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Snowboarding for Geeks

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Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#161

Post by drblast »

albertgoeswoof wrote: post #140
bendixso wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno. I actually don't think it's all that expensive of a sport if you can invest in your equipment and keep it long term. Sure, you'll spend a few grand one season for a setup that will last you three or four seasons. The season pass will set you back another $600 per year roughly. I've had my current setup for five seasons. Same board. Same boots. Same jacket, helmet, pants, etc. If I do a back of the envelope c…

> It’s not that expensive > you’ll spend a few grand ... 1000 dollars a year Pick one

It's expensive but I did it in college when I made a spare $250 a month.

Old Volvo 240, used gear, waterproof running pants with sweats underneath that I already owned. Total cost of entry was a few hundred dollars.

It's much better with expensive top-notch gear but so is everything else. And it's still cheaper than skiing.

Twenty years later cheap gear is radically improved and there's a much bigger used market. And if you live near Seattle you can hitch a ride with me to Stevens whenever.

If you don't want to pay for lift tickets you can get used split-board and avalanche gear and take an avalanche safety class for about a one-time $1500 expense and walk up mountains for free instead, even at resorts.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#162

Post by jessaustin »

roymurdock wrote: post #33
rbreve wrote: post #12

Wear a helmet! I had some nasty falls learning!

wrist guards and butt pads are very underrated. you'll be spending a lot of time falling on your ass and instinctively reaching your arms out to cushion the fall. saved me a few sprained wrists and sore cheeks when i was learning

Lots of people hurt their wrists, but lots of others can hear the instruction "don't try to catch yourself with your hands, just fall on your butt or shoulder" and then follow that instruction. Personally, as a beginner the helmet was the real lifesaver. As soon as catching my heels didn't cause me to see stars, I learned how not to catch my heels...

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#163

Post by yters »

My main tip is to get good at falling without hurting yourself, which mostly means don't stand up too straight. Stay a bit crouched, even when going straight. Then, if you do catch an edge, you won't get quite the body slam, and it'll be easier to get up and try again. The downside is this will burn out your quads.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#164

Post by sakopov »

mtnGoat wrote: post #74
sakopov wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do a lot of expedition-style backpacking either alone or in a guided group. The groups are always full of tech people, mostly from SV. It's almost like the only people who can afford fun shit are the techies.

could it be they are the only ones that can afford $600 per day guided trips? MDs and tech nerds are well paid.

Nah, It's not even that much. $600 will get you a very good, 3 or 4-day guided trip to the backcountry in Oregon and Washington. You'd be hauling your gear, food and skies/snowshoes. I do think that techies can easily afford this stuff, but I also think what's more important is they can afford to take a lot of time off work (or just leave their jobs all together knowing they'll find another gig fairly quickly) to enjoy things like this.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#165

Post by jessaustin »

mylons wrote: post #22
ultrasounder wrote: post #3

+1. Always wanted to learn to Ski not having been exposed to snow early on but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. Perhaps this time i can actually get some proper lessons. Timing couldn't be perfect!. Thanks.

on skis, it's very possible to go down a blue confidently on day 1. on a snowboard, that's very unlikely.

I know people who have skied for years and aren't confident enough to do that.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#166

Post by drblast »

ultrasounder wrote: post #3

+1. Always wanted to learn to Ski not having been exposed to snow early on but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. Perhaps this time i can actually get some proper lessons. Timing couldn't be perfect!. Thanks.

Snowboarding is the best, but whoever told you that is steering you wrong. Skiing is much easier to learn.

Lessons will definitely help shorten the learning time but be prepared for your first 3-5 days to be a painful experience if you're snowboarding. If you only go 3-5 days a season you're probably going to have a much better time on skiis.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#167

Post by gigantor »

NickNameNick wrote: post #160
chickenbane wrote: post #145

Surprised such a comprehensive guide for geeks didn't get into bluetooth headphones! As a rider for a few years now, I've had good luck with the headphone inserts which fit into most helmets. Riding with your favorite music truly feels like playing the best of games and sports combined.

How many seasons do those things last? I thought about buying some, but the i felt like the batteries would die over summer, and I'd be lucky to get more than one season out of them.

The Chips Helmet Audio has lasted me over 8 seasons and going strong. I don't maintain the batteries (I believe they should be stored with a 75% charge during off season) and still get enoigh charge for 2 full days of riding.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#168

Post by steveadoo »

chickenbane wrote: post #145

Surprised such a comprehensive guide for geeks didn't get into bluetooth headphones! As a rider for a few years now, I've had good luck with the headphone inserts which fit into most helmets. Riding with your favorite music truly feels like playing the best of games and sports combined.

Headphones plus a couple beers in my backpack, can never forget those.

I notice once I get a few beers in me I'm much better.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#169

Post by NickNameNick »

jasode wrote: post #9
ultrasounder wrote: post #3

+1. Always wanted to learn to Ski not having been exposed to snow early on but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. Perhaps this time i can actually get some proper lessons. Timing couldn't be perfect!. Thanks.

>but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. I think the "easier" depends on the target skill level. Skiiing is easier to achieve a beginner skill level. Absolute beginners can point their toes inward and ski "pizza wedges" down easy hills rated as "green" within a few hours. Indeed, many skiiers including adults never leave this stage. But upgrading the skills to intermediate level r…

Early stage hiccups aside, my observations have usually been that skiers continue to progress in skill relatively smoothly, but that snow-boarders usually progress rapidly to boarding a lot of terrain, but doing it 'ugly', and very few boarders progress to the point of carving.

Re: Snowboarding for Geeks

#170

Post by NickNameNick »

gigantor wrote: post #167
NickNameNick wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many seasons do those things last? I thought about buying some, but the i felt like the batteries would die over summer, and I'd be lucky to get more than one season out of them.

The Chips Helmet Audio has lasted me over 8 seasons and going strong. I don't maintain the batteries (I believe they should be stored with a 75% charge during off season) and still get enoigh charge for 2 full days of riding.

Might have to get some. Thanks!
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