Five Tips for Snowboarding

In the Sierra Sun (February 13), Max (Margaret) Shu Teasdale offers 5 tips for beginning snowboarders. Depending on where you live, you can probably do two of them in your back yard or at a local park. No lift required.

They are:

• Practice your stance.
  
• Practice skating
  
• Try some J-turns
  
• Try some C-turns
  
• Learn to get on and off the lift.

I would add one other item: practice straight glides. That is, find a very, very small hill--so small that it doesn't even qualify as a small bump. Put your foot in the front binding, and start sliding until you come to a stop.