How To Plan and Take a Lesson

Taking a lesson is a great way to learn how to snowboard, or to improve your skills. How can the beginner maximize the joy of that first day, and minimize the trouble? Here are a few suggestions:

– Arrive plenty of time before the lesson. If your lesson at 2:00 pm, arrive at 1:15 pm. This will give you plenty of time to purchase your lesson, fill out your rental paperwork, and help the staff figure out what your board and boot setup should be.

– Before you leave the rental shop, ask the rental shop employee to show you how to secure the boot to the binding. If you’re a mechanical klutz who has no sense for engineering, this can be essential. Even if you’re not, it may be helpful to have someone point out which parts do what.

– While you still have your shoes on, find a waist-high counter. Put the board on top of that, and practice putting a boot into the binding, and then removing it. You will be getting into and out of your bindings a lot this first day, so it’s good to know how to do it.

– If you can, plan your lesson for a day with perfect weather. Seriously. A sunny day will improve your spirits, and more importantly, make the snow softer and thus better for learning.

– Ask someone at the ticket counter when the slopes were last groomed. Some skiers and snowboarders resist going out on anything other than “corduroy” snow, so called because of the lines of snow made by the grooming equipment. It’s even better snow for first-time students.

– Don’t take a lesson if the snow is icy. That’s asking for trouble, since a slippery board will be even more slippery, and falling may hurt.

– For more ideas of what to expect, read First Day.