'm 28 and always fancied getting into snow boarding but never took the leap to give it a try. But now I'm seriously thinking about giving it a go. My main concern is I'm a bit of a fat lad! lol (Too much beer over the years!) I'm 5' 10" and 17½st. I've started going to the gym more and have dropped a st already and am generally feeling fitter, but I was hoping that learning to board would also help improve my fitness, but I'm worried that maybe I need to be fitter before I even make a start? I have a fair bit of muscle strength, especially in my legs, but still have a fair bit to go with my fitness. I'm not that far from castleford so that is where I was thinking of starting.
Any advice that would help get me started would be great! |
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| #2 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 13:05:31 |
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| Revision #1 (Last edited: 02/07/2009 @ 13:06:08) |
| In reply to post #1 ... |
It's fair to say that boarding is hard on the old core muscles, so the more developed they are, the easier and less painful things are. I would also say that in my experience (I have a mate who is about the profile you describe) larger people do struggle a bit more in general. He was always picking up injuries and complaining of pains in his legs ankles, but without being glib, surely that is the case with all fitness and exercise.
Like my old PE teacher used to say: "Don't play sport to get fit, get fit to play sport" 
Certainly don't let it put you off though. The other thing my mate did as a result of being bigger was come up with some of the most bizarre (and therefore pretty cool) flatland tricks I've seen.
And giving it a go will actually show you where you need to work in order to make it a better experience all round. Hope that helps. |
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| Ranked Posts: 4 |
| South Yorkshire |
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| #3 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 14:09:00 |
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Thanks for the advice.
Maybe I should work a bit harder at the gym before going for it then. I don't want to waste my money on a course if I'm going to be too unfit to actually complete it or do what is required. |
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| Ranked Posts: 69 |
| West Midlands |
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| #4 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 14:33:08 |
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| In reply to post #3 ... |
I only started this year and I'm not the fittest person in the world & weigh 15st.
I'd have thought as a beginner you'd be ok with your weight as long as you continue on your fitness regime because in the begining you're only going to be learning to balance and go down the slope, you're not going to be flying off kickers or anything. Just go for the short lessons on their own rather than a learn to board in a day course or anything.  |
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| Ranked Posts: 7607 |
| Forum Mod |
| Nottinghamshire |
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| #5 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 14:42:48 |
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| In reply to post #4 ... |
| The early days however is when your weight will cause you the most issues. You have to get up off the snow more often through putting on the board and through falling. It can also be a strain on the instructor when he/she helps you for the first few runs. |
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Mountain Surf Bandit
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| #6 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 16:29:30 |
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| Ranked Posts: 13 |
| Lanarkshire |
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| #7 Re: Total newbie questions 02/07/2009 @ 19:05:57 |
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| In reply to post #1 ... |
| Mate im a big lad too. A bit bigger than you as well. took up boarding last year at 35. I f***ing love it. Dont let a bit of weight hold you back. Couple of things I will say though. Make sure you get a xl width board if you are thinking of buying one. Also and this is most important of all get some protective shorts or something. Big lads do hit the ground a bit harder, and you will hit the ground. I bought these fantastic things called AZZPADS only after quite severely damaging my tail bone. Without these inventions my boarding days were over. hope this helps. |
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| Stevo keepin cool |
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| Ranked Posts: 304 |
| Berkshire |
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| #8 Re: Total newbie questions 03/07/2009 @ 14:07:40 |
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| In reply to post #1 ... |
Im the same weight but taller and dont hav any probs at all, i love beer and kebabs and the thought of going anywhere near a gym makes me want to vomit. Aggresion and staminar are good things to have and get the protctive gear. Aslong as you dont cause any harm to anyone ells, get out there and enjoy it. Through the learning faze you will see whitch parts of your body you may need to do a bit of work on, but you wont need to join a gym for that, perhaps build on your lessons rther than doing a board in a day lesson.
Snowboarding is there to be enjoyed and not to be taken to serously,if you were joining the police or the army then yes you would prepare and train to get to the required fitness but we are talking about snowboarding so unless your planning on entering the x games i recomendy you find a good instructor and enjoy. |
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| Ranked Posts: 4 |
| South Yorkshire |
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| #9 Re: Total newbie questions 09/07/2009 @ 15:22:12 |
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| Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going on holiday in Sep so I'm gonna carry on going to the gym until then and give it a try when I get back and see how I get on. |
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| #10 Re: Total newbie questions 09/07/2009 @ 17:15:55 |
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| In reply to post #1 ... |
hello mate
why don't you try a beginners class in your nearest snowdome or dry slope, that way your have a bit of experience and find out the cheap way, if you like the sport or not before you pay for a trip abroad? |
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To ski is human.
To board is divine.!!!
BRING ON THE SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!
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| #11 Re: Total newbie questions 09/07/2009 @ 17:45:50 |
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| In reply to post #10 ... |
QUOTE (chewitt161 - 09/07/2009 @ 17:15:55) hello mate why don't you try a beginners class in your nearest snowdome or dry slope, that way your have a bit of experience and find out the cheap way, if you like the sport or not before you pay for a trip abroad?
I think that is his plan.... I dont think the Sep holiday involves any snow!  |
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| "If you know all 4 seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Construction..... you may be living in Canada!" |
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| #12 Re: Total newbie questions 09/07/2009 @ 17:50:52 |
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| In reply to post #11 ... |
I didn't think he was going on a boarding holiday in September, because some people never try it out before booking a holiday to the Alps.
My suggestion was to try locally first, then head out to the mountains, when you have been truly bitten by the bug, and you will be!! |
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To ski is human.
To board is divine.!!!
BRING ON THE SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Facebook
Twitter me
Cosmic Bongo snowboard blog |
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| Ranked Posts: 1 |
| Tyne & Wear |
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| #13 Re: Total newbie questions 10/07/2009 @ 16:52:27 |
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| In reply to post #6 ... |
| Ive been surfing years and thinking about making the transition into boarding and wanna know if anyone has had a same experience and how tricky it is? |
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| Ranked Posts: 180 |
| Tyne & Wear |
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| #14 Re: Total newbie questions 11/07/2009 @ 10:59:18 |
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| In reply to post #13 ... |
i have also surfed the bonny beaches of the north east for many years, i started boarding a few years after i started surfing (1994 ish) showing my age now  and found it quite easy to pick up.
there is a alot of skills that cross over, wieght shifting, edge control, etc.
i dont find boarding has the intense rush that surfing has but the sheer amount of riding you can do in a single day makes up for it 
give it a go, you will love it
russ |
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| Ranked Posts: 4 |
| South Yorkshire |
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| #15 Re: Total newbie questions 14/07/2009 @ 08:48:31 |
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| In reply to post #10 ... |
QUOTE (chewitt161 - 09/07/2009 @ 17:15:55) hello mate why don't you try a beginners class in your nearest snowdome or dry slope, that way your have a bit of experience and find out the cheap way, if you like the sport or not before you pay for a trip abroad?
Thanks for the advice. The holiday in Sep is a sun holiday, no snow. Just need my money for that first so will give the boarding a go after. |
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