How to find a snowboard instructor

Choosing a snow boarding instructor can be a very difficult choice, and one that comes down to your judgement more than anything else, however by following a few basic rules and asking the correct questions you can be sure that your choice will make a more informed one. When I first started learning how to snow board I was only 20 and in fact the sport was just getting started. Snow boarding began when a man decided to attach his son’s skis together in order to ensure that his son’s technique was correct. This has lead to snow boarding being one of the most popular winter sports even making an appearance in the Olympics. Despite this, the rules and regulations that surround other sports are different with snow boarding and for that reason alone it can be difficult to find an instructor that you are able to trust.

Does your instructor have any customers that you can speak with?

Ask your instructor if he has any past pupils that you are able to speak with. If he does then you will be able to ensure that he at least has some experience, and you can ask those pupils how they found the training that they were given. This is something that I consider with all my pupils. I ask them if they would like to speak with any ex pupils and give them their telephone numbers. Although most don’t bother calling them up, it gives them a certain level of confidence in my ability.

What rates or charges will you incur for instruction?

This is an important question and one that should be considered as a major factor in who you choose. If an instructor is charging more then it probably reflects on one major issue and that is his ability. If you are being charged more then this may be reflected in his service and experience and therefore it may be worth it. On the other hand, if you are mainly looking for the ability to master basic skills, then perhaps it is not worth paying extra. It is also imperative that you ask if the rates that you are paying reflect every cost element that you will incur. What do I mean by this? Some instructors may charge you an hourly rate, but then the course may ask for more in order to use the facilities or rent equipment. Be sure that you know about everything that you are paying. Another point for consideration is that if you intend to train on a better slope then the costs of tuition will surely be higher. I would say it is probably worth paying that little extra to learn on snow, and on a diverse and challenging range of slopes.

How well do you think you will get on with your instructor?

This is something that we must all consider before choosing an instructor, and although we cannot always tell, meeting them in person is a great way to get a feel for their personality. Many instructors choose to make friends with their pupils however this is something that I refrain from doing. In my opinion students attain the best results, when they have a relationship of mutual respect and understanding with their instructor. When the pupil and instructor become too chatty problems arise. However, this is just my opinion. If you feel more comfortable with a chatty instructor then this should be your choice. Think about what is best for you, and allow this to influence your choice of instructor.

The times the instructor is available.

If your instructor will only be available between the hours of 9-5 and this is when you will be working then the chances are that this instructor is not very well suited to you. Stop and discuss with an instructor when both of you are available and you be sure to have a better working relationship.

Links to some great snowboarding trip sites

I found the following great sites for some more snowboarding information


Snowboarding trips in South America for our summer which is their winter
CASA Tours - Ski & Snowboard Tours in Chile and Argentina.

Cool site with a bunch of featured trips in North America and Europe
WWW.SNOWBOARDING.COM :: Featured snowboarding Trips and Packages

Ski Canada which offers packages deals for snowboarding trips
Ski Canada - Ski Snowboard Trips and winter vacation packages to Canada

Cool college ski and snowboard trips so that you can go as a group
College Ski & Snowboard Online Reservations College Ski Trips College Snowboard Trips - Home

A Seattle newspaper article about a company that has created Snowboarding trip packages
Sharing scuba diving and snowboarding trips on GeoJoey

Lots of different snowboard trips for cheap
Snowboarding - Activity Holidays, Trips & Tours

Burton snowboarding gear

With the winter season fast closing in on us, it's time to start getting ready to hit the slopes. Burton Snowboarding Gear is one of the best companies to come up with snowboarding equipment that keeps the fun-loving ones in mind. Where other snowboard manufacturing companies tend to focus on professional level gear that's patterned after "the equipment used by professionals" or some other similar sales pitch, Burton's focus is on the rest of us who just want to snowboard for fun, have a good time, and stay warm and comfortable while doing it.

Burton's lineup involves not only snowboards, but apparel and accessories that focus on stylish appearance, safe performance, and user comfort. While they also have their own line of competition level gear, a vast majority of their equipment is meant for casual enjoyment and usage. Here are some samples of their offerings.

Kiddie and Beginner Snowboards - these snowboards are designed like bikes with trainer wheels, in that their balance and shape are very forgiving on the slopes. Performance wise, don't expect to pull stunts with these boards, but if you don't know much about snowboarding, you can expect that you'll be eating the snow a lot less than you would with a normal board.

Intermediate to Advanced Snowboards - these are top quality snowboards designed for speed and agility. If you actually know what you're doing and want to hit the slopes with a board that will let you strut your stuff, these are good purchases. Just make sure that you really DO know your stuff, as these boards can turn pretty quick, and it you're not quite as agile as you think you are, you might wind up making a pretty good snowman on the slopes.

Kid's Apparel - snowboarding is for everyone, even little kids, and Burton's lineup takes into account high factors of both warmth and safety in their children's clothing. Warm multi-layered socks, flashy jackets that make it easy to spot your kids on the slope, and heat-retaining pants are just some of the offerings. There are even additional lines for girls, featuring fleece jackets and beanies. These are meant as much to look good as they are to keep their wearers safe and warm.

Adult Apparel - these are full sized regular adult snow gear that affords warmth and protection. However, Burton's winter gear lineup for adults also offers a greater degree of freedom of movement than some other winter gear manufacturers. While still warms and comfy, these jackets, boots, and pants are built light and sturdy to allow for quick and easy motions.

Gear Bags - Burton's lineup of winter gear bags are made to mold to a snowboarder's back during a run. Compact, light, and built with shallow profiles that cut on wind resistance, these bags can be taken on a board with no worries about their weight and balance throwing you off at a crucial moment. Even the arrangement of the straps has been taken into consideration, as they are designed to avoid binding up a person's arms and shoulders when snowboarding.

Belt Pouches - Burton also has a lineup of belt pouches that hold small odds and ends if you don't want to hassle with a full backpack on a snowboarding run. Some of these belt pouches are even specialized, like ones meant to hold the average portable CD player so you can listen to your favorite sounds while you're on the slopes.

Ever wonder what the best snowboard sites are when you are looking for news and tips as well as reviews of the best of all snowboarding slopes? Here is a great list to start with.

Snowboarding.com
Yearly events and resorts listings for snowboarders, plus news, photos, videos, forums, and featured snowboarding package trips.

Snowboarding: About.com
Terrific resource for beginners details how to determine board size and stance, plus how to tackle your first day on the slopes. Learn the background of the sport and find articles on performance techniques.

Snowboarding Reviews
Reviews for snowboarders by snowboarders. Enjoy critiques of such brands as Hammer, Town & Country, Gnu, Airwalk, and many more. Find a buyer's guide and links to online shops.

TransWorld Snowboarding
Highly popular magazine's online home offers chapters on instruction, resorts to hit, competitions, and industry news. Buyer's guides, photos, forums, and message boards available.

Snowboarding2.com
"Over 2 billion boarders" have dropped by this site since 1998. Access weather reports for popular resorts, performance tips, a history of the sport, pictures, and forums on everything from events to tricks.

Snowboarding Tips for Beginners: Wintercream
Quick Find section offers easy access to chapters on basic terminology, how to ride, and necessary equipment. Learn about clothing to wear and dealing with injuries, too

Snowboarder Terminology
Huge lexicon of all the evolving terminology of snowboarding. Send in your own submissions.

Snowboarding Technique: Ifyouski.com:
Sections on getting started, basic stance, and how to use a ski lift. Eight-step guide to better boarding teaches jumps and 360 spins.

History of Snowboarding
Relatively new recreational sport's beginnings and basic how-to can be read. Find forums and awesome action pictures.

Google Directory: Snowboard Manufacturers
Connect to the official sites of over three dozen snowboard manufacturers and companies, including K2, Nitro, Elan, and Palmer USA. Check out the related boots and bindings category.