Why does the neighborhood buck?
Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip
This is a blog about Shaun White’s Snowboarding Road Trip Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for Nintendo Wii introduces a whole new way of playing snowboarding games. Developed by Ubisoft, Shaun White Snowboarding was developed from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii Balance Board, giving you an experience that is more intuitive, realistic, and fun. .caption
World Class Indoor Terrain Park For 2009
After a successful winter season, Burton refuses to rest with the summer 2009 re-launch of The Burton Qiaobo Mellow Park, Beijing’s only year-round indoor snowboard park. 
Together with the country’s top park firm Mellow Parks and state-of-the-art indoor ski resort Qiaobo Ice & Snow World, the park will continue to provide for China’s dedicated snowboard community – 365 days a year!
“The park was really successful last year, and we’re stoked to be worki ng with Burton to continue this fun project,” comments Steve Zdarsky, Mellow Parks CEO. “China in general had a great winter snowboard season, with more and more locals getting into the sport. Based on the big turnout at today’s grand opening, it looks like I’m not the only one who is excited about continuing to snowboard through the summer!”
The Burton Qiaobo Mellow Park officially opened for the summer 2009 season today with the Great Burton Qiaobo Mellow Park Summer 2009 Grand Opening. One of China’s most famous snowboarders & Burton pro rider Wang Lei was on hand to commemorate the re-launch, pulling 7’s, 5’s and rodeo combos all over the show – obviously stoked to be shredding again! “It’s great to see so many people out here enjoying the park – the kickers are great, the snow is nice and everyone is ripping it!” He was right about that, as both China’s amateur and professional riders proceeded to demonstrate just what this park is made for over a one-hour jam session. Rail ninja Li Jie (Jay) was throwing down all sorts of steezy switch-ups and combos on the boxes, while Hewei was spinning and flipping off almost everything. Other well-known locals X-fox, Zhang Wei, Xiao William, Perry and Fan Lei were also ripping it up, pleasing both the crowd and themselves alike!
This summer the park will play host to a number of events including the Burton King of the Park competition and the Mellowparks.cn Great Grab Off! Not only that, but it’s frequently maintained and shreddable every single day! The park is located just outside Beijing, conveniently accessible by bus.
Getting Started With Snow Boarding
Getting Started With Snow Boarding
If you are thinking about getting started with snow boarding then it really does not have to be as difficult as you are probably imagining. For a start, you can be sure that whatever you are planning to do you can be sure that as soon as you hit the slopes you will almost certainly enjoy yourself. When I was younger I always thought that it would be a really hard thing to get started with, but boy was I wrong. However, what I have to tell you is that I recommend you get lessons first, rather than just hitting the slopes with no idea of what you need to do.
Getting lessons booked does not have to be that difficult. All you need to do is speak with your local snow boarding slope and you can be sure that they will put you in touch with a snow boarding instructor in your area that would be glad to help you out. This may cost anywhere from around $35 an hour, but you can get them even cheaper, if you get group lessons. Group lessons means that more than one person learns at the same time, and it really is a very simple thing to do. I had my first lesson from a friend, however I would always recommend that it is best to get professional lessons from a man or a lady that is a professional snow boarding instructor. You can be sure that they have been teaching snow boarding for some time, and they are not only good at snow boarding, but also have a better idea of how to communicate to a learner.
Many people ask me what they need to buy when they are first starting snow boarding. The answer is that you probably need to buy nothing if you have the right kind of gear in your wardrobe. For those of us that are just getting started it is best to rent out the gear from your local snow boarding slope. A lot of places will do this for free when you pay a rate to actually use the slope. The reason for this is simple; when you are first learning how to snow board you may not enjoy it that much. If you do not enjoy it or decide not to take it any further, think of how much money you will have wasted on a snow board and related stuff. That is why you need to think about ways that you can practise without buying things up front.
It is important that you get the correct clothes for going to the slope. Even if it is your first time! What I recommend is that you simply must wear gloves, and the thicker the clothes the better. You should really be wearing water proof gloves but if it is your first time, then there is no point splashing out money on a fancy pair of gloves that you are never going to need in the future. This is just common sense. What I also recommend is that if you have any water proofs wear them to go on your snow boarding lesson. If you wear them then you will have a great advantage over the competition. The fact is that even if you are wearing clothes that are warm, they will soon become cold once the start getting wet. Despite this you should still wear warm clothes, unless you want to feel cold out their on the slopes. Another thing that is vital is sun glasses. You will find that when you are on the slopes you can find it very challenging to board when you have the sun in your eyes, another issue is that if the sun reflects off the snow then it can blind you if you are not wearing appropriate UV protected sun glasses.
All I have to say is that I am sure that you will enjoy yourself. Go out their and learn to snow board!
Choosing a Snow Boarding Instructor
Choosing a Snow Boarding 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.
Avoiding Common Snowboarding Injuries
Snowboarding is a fun sport to undertake but it has its risks that you need to be aware of. Nothing would suck more that returning from a snowboarding trip with a broken leg or sprained wrist. There are a number of broad safety measures you can follow to diminish your danger of a snowboarding injury that we will discuss.
Make sure you’re in shape to ski. Organize for your winter sports trip with a training programmed to progress core stability and muscle. Endurance and leg strength is predominantly vital to lend a hand in preventing injuries.
Wear suitable layers of clothing, that don’t confine your movement. You do not want to be all bulked up and unable to move freely. If you cannot move then you cannot snowboard properly and the entire thrill aspect is gone.
Just like any other sporting activity, warm up and cool down. Before you hit the slopes take some time warming up and stretching to help train your body for action.
The top injury that a majority of the snowboarders receive is a wrist injury. Falls are more frequent during snowboarding. The natural response to a fall is to stretch out a hand to break the fall, and falls tend to occur more often in beginners. For this reason Colles fractures Scaphoid and fractures of the wrist are a relatively common feature, with around 100,000 wrist fractures worldwide among snowboarders each year. Snowboarders should wear wrist guards as they significantly reduce the incidence of wrist injuries during falls. Another common injury is head injuries which can lead to serious conclusions. Helmets are effective in reducing the incidence of minor concussions during low velocity collisions. Be sure to grab both of these when you do your shopping for snowboarding.
You may think this will save you money, but in the end it may cost u thousands in hospital bills. Don’t borrow equipment from friends; it significantly increases your risk of injury. If you are hiring equipment make sure you hire from a recommended store. Ensure that all the equipment fits properly. This will help avoid serious injuries and unnecessary falls due to non fitting equipment.
Another good tip is Use ‘multi-mode’ release bindings if possible. The superior release available in modern bindings is just one factor that has helped prevent injuries. Rear release boots can significantly reduce the risk of ACL injury.
Self-test your bindings every day. Self testing of bindings is simple. Step into the binding and then twist to the side to release the toe-piece under the control mechanism. The heel can be tested by stepping into the binding and leaning forward, to release the heel-piece. Both the toe and heel should be able to release if properly adjusted.
The Final Suggestion is to follow the FIS Rules for Conduct in Winter Sports.
1. Respect for others
A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.
2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding
A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.
3. Choice of route
A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.
4. Overtaking
A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.
5. Entering, starting and moving upwards
A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.
6. Stopping on the piste
Unless it is absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.
7. Climbing and descending on foot
A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.
8. Respect for signs and markings
A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.
9. Assistance
At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.
10. Identification
Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.
With all these tips that have been shared with you, I hope you learned something and will have a very safe trip. Come home in one piece and start planning the next.
Funky Snowboard 