As a snowboard instructor, I make no effort to hide my belief that taking a lesson, especially when starting out, is the best way to learn to snowboard. A recent study out of Gifu University in Japan has, not surprisingly (to me, at least), come to the same conclusion. After studying over 2,000 injuries, the researchers concluded that "snowboarders lacking licensed instruction accounted for 9 out of 10 injuries." Awkward Japanese-t0-English translation aside (we refer to qualified instructors in the U.S. as being Certified, not licensed), the study proves what many have always suspected. The "follow me, buddy!" method of learning to snowboard is not only ineffective, it can also be downright dangerous!
Of the 2,000 injuries studied, nearly half were to the wrist. Wrist injuries are common in snowboarding, especially for beginners, as the urge to "shoot" out a hand when falling is strong. Proper training (it's generally recommended riders either don't put out a hand to break their fall, or if they do, to curl their hands into fists), higher speeds, and more experience tend to diminish the risk as snowboarders become more proficient.
It is also interesting to note the researchers found no difference between riders who rode in a goofy stance versus a regular stance.
To read the whole study, please visit Yahoo! Health.
Comments
So true! I also think that in the end you will save money by taking a lesson since you wont spend several skipasses on teaching yourself.
I don’t agree, I learned the basics myself via a book and this online blog. When I took a lesson, I ended up bailing on the instuctor. He absolutely sucked, he kept us up top on the hard pack bunny hill when we would have had the benefit of fresh snow pack as a cushion for our falls. I ended up with a bruise on my back side from hip to hip! Guess it depends who you get and how logical they are.
Take a lesson the 1st time, then go on your own. The lesson is good to get some of the basics covered, but I think most of the problem simply is just getting out there and riding. The balance comes after practice. (Now you have 3 comments, but still are 50/50.