Dress the part
First things first; layer up. Regardless of the temperature of the mountain, you’ll be going from moments of intensive cardio to periods of sitting still on the ski lift. You need to be able to add and remove clothing easily, and not just create an inescapable steam cooker. Gloves and snow trousers are non-negotiable, however.
Gear up
Your board, binding, and boots are important, and it’s essential you choose the right equipment to suit. Alpinresorts.com has an online guide to what kind of snowboard pack you should be going for, but whatever you do make sure you rent and don’t buy. New equipment is expensive, especially for a beginner. The ski shops in your resort will have a huge range of boards, boots, and helmets, and booking ahead of time means that your equipment is guaranteed to be in stock for you.
Learn the dos and don’ts
Mountain etiquette is something that comes with experience, but there are certainly some basics you should understand before hitting the pistes. Anyone lower down the mountain has right of way over those at the top, so it’s your responsibility not to launch full speed down a busy slope. Equally, at the snowparks it’s all about common sense; don’t leave your board lying around the park, don’t queue jump or ignore the park rules about area distinction, and if you fall then it’s important you get up and move out at the way as fast as you can. Snowparks can be dangerous places if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Leave fear at the door
When boarding, you’re significantly more likely to fall or otherwise injure yourself when you’re focusing on resisting the natural speed. Follow the fall line, keep your edge control, and don’t give up if it doesn’t happen right away. Snowboarding is a learned skill, so just enjoy yourself and you’ll be shredding up the mountain in no time.
