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 #1 Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 10:40 |
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Hi Everyone.....
Hope you are all well today.
Me and my wife are looking to go on our first ever snowboarding holiday in December this year to celebrate my 30th b-day (does this make me too old to start??)
Just looking for any advice on good resorts for beginners, is it worth getting some lessons in the uk before we go away or would a beginners course at the resort be better for us.....
What equipment is it worth buying for ourselves and what is better to hire?
Im sure i'll have more questions later but think those will do for now..
Thanks All |
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| #2 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 11:06 |
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hey dude,
i bet theres replies in the time i take to write this but i'll go ahead and throw in my 2 english pennies anyway 
1) you're never to old to start... it seems opinion is split in regards to different aspects:
a) when you're younger you're a little more fearless so there's the potential to prgoress faster by throwing yourself around more...
b) being a little older when starting is a great bonus allowing you the income to ride a decent set up and pay for better holidays
2) the resorts largely cater from beginners as standard with a varying amount of easier runs, forum members will no doubt be able to expand on this by listing some excellent examples of resorts that provide this more than others..... although if you're with friends and dont beat yourself up to much you should have fun anywhere :D
3) i went with doing a "learn to board in a day" at a UK snowdome first to ensure that the money ive spent on a holiday and the lift pass isnt wasted in learning all week.... by learning up to "recreational standard" before going out you should be able to do both heel-to and toe-heel turns, link them, control your speed and use the always dreaded button lifts.....
some people will recommend learning in the mornings when out on holiday as theres much more space to learn and can cruise around the mountains in the afternoons.... it seems all down to personal opinion as to which is best. i'm personally glad i learnt before going out 
4) equipment is another tricky subject but i think the general line of advice would be to invest in boots first (choce your boots after trying on as many pairs as possible and go for the best fit, not the best looking... after all they're going to be covered in trousers, bindings and snow when you're using them).... some people dive in and buy shiney new boards and bindings straight away too, but most people would advise renting initially to allow yourself the opportunity to try different length and style boards (and take the knocks whilst still learning) before investing lots of wonga in your own stuff.
the other option is to pick up a board and bindings on ebay etc for cheap and abuse that whilst learning .. there's always a few boards for sale on the classified section ofthis forum, ebay, and "exteme sports tader"
my personal advice is to take everything you read with a pinch of salt as people sometimes think the decisions they've made are the only right ones and will dismiss all other options.... oh and use the search function on this forum as some people are quick to tell off a new member for asking questions that might have already been answered in a previous thread lol
hope that helps dude welcome to the forum and i hope you enjoy snowboarding as much as everyone else on here  |
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Phil - "Tomorrow holds no promise, live life while you can" |
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| #3 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 13:56 |
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Hey,
Thanks for the advice there its much appreciated. I was half expecting my first reply to be something along the lines of "search is your friend"  Im having a good hunt through the forum and trying to find out as much as I can at the moment. Looking at possibly going for a few lessons up at the snow dome in Milton Keynes at some point soon as well so I can try and learn to not fall over.....
Thanks for the ebay tip I might head on over there to see whats for sale...
cheers |
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| #4 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 14:07 |
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| #5 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 14:10 |
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| #6 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 14:15 |
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so now i know your surname "fish" and that you live in reading.... out of interest... whats your pin-number?
i work in reading  |
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Phil - "Tomorrow holds no promise, live life while you can" |
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| #7 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 14:17 |
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pin number ??? yeah sure its **** 
I live here and work here.....Cant seem to escape not for want of trying though..... |
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Greater Manchester |
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| #8 Re: Total Newbie Posted 24/02/2010 @ 14:28 |
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I tend to suggest ppl go to their local real snow dome/slope and have a few lessons. That should give you an idea of whether you're gonna enjoy the sport or not. I can imagine nothing worse than being stuck on a holiday that you're hating!
If you're hooked after ur lessons then outer wear and boots are a good first purchase. Then you can think about buying hardware if you plan to have regular snowboarding holidays.
I would recommend lessons when you get out into the resort as they will help you progress faster and also give you invaluable moutain knowledge (eg where not to stop on a piste, so that u don't get hit by a rider travelling a Mach3 over a roller). |
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Bob - Rejeck is a state of mind
Snows back! Run to the hills! |
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| #9 Re: Total Newbie Posted 01/03/2010 @ 18:30 |
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Hi Mr. Fish
You're def not too old, I started snowboarding at 30 and 5 years later I'm totally addicted. First time I stood on a board was on holiday in Chamonix, you'll learn quicker on a mountain. I'd recommend Mint Snowboard School in Avoriaz.
Jon |
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| #10 Re: Total Newbie Posted 02/03/2010 @ 08:15 |
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Awesome, cheers Jon, I'll look them up...... |
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| #11 Re: Total Newbie Posted 02/03/2010 @ 11:58 |
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Hi Mr Fish,
I agree with a lot of what has already been said here and have a couple of other considerations for making your first holiday more enjoyable.
Find a resort where the learner slope has a free lift - that way your first morning or day, depending on how you get on, won't cost you anything on ski passes (most of the resorts where we are have these)
Stay in a resort where there is a good mix of Brits and bars - incase you or you spouse need to take a day off boarding. For example if you were to stay in the heart of Switzerland and you or your dearest got the hump with boarding one day, there maynot be other people to talk to and you might have to remortgage your house for a cup of coffee.
Stay in a place as close to the slopes as possible - that way you won't spend half of you holiday queuing for and being on buses.
As already said - take lessons in the uk and buy second hand equipment (might find it doesn't fit properly though after a day on the mountain) or rent ( Our price for board and boots in resort is 100euros and if they don't fit after a day you can change them, plus no air carriage costs).
Good luck and welcome to boarding !
Hairy Phil |
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| #12 Re: Total Newbie Posted 04/08/2010 @ 03:16 |
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Revision #1 (Last edited: 04/08/2010 @ 06:01) |
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Age doesn't matter on this sport. In spite this can help you to have a better lifestyle. A good snowboard package also may can help you to start this adventure. |
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| #13 Re: Total Newbie Posted 17/08/2010 @ 15:52 |
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Hey Mr Fish,
like the others said, definitely not too old to be snowboarding. My dad's in his 50s and he's loving it! Recently he's been riding more than me, what's that all about?
I think the others have all given good advice, I'll add some too.
Lessons - I think in general, it's a good idea to get some before you go. It can give you a head start in resort. Personally I think the initial goal for beginners is to start linking turns. Once you can do this is starts to open up the mountain... you can explore different runs with the feeling that you're "doing it".
Thus, if you can help to get yourself to that stage, before you go, all the better, IMO. I wrote about the choice to take lessons before you go, not to long ago, if you're interested.
I've also heard that the mint snowboarding school in Avoriaz is very good. The beginner slope there is quite good, but I'm not sure how I'd rate the Morzine/Avoriaz are all together for beginners? What do others think?
There's an excellent beginner slope at the bottom of Le Tour (in Chamonix). Excellent. Also, Chamonix would be a lovely place to stay for you and your wife, if it's just the two of you, and around Christmas time. That said, the ski area in Chamonix are separated, which can be a bit off-putting for beginners.
On the subject of beginner slopes, depending on how well you're getting on, you can sometimes save yourself some cash by not buying a "full" lift pass until you've graduated from the beginner slope. But the only person who can know that is yourself - you'll know how quickly you're picking it up, e.g. whether you'll be exploring greens and blues on the 1st day or the 4th...
Equipment-wise, I think it's common advice to invest in boots if you're looking to buy some kit. I agree with that too - there're perhaps less features in boots to become unhappy with... Whereas if you invest in a board and bindings, the board especially, before you've learned to snowboard, you might find that it doesn't suite your style and/or aspirations.
There's also the risk that you don't know exactly what you're buying, e.g. maybe the length is not great, or the bindings aren't a great fit. That can be mitigated by selecting a good shop to buy from
Hope that helps,
Gavin |
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Afterbang Snowboarding Blog - keeping the snowboarding stoke going, all year round.
Two guides you might find useful: Learning to Snowboard and Getting Started with Snowboard Tricks |
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