Learning to Ride from a Deck of Cards

Can you learn to ride from playing a game of cards? Not likely, but you might benefit from some Snowboard Training Cards.

Produced by Sport Moves, the pack contains 60 cards. The cards are coated, just like the standard set that you would use for poker.

Each card has information on both front and back side, with both text and graphics. The graphics of snowboarders engaged in various movements are keyed to numbered paragraphs.

Here’s the table of contents:

Before the lift covers stance, edges, board flex, the fall line, the responsibility code and trail markers, and a variety of basic movements.

Getting moving tells you about surface and chair lifts, slide slips, traverses, garlands, the falling leaf, and connecting turns.

Riding conditions take you through how changes in the snow and terrain can affect what you do while snowboarding.

freestyle and park cards address safety concerns and a variety of trick maneuvers, including grabs, rails, and the halfpipe.

Competition is a short topic, with one card each discussing the basics of alpine racing, boardercross, halfpipe competitions, and slopestyle.

The home practice routine gives a workout routine.

Bonus drills continue the theme, but require equipment such as a balance board or a trampoline, or getting on the mountain.

Finally equipment cards describe the “3 b’s” of boots, boards, and bindings, helping you figure out what to buy.

The cards won’t substitute for lessons or time on the snow, but they can be a helpful introduction or refresher. At under $10–about the cost of an over-priced, greasy lunch slopeside–it could be money well spent.

You can buy a pack through the Grays on Trays store.