Get on board

By STE'EN WEBSTER

Snowboarding has been growing steadily over the past decade or so, with snowboarders now making up to 40 per cent of those on New Zealand's slopes. Each year the relatively young industry gets itself more sorted, the equipment and services improve, and large numbers of New Zealanders give it a go.

We're very lucky to have the opportunity to try snowboarding in our own backyard each year, from late June to early October.

First-time snowboarders can be divided into two groups: those who cross over from skiing, and those who are completely new to the mountain and snow.

But the inspiration behind the move is common to all: the thrill of facing a new challenge and the excitement of actually doing it. People are drawn to snowboarding because it looks fun. And it is, for those of all ages.

I'll never forget one learner lesson I taught during a season instructing in Aspen, Colorado. It was with a woman, her 10-year-old son and her 65-year-old father.

None of them had been snowboarding before and by the end they were all linking turns together on the learner slope and loving it.

Skiers tend to pick up snowboarding the easiest, being familiar with basics such as how to use the lifts, and the concept of applying edge pressure to make a turn.

But skiers have to be prepared for a humbling experience, returning to the learner areas they have already graduated from - while their friends enjoy themselves up top.

However, with a little patience their skills will transfer quickly and they will be back up on familiar slopes in no time.

Lessons will make this happen even more quickly and should be considered by anyone trying snowboarding. A two-hour group lesson can save two days of frustration and pain.

First-timers to the mountain will have to work a little harder - and, again, lessons expedite the whole process.

Having grasped the basics, surfers and skateboarders will be quick to enjoy the similarities of the sideways stance they are familiar with, and the crossover tricks they can try.

For a good pump of adrenaline there's nothing quite like pointing the board downhill and letting gravity do the rest. But be warned that it is during the learning stage that most snowboard injuries occur.

Most common are broken wrists from extending locked arms during a fall. Wrist guards are highly recommended and are given free to those taking lessons, thanks to a joint venture, now in its third year, between the New Zealand Snowsports Council and the ACC.

This isn't to say that learning to snowboard is dangerous. Only about three in 1000 people on any given day on the slopes receive an injury.

Beginners should learn on a powder day or a slushy spring day. If you start on a firm and icy day - and there are plenty of those in New Zealand - you are much more likely to end up with bruises.

Generally, snowboarding injuries aren't any more common than skiing injuries. It really comes down to common sense.

Anyone throwing themselves off a 9m jump without the experience to land safely is asking for trouble, whether they are on skis, a snowboard or a cafeteria tray.

Snowboarding puts less pressure on the knees than skiing as, on a board, the knees work together, not individually. So anyone with knee problems should consider snowboarding over skiing.

Our New Zealand resorts offer a huge variety of terrain and conditions for snowboarding, and the bigger ones all cater to first-timers with a dedicated learners' area.

In the North Island, a lift ticket at Mt Ruapehu gives access to both sides of the mountain, Turoa and Whakapapa. Happy Valley, on the Whakapapa side, is one of the better-known learner areas.

Heading for the upper lifts on either side will open up endless scope for the more experienced boarder.

The South Island is a great seasonal destination for those already addicted, with Queenstown and Wanaka being popular. Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone all have excellent snowboard-learning facilities including rentals, snowboard schools and appropriate terrain for all levels.

Heliboarding would have to be the ultimate dream of any keen snowboarder, and the South Island has plenty of options with operations throughout the Southern Alps.

A day's heliboarding can cost more than $700, but you'll score plenty of untracked powder and no lift-lines. Most packages include an "alpine lunch" and the option to buy more runs if you're having a good time.

If the rock-star heliboarding lifestyle isn't quite your thing, hiking in the back country can reap the same rewards without the financial sting.

They say each turn is that much sweeter when you have hiked for it, and I have to agree.

But if you're going to do anything in the backcountry, get kitted out with an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, and travel with a group of buddies who are similarly equipped - and know how to use it all.

Playing around in the backcountry can be dangerous, but with proper precautions and knowledge it is one of the best snowsports experiences you'll ever have.

Heliski

Case notes

Best learner slopes

Happy Valley at Whakapapa.

The beginners' area and Broadway at Mt Hutt.

The beginners' area and McDougalls at Cardrona.

The beginners' area and Alta Chair at the Remarkables.

Snowboarding tips

You can rent equipment at most major ski and snowboard shops before leaving home.

Or you can rent at the mountain, although that can take time away from being on the slopes, especially on a crowded weekend.

If possible, try to learn to snowboard in soft-snow conditions such as you find on a powder day or a warm, slushy day.

Take a lesson. Dollar for dollar, this will be the most valuable investment you can make for your snowboarding future. Don't take lessons from a boyfriend or girlfriend. This is a sure recipe for disaster, either on or off the slope.

Keep your weight centred and look ahead to where you want to go. Beginners tend to lean on the back foot and look at the ground - which is exactly where they will end up.