Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 13 Now a fixture at the X-Games and Olympics, professional snowboarding continues its astounding advance as tricks get crazier with every competition. A discerning eye can pick out the dizzying tricks of a professional snowboarder as they spin and flip. From a basic turn to a Cab 1260 Shifty Roast Beef or Backside Triple Cork 1440, the possibilities are endless. Shawn White took home his third Olympic Gold in 2018 with back-to-back 1440s (quadruple spins) in the halfpipe. Trying to stand on a moving snowboard for the first time, it is hard to fathom the progression to such insane and dangerous tricks. How do you even get started with snowboarding? If pos- sible, take some lessons. Popular mountain resorts around Montana offer excellent lessons for anyone from beginner to advanced. I taught snowboarding for several years, and the most common story I heard from beginners was that their friend or sibling took them up the lift and turned them loose. "You'll figure it out!" " Just TURN!!" e result was often a beat-up beginner with a fear of snowboarding. BASICS Safety equipment for a snowboarder includes a helmet, goggles or sunglasses, wrist guards, and gloves. Consider knee pads and hip pads for learning. Use snowboarding boots which have an inner boot and lace up tight. ey are easy to walk in. Wear loose, water- proof pants, and parkas. A snowboard has two edges instead of four that skiers have, so you ride on one edge at a time, and don't use poles. Your feet are locked in with no binding release mechanism. Expect to fall a lot and spend a lot of time sitting/kneeling in the snow and getting up and down. When you fall, tuck your arms in, and roll to avoid wrist injuries. Get a board that is the right size and shape for you. It should come up to about your nose. Ask a sales professional about what you need. Keep the board edges sharp and the base waxed. Like a surfer, you ride with either your left foot forward— "Regular Foot"—or your right foot forward—"Goofy Foot." Your snowboard bindings need to be set up accordingly. by PHIL KNIGHT S NOWBOARDING HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE 1965 WHEN SHERMAN POPPEN RIGGED A BOARD OUT OF TWO SKIS FOR HIS DAUGHTERS TO SLIDE ON IN HIS MICHIGAN BACKYARD. Poppen invented the Snurfer, the first commercially-made snowboard. I rode Snurfers throughout the 1970s. Snowboarders can choose amongst slalom, freestyle, carving, park riding, halfpipe, backcountry (using split boards), boardercross, slopestyle and big air. A hybrid of surfing, skateboarding, and skiing, snowboarding has influenced all three of its parent sports. Top snowboarders like Chloe Kim, Red Gerard, and Shawn White are household names. WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT TRICK ? WHAT'S THE THIS RIDER AT WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT IS MAKING A HEEL-SIDE CARVE IN THE POWDER. Whitefish Mountain Resort Snowboarding lessons available from age 3 and up (!) Watch little Jack ride a board www.distinctlymontana.com/jack191 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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