Lessons for snowboarding from mountain biking

Many snowboarders and skiers find that mountain biking is a good off-season activity. Even though a few ski areas have opened for business, there’s still some time left this year for riding on the dirt. But while there’s time, it’s worth considering how riding a mountain bike can help you get ready for the alpine season. In brief, it forces you to do some things that are also part of having success on a snowboard.

Stay loose. If your body is too stiff when you go over bumps or rocks on a bike, you may find yourself going over the bars. On the snow, if you’re too stiff when you hit a modest change in the terrain, you may lose your balance and fall.

Lean into the turn. Whether you’re on a bike or a board, stability in motion comes through leaning the equipment into the turn, and letting your body do the same. If your bike or board leans one way, and you’re leaning another, you’re setting yourself up for trouble.

Pick a line and commit to it. Having some hesitation when approaching a new line through a rock garden on your bike or looking down a steep hill while standing on your snowboard is understandable. A little bit of fear can help you. But too much is bad. Pick a line through that rock garden, or the mogul field, or down the ski slope, and commit yourself to it.

Look between the trees, not at them. The rule is the same, whether you’re threading your way through the woods on your bike or on a snowboard. You’ll go to where your eyes lead you. You don’t want that to be the trees.