Downhill Snowboard - A Super Addictive Game

It’s hard to come across high-quality sports games for free, or close to it, particularly within the realm of snowboarding, but in Downhill Snowboard you have exactly that.

The game itself is a simplistic reincarnation of other more developed snowboarding games, asking you to perform flips and combinations to score points as you fly your way down the mountain. Pretty straightforward, but Downhill Snowboard manages to find the ideal balance of absurdity to make this game as entertaining as it could be.

The Graphics

Graphically, this game is as simplistic as it gets. The creators opted to abandon the third-dimension completely, and the end result resembles a game from the ’90’s.

Somehow, though, this is a good thing.

The game brings back memories of playing Snowboard Kids on Nintendo 64 all day long, or of running around trying to defeat Bowser in Super Mario 64, albeit on an updated graphics platform.

It also contributes to making some of the crazy features prevalent in the game a little more suitable.

 

The crazy features!

freegameaccess.com

The weirdest element of this game is no doubt the main character himself.

Rather than create a normal human who is confined to the laws of physics like the rest of us, the creators of this game decided to bless us with a ragdoll.

This guy flops around like one of those blow-up things outside a car dealership but shows a remarkable ability to stay steady on his board despite his extremely flexible body.

When you do fuck it up though, you’ll know all about it.

Land awkwardly and his head just about flies off, his neck snaps in two and he loses three times the regular amount of blood in a human body within five seconds.

You can also be chased by an avalanche. That brings a whole new meaning to downhill snowboarding and surprised the hell out of me the first time it happened.

 

Going to play some Downhill snowboarding for a while. You might not hear from me for the next few days #games #snowboarding Click To Tweet

Difficulty

My biggest issue with cheap, straightforward games like this is that they are often far too easy.

Perfecting a game within an hour of picking it up is not at all what I’m after, and fortunately, this game avoids doing this.

Considering the game is a very basic side-scroller – that is, you work your way across the course from left to right on your screen – they’ve done well to make this one pretty difficult.

Initially, you won’t have too much trouble, with the first few stages completable pretty quickly.

As you progress though, the stages become more and more difficult, to the point where your phone, computer, or whatever you’re playing on is at risk of being thrown into a wall.

Each stage has new challenges and requirements, and each is a little bit more difficult.

Of course, this subtle increase in difficulty is exactly how they lure you in. With every failure, you become increasingly convinced that you’ll complete the level next time.

When, instead, you fall and break your little figurine’s neck for the 30th time in a row, if you’re anything like me you might just take a little joy out of watching him suffer, considering all the pain he’s brought you.

 

Problems

crazygames.com

As with all games, particularly those for which you pay next to nothing, Downhill Snowboard isn’t perfect.

For starters, each level is pretty long. That might not be a problem for you, but it does mean you end up wasting a lot of time on the game.

If you snap your character in two near the end of a level, frustration will be at its peak as you envision repeating the entire level over again.

The other problem is that there is no multiplayer ability.

This isn’t a problem if you have no friends, but for the more socially inclined, isolating yourself from your friends and loved ones to play a 2D video game might not be so appealing.

Ultimately though, this game is pretty damn fun, particularly considering it’s available for $1.19 in your App Store.

You’ll while away plenty of pointless hours playing it, enjoy it at least some of the time, and probably won’t miss the buck you gave up to buy it.

To have a go at this amazingly fun and addictive game click the link below:

Crazy Games

Have you had the chance to play Downhill snowboard? What are your thoughts about it? Did you complete it? Let us know in the comments below and as usual, make sure to share this page on Facebook and Twitter.

Downhill Snowboard - A Super Addictive Game

What Snowboard Style are you?

Any snowboarder worth his salt knows that understanding what snowboard style they have can really influence their progression and snowboarding capabilities.

For beginners, there are fundamentals that need to be first established, such as balance, an affinity with their equipment and an understanding of the slopes.

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As you progress though, either intentionally or unknowingly, you’ll start to establish a preference for a snowboard style.

The sort of snowboarding style you decide to undertake can vary substantially. Your style specifies what kind of rider you are, what sort of equipment you’re going to buy, and where you may want to strut your things.

Naturally, you do not need to be restricted to one method – you might be a combination of a few similar styles, or possibly you even like vastly different styles of riding.

Regardless, you’ll fit into at least one of the listed below snowboard styles.

Which Snowboard Style Are you?

Free-riders

These people just want to be out on the mountain, doing exactly what they please.

There’s little regulation in this style of riding – it’s all about creating your very own runs, discovering your own style down the slope, and essentially taking it as it comes.

It’s about checking out, it’s about finding brand-new areas of the backcountry.

This type of riding needs, unsurprisingly, a free-ride board. These boards are normally pretty steady, allowing you to reach some high speeds without toppling off the board.

I figured out my Style. Now I can hit up the slopes and shred the pow #snowboarding #style Click To Tweet

Freestylers

The above free-riders style doesn’t interest these guys.

If they were in a snowboarding game, you ‘d be scoring optimum points as you search constantly for techniques, dives, and rails.

The majority of your time is invested in the park and seldom do you venture out to most parts of the mountain.

Obviously, this snowboard style needs different equipment. Freestyle snowboards are much shorter, lighter, and more flexible – makes sense.

You have to be agile on these boards, able to weave as quickly as possible, and a long, clunky board is only going to hinder that capability.

 

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All-mountaineers

 

They typically have more in common with free-riders than freestylers, investing more time boarding downhill than in the park, however, they still enjoy a range of different types of routes.

Undoubtedly, the type of board these snowboarders use needs to be pretty flexible, able to carry out a number of different snowboard styles on various types of surface, and the specifics of the board can depend on what these people spend many of their time doing.

 

Freestyle mountaineers

The name pretty much sums up this snowboard style.

You like hitting up the backcountry, but you use anything and everything as a playground for you. Fallen tree’s as rails, rocks as snowboard jumps, and massive drops as a way to free fall. You create the park as you shred the mountain. The uncertainty of what’s behind the next corner ads to the enjoyment of the run.

Like for all-mountaineers, the type of snowboard freestyle mountaineers selects depends on exactly what aspect of snowboarding, and what they decide to do the most. Will it be straight shredding or getting air? 

 

 

The more you snowboard the more defined your style will be. As mentioned before you can shift and change between styles but it is good to establish a concrete style for yourself so that you can get the equipment which best works with that style. By doing this you can really enhance your snowboarding experience

Or if you just want to be free to do whatever you want whenever you want, check out some big snowboarding brands as they are constantly innovating and creating boards and bindings that transcend the different snowboard styles.

Who knows, maybe in the near future there will be a board that works well in all styles.

Till then let me know what Snowboard style you are in the comments below. Also, as usual, make sure to share this page on Facebook and Twitter.

Feature Image: bobaliciouslondon

What Snowboard Style are you?

Snowboarding Terms explanation 101

The sport of snowboarding has its own special language. For the layman, numerous of the terms we utilize do not make a whole lot of sense. Snowboarding terms are puzzling to some, but within the sport itself, they are an essential part of the culture.

In most instances, the snowboarding terms do have some logic behind them. For example, if you refer to getting air, it doesn’t mean to breathe in, instead, it means that you are no longer touching the ground as you are either doing a jump (air) or you have tripped over and flung yourself into the air.

Another example like this is when you do a seatbelt air – When jumping or getting air, you reach to the back of your board to grab the tail end of it. The motion itself looks like the one you would use when putting your seatbelt on.

In all honesty what else would you call it besides seatbelt air?

One crucial structure in snowboarding is the halfpipe. When you think about it, that is exactly what it is. Well, technically not a pipe but the shape of a pipe.

But don’t go thinking that all terms are that simple.

There are plenty which are baffling and amusing in equal parts, and it’s difficult to decide whether they make the sport seem ridiculous or add to it.

This is particularly the case for many aerial techniques.

A roast beef air? What on earth does it mean?

For those who do not understand, a roast beef air happens when you grab the heel edge of your board in between the bindings with your rear hand.

Maybe a rear heel grab would have been better suited, however, I guess roast beef air is more unforgettable.

A personal favorite is the flying squirrel air.

This is where you grab the heel edge of the board with both hands; the rear hand by the rear foot and the front hand by the front foot. Whether this suits the strange category or the actual category, I’m not even sure.

Does it resemble a flying squirrel? Vaguely I suppose. A most we can say that whoever created the name had a great imagination.

To add to the confusion, snowboarding terms also refer to pioneers in the sport and different moves.

Like the McTwist may sound like it belongs on a McDonald’s menu, however, it really makes best sense as a name.

The trick includes an entire lot of twisting and was named after skateboarder Mike McGill, who initially created the maneuver. When Terje Haakonsen came up with an aerial relocation of his own, it was called the Haakon Flip.

Snowboarding terms are an essential part of what many individuals feel is the very best culture on the planet.

Those who have never snowboarded probably think the language of snowboarding is contrived, an obnoxious effort to sound cool.

In some cases, perhaps they’re right, but at the end of the day snowboarding terms contribute to a sport makings peoples lives better.

Finishing a few of these maneuvers we have discussed can provide you with a buzz that can last for days.

It is among the best sports in the world and one which is catching the creativity of a growing number of people with every coming year. One of the most accurate snowboarding quotes out there is by the legend Travis Rice, who summed it up as follows:

I would not even call snowboarding a sport. For me it’s simply a way of living. It’s a chance to finally shut your brain off, and live within the minute. And, for as long as I am able, I will ride up until the day I pass away.

So if you are a seasoned veteran, or just starting out, making sure to know a few snowboarding terms can really enhance your snowboarding experience.

It’s like speaking a few words in a foreign language when you travel. It might not be much but it can definitely break the ice and get your foot in the door with other snowboarders.

 

Here is a short selection of snowboarding terms to get you started:

Air – A jump or leap where the snowboard lifts off the ground.

Backcountry – Terrain outside of resort boundaries with no marked trails and natural obstacles like trees and cliffs.

Backside – A term originating from surfing, the direction in which you turn if you are traveling up a wave and turn so as you back faces the wave. In snowboarding, it is used to describe your direction of rotation in which the rider spins clockwise in the air if their left foot is facing down the hill (regular). It is the opposite of frontside.

Carve – A perfect turn where the edge of the board digs into the snow, causing the rider to gain speed with each turn.

Ding – A scratch or gouge in the base of the board. Dings can occur if a rider rides over a rock or hits a hard chunk of ice.

Edge – The smooth metal edges that run the perimeter of the snowboard.

Faceplant – When a rider falls on his or her face.

Fakie – Riding backwards or with your non-dominant foot forward. Also referred to as ‘riding switch.’

Goofy – Riding with the front foot forward or facing down the hill.

Grab – To grab either side of the snowboard in the air with the right or left hand.

Grommet (Grom) – Refers to a small, young snowboarder.

Halfpipe – A U-shaped snow structure built for freestyle snowboarding with opposing walls of the same height and pitch.

Invert – A trick where the head is beneath the level of the board and the snowboarder balances on one or two hands.

Jam Session – A competition in which all riders perform in the half pipe or park at the same time. One rider drops in after the next in no particular order.

Kicker – Large jump with a manmade or natural ramp.

Lip – The top edge of the half pipe wall.

Nollie – Much like an ollie, except the rider springs off of the nose instead of the tail.

Nose – The front end of the snowboard or tip.

Ollie – Borrowed from skateboarding, an Ollie is to get air by first lifting the front foot, springing off the back foot, then landing on both feet.

Overhang (heel drag) – When the heel drags off the end of the snowboard. Occurs if the bindings are set up incorrectly or if the board is to small for the rider.

Pipe Dragon – A grooming device used to groom half pipes.

Pow – Short for powder; fluffy, freshly fallen snow.

Rail – 1. A snowboard obstacle resembling a hand rail for stairs. 2. The sidewall and an edge of a snowboard.

Snurfer – The original snowboard made in 1965 by Sherman Popper. It did not have bindings or edges, but had a rope attached to the nose for steering.

For a comprehensive list of snowboarding, terms check out

www.the-house.com

What snowboarding terms do you know of and use? Do you get confused at times when snowboarders talk? Let us know in the comments below and as always make sure to share this post on Facey and Twitter

Snowboarding Terms explanation 101

8 Snowboard Tricks you can pick up right away

Anyone wanting to take their riding to the next level needs to develop an arsenal of snowboard tricks. Not only do they make you look like a legend, but they’re super fun and very challenging.

Getting down a snowboard trick that you’ve been working on for a while is immensely satisfying, and the buzz of pulling it off for the first time lasts for hours, if not days. Here’s a list of some of the most achievable and most enjoyable snowboard tricks for you to add to your repertoire.

Snowboarding Tricks

Ollie

One of the first tricks you should learn, I have no doubt that you’ve all heard of this one. The ollie requires you to get a little bit of air by jumping off the tail of the board. Not too tricky, but an essential one for your group of tricks.

Nollie

This one is not unlike to the ollie and is a good example of when snowboard trick names get pretty straightforward.

Like the ollie, this requires you to get a little air, but instead of jumping off the tail of the board, you jump off the nose. You might say it’s a nose ollie. A no-llie.

The beauty of the above two is that you don’t need any extra equipment to do them. Just grab your board, find some snow, a little bit of space, and you’re set.

Shifty

This is a fun one which can really help to develop your board control. In a shifty, the rider jumps into the air and rotates the board about 90 degrees, so that it’s facing perpendicular to the direction he or she is moving.

Prior to landing, twist the board back round to its initial position, land soft, and keep riding! Easy, fun, looks good – what more could you want?

The above three are pretty straightforward airs. Let’s get a bit more technical, and touch on some grabs.

Nose Grab

Unsurprisingly, this trick involves grabbing the nose of your board. As you jump in the air, straighten your back leg and lift up your front leg.

This will bring the nose of your board towards you, and allow you to easily reach down with your front hand and grab your nose.

Mute Grab

The mute grab requires you to grab the toe edge of the board in between the bindings. Simply jump, and unlike in the nose grab, bring both of your legs upwards so that your board remains parallel to the ground.

Then, grab the toe edge of the board with your front hand, and you’ve completed a mute grab.

Melon grab

In terms of explanation, this is pretty similar to the mute grab, but if you can do them both you’ll know they require pretty different skills. The melon grab also involves grabbing the board in between the bindings with your front hand, though this time it’s the heel side of your board which you’ll want to be grabbing.

At this point in time, the word grab starts to sound more and more ridiculous, so let’s move on to flips. If you’re in the early stages of your snowboarding career, these may be a little out of your league, but they’re definitely something challenging you can work towards.

Backflip and front flip

Easy to explain, hard to do. A backflip occurs when a rider, obviously, flips backward off a jump, while a front flip is the same thing with the opposite rotation.

McTwist

This is getting seriously advanced now. The McTwist involves a rider riding backside in a halfpipe or similar. In the air, the rider flips forward, generally 540 degrees. The best of the best can go more than 540 degrees though, and this is where it becomes useful to understand a little more about snowboard trick names.

Snowboard tricks are generally referred to in their most basic form, and there are many variations to each trick. For spins and flips, simply add the amount of rotations to the name of the trick and it takes on a whole different meaning. While a standard McTwist might be 540 degrees, you can also perform a McTwist 720, for example, and obviously this is significantly more challenging.

So while this may be an incomplete list of snowboarding tricks, it can easily be be added to by understanding the basics of snowboard trick names. For example, the term switch is used when a snowboarder is riding in reverse to the way they normally ride. That is, if you’re a goofy footer (right foot forward), then you’re riding switch when your left foot is in the front. A switch ollie, logically, is a regular ollie performed while the rider is riding switch.

Then we have frontside and backside. Imagine you’re performing a 180 in a halfpipe – this description in itself isn’t enough to properly envision the trick, because you could have rotated in one of two ways. A frontside 180 for a regular stance rider would involve rotating counterclockwise through the air, while a backside would require you to rotate clockwise. Switch that terminology around for a goofy rider.

So as you can see, snowboard trick names are generally pretty logical, and if you commit a few of the basic names to memory, you can expand on these with supplementary terms. Presumably you’re more interested in actually being able to perform the tricks than remember their names though, so get out there and practice!

8 Snowboard Tricks you can pick up right away

The Most Epic Snowboard Brands

A few decades ago, there were hardly any snowboard brands on the planet. There may have been some ski-focussed groups who dabbled in the field, and a couple of pure snowboard companies were in their infancy, but generally, the field was pretty thin.

Fast forward to today, and you’ve got a plethora of global, high-quality snowboard brands dedicating their time to making the sport better. A few of the best of them are some pretty significant companies, demonstrating the growth which has taken place within the industry in recent years.

Snowboard Brands

Burton.com

Burton Snowboards

This is easily the most recognizable of all the snowboard companies on the planet. Burton has been around snowboarding since the beginning – 1977 to be exact – and has played a massive role in the development of the sport.

They’re renowned for maximizing and developing our technological capabilities to make the most advanced, and the best, boards on the market.

That’s not all they do though, also churning out high-quality gear for all kinds of riders.

If you bought every piece of snowboarding equipment you own from Burton, you’d be doing well, and would be completely covered.

The list of names they support, which includes Shaun White, Terje Haakonsen and Kelly Clark, is proof enough of the esteem in which they are held in snowboarding circles.

Burton Snowboards

 

Lib Tech

lib-tech.com

Lib Tech focusses on snowboard design and is one of the best snowboard brands around at what they do.

They innovate and create new designs each and every year, with some of their most famous work including the Banana Technology rocker shape and Magne-Traction edges.

They use sustainable and environmentally-friendly resources and processes, and continually help to take snowboarding to new heights.

Lib Tech

gnu.com

Gnu Snowboards

Gnu snowboards have been around since 1977, and among the snowboarding, fraternity have built themselves a pretty solid reputation.

Snowboarder’s handcraft these boards, which are known for their ‘progressive’, and sometimes unusual, designs. Initially started by Mike Olson, this is one of the longest running snowboard brands out there.

These days they’re owned by parent company Mervin Manufacturing, but they still have more than enough autonomy to keep creating the boards that helped them to build their reputation.

Gnu

Salomon.com

Salomon Snowboards

Most people have heard of Salomon the brand but wouldn’t recognize them for their snowboarding exploits.

It’s been around for 70 odd years now and is a pretty big deal within the sports equipment manufacturing market.

Personally, I’ve always known them for their hiking boots, but they churn out all sorts of stuff, from running and hiking gear, skiing, and of course snowboarding.

In 1995, nearly 50 years into the company’s life, they launched Salomon Snowboards direct out of their headquarters in Annecy, France.

Since then, the company has been using it’s already solid reputation to influence the snowboarding industry.

There’s plenty of well-known pro’s among their team, and they contribute to creating technically proficient yet relatively straightforward boards. These guys aren’t going to be making boards like you’ll find coming out of Gnu, for example, but they’re good at what they do and make some pretty nice boards.

Salomon

Capita Snowboarding

Capita

If you’re constantly concerned about your own environmental footprint, Capita will be your kind of brand.

One of the most environmentally-conscious snowboard companies on the market, these guys create their boards with sustainability in mind.

That potentially scares off some less-environmentally concerned riders, but Capita excels at focussing on sustainability without compromising on the quality of the boards.

They have come up with some seriously high-quality boards, and also provide great value – the performance of these boards far outweighs what you’ll be paying for them.

Capita Snowboarding

As snowboarding has progressed, the number of snowboard brands out there has exploded. It’s extraordinary to think that 40 years ago, there were only a couple of pioneering snowboard companies out there because today they seem to be endless. Obviously, some brands are better than others, but if you’re looking for high-quality boards and gear, you won’t be left wanting.

For more snowboarding articles check out:

How to jump on a Snowboard

Best tips for snowboard sizing and bindings

Skiing vs Snowboarding. Which one is better for your needs?

Chill out with a few Snowboarding Videogames

Which snowboard brands do you prefer? What was your last snowboarding gear purchase? Let us know in the comments below and as usual, make sure to share on Facebook and Twitter.

The Most Epic Snowboard Brands

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Snowboarding Videogames That Will Get You Pumped

Snowboarding videogames can be heaps of fun. Maybe you’ve spent all day on the slopes trying, and failing, to perfect your best move. Maybe you’ve spent all day on the slopes trying to make it 50 meters without falling on your face. Whatever your level, coming home and doing all the things you can’t do in real life on a computer game is, oddly enough, pretty satisfying.

I like to convince myself that it actually makes me a better snowboarder. Skaters have the Tony Hawk series; we don’t have as iconic a game series, but plenty of good snowboarding games have been released over the years.

Click here for a list of snowboarding Videogame you can take with you on your phone.

 

Steep Snowboarding

ubisoft

Steep is relatively new to the snowboarding videogames repertoire, but it’s been pretty well received.

Set on the slopes of Annecy, the game lets the computer version of you strut it’s stuff on what is an accurate and detailed representation of the area.

As always, if you’ve actually spent some time in Annecy, you’ll probably get even more kicks out of this game.

The graphics are great, the challenges are good – the main problem with this one is that there is not a huge range of tricks available to be performed.

Other than that though, there’s a lot to like about this game, and plenty of time to be wasted playing it.

Check out Steep here

 

 

Shaun Palmer Pro Snowboarding

wikipedia.org

Shaun Palmer Pro Snowboarder might not necessarily fit into the list of best snowboarding videogames, but it is certainly one of the most memorable.

The name itself is enough to signal the intent of this game; it aimed to be the snowboarding version of Tony Hawk Pro Skater.

THPS, SPPS, same thing, right? Wrong.

While Tony Hawk Pro Skater was a global phenomenon and has become synonymous with skateboarding, Shaun Palmer couldn’t quite recreate the snowboarding equivalent to the same quality.

Sure, parts of the game were serviceable – there’s a pretty good range of recreated real world slopes, players can enjoy both freestyle and competition levels, and a goal-based system makes the product more entertaining.

The game lacks in some important areas though, namely that a lot of tricks are confusing to pull off, and some of the recreated courses aren’t hugely accurate.

There’s also a stinker of a soundtrack, meaning you’re better off playing with the sound off. This game is far from the best out there, but it’s worth a try even if just to compare with Tony Hawk.

 

 

 

Amped Snowboarding

Wikipedia.org

Amped succeeded where Shaun Palmer Pro Snowboarder, for want of a softer word, failed.

Of all the snowboarding videogames on the market, Amped has probably gone closest to recreating Tony Hawk, both in gameplay and in popularity.

The availability of career mode means there are plenty of play options, and there’s always something to strive for, because who wants to be playing a video game with no end goal, right?

This mode actually mimics the real life of aspiring pro snowboarders – you start out on some real life resorts, try to impress sponsors, and gradually work your way towards better gear, new mountains etc.

The gameplay itself can be tricky though, and it can often be hard to pull off the tricks you want.

Personally, I don’t mind this – there’s nothing worse than a game which can be perfected in a couple of days.

Relish the challenge! The graphics in this game are excellent too, meaning overall this is right up there as one of the best snowboarding videogames on the market.

 

 

SSX Tricky

Wikipedia.org

SSX Tricky, at first glance, seems ridiculous, but for some reason it’s extremely fun.

The graphics are weird, the characters quote Macbeth, and some of the tricks are not even close to realistic.

Once you accept that this isn’t a typical snowboarding game though, it becomes a lot more fun.

This game is a sequel to the original SSX, which came out of relative oblivion to capture the hearts and minds of snowboard gamers around the world. SSX Tricky followed, and took things to a new level.

There’s heaps of courses, heaps of tricks, and heaps of fun.

It might not be as realistic or as refined as many of the other highly rated snowboarding videogames out there, but somehow, the creators of this game have managed to find a happy medium of reality and insanity that is immensely satisfying.

 

Snowboarding videogames can be a lot of fun, even if none of them reach the heights of other board riding releases (ahem, Tony Hawk).

The one’s listed here are all solid choices, and are certainly worth trying out, but if you’re looking to maximise your enjoyment, it’s hard to go past SSX Tricky. Give it a try.

What Snowboarding Videogames have you played? Which ones were the best, let us know in the comments below and as always make sure to share this post on facebook and twitter.

For more Snowboarding articles check out:

Snowboard Sizing and Bindings

Skiing vs Snowboaring

Feature image: Ubisoft

Snowboarding Videogames That Will Get You Pumped

Skiing vs Snowboarding. Which should you choose

Skiing vs snowboarding: the age-old question. Both of them utilize the laws of physics to gracefully glide along the beautiful natural phenomenon that is snow, but each discipline is unique and can result in a vastly different experience. So, should you ski, or should you snowboard?

Skiing vs Snowboarding? Which will come out Victorious

michigan.org

A major influence on which sport many people choose to undertake is just how much time they intend to dedicate to it.

If theoretically, you rarely visit the snow but have decided to make a weekend trip, skiing might be your best bet. Why might you ask?

Quite simply, skiing is easy to learn in a shorter period of time.

If you envision skiing vs snowboarding, you’ll see why. Skiing is a little more natural; you have your legs apart and have a much greater range of motion in your league.

If you start to tumble, you can lift a leg, lean your body, or do whatever you have to do to regain your balance.

In contrast, on a snowboard, your legs are basically tied into a specific position. Imagine you start to tip forwards with your legs strapped into a snowboard – you ain’t staying upright, and you will end up with a face fall of powder.

Another factor which makes skiing a little more natural, and easier to learn, is the fact that you face the direction you are going.

Just like walking, running, driving, or whatever it may be, your body and your head are looking directly towards the next spot you will reach.

On a snowboard, you’re going down the mountain sideways. You lose an element of peripheral vision and balance, and as a result, it’s easier to fall.

So that’s all pretty straightforward. Skiing is easier to learn than snowboarding. The problem with this for beginner skiers is that when they try to advance, often they’ve developed some bad habits that they were able to get away with on the more gentle slopes.

Try to transfer your skills onto a black run, and see what happens when you attempt to slow down with your tried and true ‘pizza’ method. The results won’t be pretty.

With snowboarding, once you get past the initial difficulties and inevitable bruises, you’ll find that you progress pretty rapidly.

Getting the hang of moving and turning while staying upright isn’t easy, but once you can do it you’ll notice the skills are pretty transferable to actual runs, and from then on its largely about learning to gain more speed and do jumps and tricks.

Many beginners are afraid of this concept, because there’s not an equally simple way to stop as in skiing, and if you fall you’re likely to do so pretty ungracefully. Gathering pace can actually make the discipline easier though, as the reduced contact between the board and the snow reduces friction and makes it easier to turn.

Which Sport do you prefer? Skiing or Snowboarding? #snowboarding #skiing Click To Tweet

With all that in mind, there’s a pretty simple summary which is generally applied to the two sports; skiing is easier to learn and harder to master, while snowboarding is harder to learn and easier to master.

If you have a couple of weeks on the slopes, think it’ll be the last time you ever go to the snow, and want to become as good as humanly possible at one of the two disciplines, give snowboarding a try. You’ll probably be better after two weeks of hardcore practice than you would be at skiing. If you have just a few days though, try skiing.

blacksheepsnowboardschool.com

If you decide to continue pursuing snowboarding afterwards make sure to learn how to get the correct snowboard sizing and binding. A few simple adjustments to your gear could make a huge difference in the way you snowboard.

Another factor which swings in the favor of snowboarding is that if you ever want to go off piste, you’ll find the transition much more painless as a snowboarder than as a skier.

For those who don’t know, going off piste means leaving the safety of the manicured, firm ski runs, and exploring the more untouched, powdery regions of a mountain.

On skis, this transition can be really difficult, and the technical requirements are hugely different. Snowboards are much easier.

All the time you’ve spent falling on your face and your arse, slowly sliding your way down gentle slopes, and getting in people’s way won’t be for nothing, as you’ll pretty much be able to utilize the same skills and techniques off piste.

Don’t take this to mean it’s easy though; off piste snowboarding still demands you to take care. The transition on a snowboard, though, will be much easier than on skis.

Alternatively, you could be like many and try to learn how to ski and snowboard.

Pretty often, people try out snow sports intending to do just that – try it out – and invariably end up falling in love with the snow.

If this is you, learn to do both. Most likely you’ll end up having a favorite, or one that you’re significantly better at, but being able to ski and snowboard allows you to switch it up from day-to-day, and practice the discipline you feel like when you wake up in the morning.

Regardless of which you choose, you’ll have a good time.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding down a beautiful snow capped mountain, whether it be on ski’s or on a snowboard. Learning both inevitably results in a few tumbles and a few bruises, but it’s well and truly worth it.

What are your thoughts on Skiing vs Snowboarding? Which one of the two do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below and as always make sure to share this page on Facebook and Twitter.

Skiing vs Snowboarding Feature image: telegraph.co.uk and snowskool.com

Skiing vs Snowboarding. Which should you choose

Best Snowboard Sizing and Binding Tips

It may sound obvious, but snowboards are a pretty important weapon in a snowboarder’s arsenal. After all, without them, you’re just a guy standing on some snow. There’s a bunch of important stuff you need to know in order to choose the best board for you, and this guide is going to help you do just that. Snowboard sizing and binding are the two most important factors in selecting your board, so here’s a little info on both of these things.

Snowboard sizing

Many inexperienced snowboarders are so eager to get out on the slopes that they don’t spend enough time figuring out what size their board should be. Snowboard sizing is such a key part of the snowboarding process, and it’s vital that you make sure you pick a suitable board for both your size and your needs.

There’s a couple of things you need to think of in choosing the right size board. Firstly, how big are you? Pretty obvious, and pretty relevant to all board sports. The common perception is to use a board that, when standing, reaches somewhere between your chin and your nose, but obviously your weight comes in to play as well. If you’re as skinny as a rake you might want to err on the smaller side, while bigger fellas will probably prefer bigger boards.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of info out there about snowboard sizing relative to your own size. Chuck ‘snowboard sizing’ into Google, and you’ll have hundreds of board size calculators at your disposal. Easy. Unfortunately, those that rely purely on your size can’t be taken as gospel, because there’s another couple of things you need to factor in; your skill level, and your riding style.

Clearly, not all boards ride the same. Longer boards tend to be more stable – good for snowboarding beginners – but also more easily gather speed, and don’t turn as well as a shorter board. In contrast, these shorter boards will be pretty maneuverable, but lose out a little on stability.

Beginners usually like to use medium length boards, as they offer an element of stability while also providing the rider with an ability to develop their turning skills. Jibbers like shorter boards, as they’re easier to maneuver around, while those who like to traverse entire mountains might prefer something a little longer.

Whatever ability level you may be, whatever your riding style, and whatever your size, there’s plenty of boards out there. Before you invest any money in them though, make sure you find one which is going to allow you to do what you want to do.

snowboardingprofiles.com

snowboardingprofiles.com

 

Snowboard Binding

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The Snowboard binding provides the connection between your legs, body, and the board itself, as such choosing the right size, is hugely important. Firstly, they need to fit your boots – pretty obvious. They also need to be a size match for your board though, meaning you’ve got a couple of things to think about.

There are plenty of sizing charts to match up your boot size with your binding, but unfortunately, the snowboarding industry is not immune to the seemingly ubiquitous problem of different brands having different sizing. A small in one brand may be a medium in another, meaning the best way for you to ensure your binding fits your boot is to try them on. Generally though, if you have a pretty normal sized foot you shouldn’t have a problem getting the size right – it’s more those who have abnormally big or little feet who need to be careful.

Next up, make sure the binding fits your board. This is obvious if you think about it. Picture bindings which are too big; they are inevitably going to be hanging off the edges of the board. Not good. You’ll fall, so make sure they aren’t too big. On the other hand, if they’re too small you won’t be able to put as much pressure on the board’s edges, making it harder to turn.

Given the bindings need to fit both the boot and the board, you would be correct to suggest that if your boots fit your board, the right size binding will fit both. The three are all interdependent, and if you get these right you’ll find it a whole lot easier to do what you want on your board.

In the end, if you are a snowboarding beginner, you will find that going to a store and trying out all the gear and asking knowledgeable storekeepers will be the best option for you. Once you get an idea next time you purchase gear you will be able to pick out the right stuff nice and quickly.

Have you got any cool snowboard sizing and binding tips that make it easier for you to select the right sizes? Let us know in the comments below. Make sure to share this article on Facebook and Twitter

Featured image: shredzshop.com

Best Snowboard Sizing and Binding Tips

Transworld Snowboarding Magazine

Love snowboarding? Then you’ve probably heard of Transworld Snowboarding, one of the best reads out there for all lovers of the sport. This is the most popular snowboarding magazine there is – over 1.3 million copies are sold per year, a lazy 500,000 more than its nearest competitor.

transworld.net

The magazine has been around for over 30 years now, plenty of time to perfect its content. Its four editions per year focus on a range of entertaining info for snowboarders.Their featured stories provide in-depth coverage of all sorts of snowboarding-related topics, while their resort guide lets readers know the best spots to check out. They provide info about the best snowboarding gear, as well as what upcoming events you should check out. Basically, the magazine covers it all.

Aside from just being a good read though, Transworld Snowboarding also played a major role in the development of the sport. Ever since its launch in 1987, magazine staff realized the need to grow the sport and created their own platform from which to do so. Rather than simply producing the magazines and hoping for the best, they helped to bring attention to both themselves and snowboarding in general by petitioning, hard, to have snowboarding allowed at ski resorts.

At the time, snowboarding hadn’t yet built the reputation it has today. It was a sport in its infancy, trying to compete against its sometimes mean, often arrogant big brother; skiing. TransWorld snowboarding challenged this, even creating a mysterious figure through which to challenge the status quo in the mid-late ’90’s. The Chameleon was a ‘secret agent’ who didn’t care for the rules. The mystery man would bring attention to ski resorts refusing to allow snowboarding by riding the lifts with a splitboard, which he would put together as a snowboard at the top of the runs. Then, he would fly his way down the mountain on his snowboard, undoubtedly causing plenty of shocked skiers to stop and take notice.

Transworld Snowboarding helped shape the sport into what it is today #snowboarding #transworld Click To Tweet

 

transworld.net/

The Chameleon didn’t care who he upset – TransWorld penned articles written by this symbol of rebellion, in which he expressed a general disdain for anyone who got in his way. He referred to the IOC as ‘fascists’, security guards as ‘sumos’, and International Ski Federation employees as ‘dictators’. He reflected the mood of a snowboarding community frustrated by a lack of recognition.

More recently, TransWorld snowboarding helped to continue the sport’s development by creating the TransAm amateur contest series, which kicked off in 2003. The contest aims to showcase some of the more creative elements of snowboarding, and has been a great platform for local talents to get their names out there. Matt Ladley, Winter X gold medallist in 2016, was a past winner of the contest, as were Chas Guldemond and Gabs Viteri. The competition has proven a great pathway for talented amateurs to develop their snowboarding careers, and still runs today, 15 years after its inception.

So synonymous with the sport of snowboarding has this magazine become that in 2002, a snowboarding video game for Xbox was developed using its name. Reviews of the game weren’t always the most positive, but hey, having a video game named after your magazine is a win in itself.

It’s not often that a magazine plays such a major role in the development, culture, and lifestyle surrounding a sport, but TransWorld magazine does that. As one of the first major snowboarding mags, and the most successful, it has helped to shape the sport into what it is today. Any snowboarder worth their salt knows all about TransWorld; it’s got info, it’s got tips, it’s got features. TransWorld Snowboarding is a name which almost transcends the sport itself, and it’s no wonder nearly one and a half million snowboard lovers subscribe to it.

Have you ever purchased a Transworld Snowboarding magazine? What did you learn from it? Comment below and as always make sure to share this article on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to tickle your snowboarding taste buds a bit more check out the articles below.

First time Snowboarding? You need to read this

Transworld Snowboarding Magazine

Learn how to jump on a snowboard using simple tips

Anyone who has ever stepped foot on a snowboard will understand the thrill of gliding down a snow-covered mountain attached to it. Once you can get air through, especially in a controlled way, that thrill is amplified like you wouldn’t believe.

In this article, you will find out the simple tips on how to jump on a snowboard, so without further a due let’s get into it.

Before you begin to learn how to jump on a snowboard make sure to check out how to fall down to make sure you prevent yourself from injuring yourself.

Learn how to Fall to Prevent Injury

First time Snowboarding? Read this

For those who’ve never yet reached these heights (so to speak), it’s best to start off with a simple, basic jump. So here it is, the first step; how to jump on a snowboard.

First off, practice off of your board. This is, unfortunately, the most boring step, but it is a necessary evil and at least you get to get it out of the way first. Plus, doing it this way will help to minimize the embarrassing stacks which inevitably come with learning something new.

How to Jump on a Snowboard

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Step 1: So, stand on a flat surface in the very same position you would be standing in if you were actually snowboarding.

Crouch slightly, keeping your chest and body in an upright position, and spring upwards. When you land, make sure your legs have some give in them; land soft. Your knees should bend slightly before returning back to the neutral position. Repeat this until it becomes embedded in your muscle memory, and believe it or not you’re halfway there.

Step 2: The next step involves doing the jump on an actual snowboard. Exciting. Make sure you find a nice gentle slope to start off with – trying to be a hero and doing it on a run which is out of your league is sure to result in humiliation – and get riding.

Once you’ve found your groove, and have a little bit of pace, repeat step 1. Most likely, it will be slightly harder this time. After all, you are on a moving object. Provided you don’t panic and repeat the same motions you’ve practiced in the comfort of your living room, you’ll be fine, and before you know it you’ll be hopping your way down the mountain.

Now that you’ve figured out how to jump on a snowboard, let’s take things up a notch and learn how to 180 on a snowboard. Not surprisingly, this is a little more difficult than the first move.

There are two kinds of 180s; a frontside and a backside. Frontside is a little easier, so we’ll stick with that for now. What we mean by a frontside 180 is simply that you will rotate your torso in the direction you’re facing, meaning you’ll be looking down the mountain throughout the move.

 

 

Step 1: As we did when learning how to jump on a snowboard, we’re going to start from the comfort of our own home for this one.

After all, if you can’t do a 180 jump standing on your own two feet, you’ll probably struggle to do it on a snowboard. Stand as though you were on your snowboard, jump, and spin frontside in the air. If you’re goofy, this means you’ll turn your body clockwise, while regular’s will turn counter-clockwise.

Step 2: Again, step 2 involves repeating step 1 on your snowboard, but this time we’re not going to be moving. Find a flat area of snow, and strap yourself into your board. Take your neutral position, but place a little extra weight on your heels.

To build up momentum for your turn, begin to rotate your torso in the opposite direction to the way you wish to turn in the air. Crouch down while keeping your back straight, as you would for a normal jump, and begin to spin your torso in the direction you wish to turn as you come up for the jump.

Then, jump, continue to spin, and land softly with both knees bent. Voila. You’ve done a 180 on a snowboard. On the flats.

Doing a 180 on the snowboard is Hella easy - Taking on the 360 next #snowboarding #snowboard Click To Tweet

Step 3: And now comes the moment of truth.

checkyeti.com

Again, find a gentle slope, and start slowly working your way into a groove. As you move slowly across the slope, set yourself up on your heel edge once again and repeat step 2.

Make sure to land softly. Obviously, you’ll be set up in the opposite stance once you land, so either spin back into your normal stance or alternatively, turn and go back the other way across the slope and repeat the move in reverse, to return yourself to your normal stance.

Now for the piece de resistance. Let’s learn how to 360 on a snowboard. Naturally, this requires more spinning than a 180 – roughly twice as much, in fact. The beauty of a 360 though, is that you land in the same position you started in. If you’re no good at riding switch, that isn’t a problem with 360’s.

We won’t explain this one in steps because you’re going to follow much the same formula as you did when learning how to 180 on a snowboard. Practice in your living room, practice on the flats, etc. Get comfortable doing it.

Once you’re ready to give it a go while you’re actually moving, there are some key points to remember. Firstly, don’t try too hard. This may seem counter-intuitive, particularly considering 360 is a lot of degrees, but if you try to madly fling your body around you’ll end up with a mouthful of snow.

Secondly, keep your head facing the direction in which you are spinning. A common mistake for people trying to perfect this move is to throw their head backward so as to continue looking down the mountain. All this will achieve is a loss of balance, and once again is likely to send your face hurtling towards the floor.

Finally, focus on rotating your upper body. As long as the top part of you moves, the rest will follow, whereas moving hips don’t necessarily result in everything moving and can also result in a loss of balance. If you ensure the top part of your body is moving in unison, you’ll find it much easier to complete this move.

These moves can all feel uncomfortable at first, particularly for those who aren’t experienced board riders. Follow these steps though and after a bit of practice, you will learn how to jump on your snowboard, which in turn will make snowboarding a hell of a lot more fun.

 

Feature Image: picture.4ever.eu

 

Learn how to jump on a snowboard using simple tips