Olympic Training for the Average Snowboarder

Watching the gymnasts and divers flip, spin and hurl themselves through the air in Beijing got me thinking about their training regimens and how they apply to snowboarding. Just like a snowboarder should never try their first run-through of a difficult trick on snow, gymnasts and divers rarely attempt new tricks on their respective competition equipment, either. A quick Google search reminded me about the Olympic Freestyle Aerials Center in Lake Placid, New York. This facility has several water ramps that allow skiers and snowboarders to safely practice new tricks without worrying about landing on the wrong body parts - i.e., their heads. Aeration machines in the pool further soften the blow, ensuring a soft landing no matter how badly the trick turns out.

Members of both PSIA and AASI can sign up to attend an aerial clinic at this facility. The clinic is being held September 15 & 16, 2008. Interested members should contact Melissa Skinner in Albany, NY at 518-452-6095 x107, or check out the respective websites for more information.

If you're unable to participate in the PSIA/AASI clinic, you can still gain some of the benefits of water ramp training in your own pool. DON'T try jumping off the diving board while strapped to your snowboard! Simply practice spins and flips off the diving board while focusing on where your body is in the air. Experiment with speeding-up or slowing down your spins by opening your arms or by pulling them closer to your body. Air awareness is a skill that can only be learned through experience, so the more time you spend spinning and flipping, the better you'll be equipped to try new maneuvers on the snow!

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