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  • What to expect?

    Why Not? I just threw in the towel of trying to find a used pair and brought a brand new pair of boards and to say I'm excited is an extreme understatement. This is my my very first year and I want some tips guys. I know the stand up, don't lean over your boards type thing.

    Any things else. What can I first expect when riding? I have skied many years so I know how to do an hockey stop and stuff, But I know that skiboarding is a whole different style. Please give me some tips and insight. I'm a bit nervous because I will be riding on a small mountain. I WILL be the one and only skiboarder. So some tips so I don't make skiboarding look like an idiotic sport. I'm also so excited to be unique. Just pour our your advice peeps that would be awesome.

  • #2
    Well , since I am still relatively new to the sport and did not ski much at all prior to skiboarding, I'll chime in.

    Best advice I could give you is ride ... and ride ... and ride some more. When I was starting out, I read everything there was to read here. I also got some good instructional time from some very experienced riders when I showed up to the first year of Shredfest at Tahoe.

    For me at least, there was no replacement for developing the kinesthetic feel of riding by doing. Perhaps I am just primarily a kinesthetic learner, but it took me actually doing it to learn it. As I have ridden more and more, the mechanics have seemed to just work themselves out. I can recall the first time I felt a clean carve, that knee dip to the inside of the turn that put both boards on edge and locked them in. I could not explain to someone how to do that well, but I know what it feels like when I get it right (or wrong).

    Experimenting with body position, edge angle, weight distribution, etc ... eventually it just works out. At least that has been my experience. If you've skied a lot, then your transition will likely be much faster than my learning curve has been. However, if I were to offer one other piece of advice to new riders, it would be to be aggressive in getting the boards up on edge. For about my first full year of riding, I was trying to pivot and smear my boards around too much. Once I really started cranking them over, I found how easy it is to make the boards turn themselves so I don't have to. Again, that deep knee drop was the magic motion for me.

    On another note ... I am originally from Idaho ... Boise area. I got my very first snow sliding in at Bogus Basin and had a couple trips to Brundage and Targhee many year ago.

    Enjoy the season, have fun, experiment, and don't concern yourself at all with what skiers and snowboarders may think of you riding skiboards. In no time at all, you'll be having far more fun than most of them anyway.
    Skis: Armada JJs, Armada Magic Js and Icelantic Keepers
    Bindings: Marker Griffon, Look Pivot
    Full Tilt Boots
    Past: Revel8 Tanshos, KTPs, Revolts, DLPs, Condors; Spruce Raptors, 120s, Sherpas

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    • #3
      I'm in the same situation, about to buy my first boards and looking for any info to better understand how it will work out.

      There's a thread here with some videos, I don't have the link handy but it should be easy to found.

      Otherwise I've seen an ebook for sale on skiboards.com, but I haven't seen any reviews, anyone read that one, would it will be useful for a beginner ?
      Myself: RVL8 '11 KTP, Spruce 125 LE, RVL8 '23 RCs, RVL8 '23 Playmakers
      Daughter: RVL8 '14 Slapdash, RVL8 '15 Blunt XL, RVL8 '21 SII, Spruce '18 Crossbows; Twoowt Pirania 95cm
      Past: RVL8 '10 Revolt Trees, Spruce 120 Yellow/Red, RVL8 '09 ALPdors, RVL8 '14 Condor, Spruce '16 Osprey

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      • #4
        Hi and welcome to the sport Newbie and Nessa,
        I'll chime in too . Like FFA said, riding is the best way to improve. A book can only do so much , and actual time out is your best option. Meeting up with others is also a great way to learn and have a great time. Especially if you have skied before you will take to ski boarding quickly. Go out and try it before you buy the book, I'm sure you will feel like you don't even need it then.

        Chad
        64 CM Bigfoot’s
        100 CM '15 Blunt XL 2 pair
        110 CM Rockered Condors
        130 CM Spruce Osprey prototype

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        • #5
          Originally posted by CAN View Post
          Hi and welcome to the sport Newbie and Nessa,
          I'll chime in too . Like FFA said, riding is the best way to improve. A book can only do so much , and actual time out is your best option. Meeting up with others is also a great way to learn and have a great time. Especially if you have skied before you will take to ski boarding quickly. Go out and try it before you buy the book, I'm sure you will feel like you don't even need it then.

          Chad
          watch alot of videos in the offseason, ride alot during the season, make it a point to ride with people better than you (even if theyre on skis or snowboads). Having people help you, but mainly PUSH you is key.

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          • #6
            Ride as much as you can with others (get yourself to Shredfest) and do not try to "ski" (smear) your skiboards as others have shared in their reponses. Focus on getting and staying on edge and you will have a great time.
            sigpic


            Osprey, Sherpa, Custom Coda 120WT, Custom DS110, Condor (Green), Spliff

            Custom Twist Out duck foot bindings, Bombers (custom duck foot base plate and 3 pads), releasable S810ti on custom duck foot riser

            Nordica N3 NXT ski boots (best so far)


            Wife: 104 SII & 100 Blunt XL with S810ti bindings on custom "adjustable duck foot" risers

            Loaners: 125LE, 105 EMP, 101 KTP, 100 Blunt XL, 98 Slapdash, 88 Blunts

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            • #7
              Smear?

              what do you guys mean by that? I know to stay on edges but what exactly do you mean by smear? Or is it something you can't explain in words

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Nessagirl18 View Post
                what do you guys mean by that? I know to stay on edges but what exactly do you mean by smear? Or is it something you can't explain in words
                Smearing is when you do not get on edge when trying to turn, the bases stay flat to the snow and you end up fighting the skiboards/skis to turn.
                sigpic


                Osprey, Sherpa, Custom Coda 120WT, Custom DS110, Condor (Green), Spliff

                Custom Twist Out duck foot bindings, Bombers (custom duck foot base plate and 3 pads), releasable S810ti on custom duck foot riser

                Nordica N3 NXT ski boots (best so far)


                Wife: 104 SII & 100 Blunt XL with S810ti bindings on custom "adjustable duck foot" risers

                Loaners: 125LE, 105 EMP, 101 KTP, 100 Blunt XL, 98 Slapdash, 88 Blunts

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by slow View Post
                  Focus on getting and staying on edge and you will have a great time.
                  Some skiers I've coached have had difficultly finding the edge on a skiboard. They expect skiboards to feel like skis. Skiboards don't edge like skis which track straight down the hill. If you aren't on the edge, the board will feel squirlly and you may feel you have no control. If this happens to you, bend your knees and with one of your hands, reach to touch the back of one of your boots. You will feel the edge engage and you'll turn on it. Welcome to skiboarding. Have fun.
                  Now: 08 Sherpa's (2), Atomic 120's, 2013 125 Protos, 125 LEs, 2014 Sherpas, Osprey protos, 2015 Blunt XL's, 2016 Ospreys, Ethan Too twintip skis,2017 Shredfest One of kind Spliffs, 2018 Crossbows
                  Bindings: Spruce Risers and Tyrolia LD12's
                  Boots: Full Tilt Booters, Tecnica Agent 110
                  History: Atomic shorty's, Sporten, Groove Taxis, Head 94's, ALPs, Spruce 120 Blue boards, Custom Lacroixs, Rocker Condors, 08 Summit 110's, Hagan offlimits 133's, Rossi 130's, 2011 Summit Marauders

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                  • #10
                    okay, I have another question since you are up on your edges won't it be really hard to turn or won't it slow you down alot? I know it doesn't I'm just kinda wondering how you would turn up on your edges like that. I suppose thats not really something you can explain but it must be experienced.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Nessagirl18 View Post
                      okay, I have another question since you are up on your edges won't it be really hard to turn or won't it slow you down alot? I know it doesn't I'm just kinda wondering how you would turn up on your edges like that. I suppose thats not really something you can explain but it must be experienced.
                      When you get your skiboard up on edge, the skiboards will flex and carve an arc in the snow, as if you were on ice skates. There will be no skidding or smearing of the skiboards and they will turn easily while on edge. Look back at your track, and you will see two parallel curved lines in the snow when you are doing it right.
                      sigpic


                      Osprey, Sherpa, Custom Coda 120WT, Custom DS110, Condor (Green), Spliff

                      Custom Twist Out duck foot bindings, Bombers (custom duck foot base plate and 3 pads), releasable S810ti on custom duck foot riser

                      Nordica N3 NXT ski boots (best so far)


                      Wife: 104 SII & 100 Blunt XL with S810ti bindings on custom "adjustable duck foot" risers

                      Loaners: 125LE, 105 EMP, 101 KTP, 100 Blunt XL, 98 Slapdash, 88 Blunts

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I'll go at this by putting the cart before the horse.

                        I think these are really great questions. I started skiboarding after a lifetime of snowboarding. Never had a pair of full sized skis strapped to me feet until last season. When I started skiboarding I spent the first 3 days on the bunnies. Most of that had to do with getting used to being pointed in the direction I was actually going and my feet moving around independently. But, being skiers already, you guys won't have those little issues. Last season I strapped on a set of full size skis for the first time and boy what a difference. Those first 15 minutes were nothing short of sad. How the hell do you turn these things and what am I supposed to do with these things in my hands? It all worked out. I skied 2 days on the groomers, took 2 days worth of powder lessons and then employed my new toys in the side/back country.

                        Smearing is just a soft edge. Smearing is one of the great skill you will bring as skiers. The other great skill you will bring is body positioning. Do indeed act as if you have poles in your hands. You won't of course, but, what you do with poles is actually set your body attitude for proper and safe maneuvering. For me, skiing is like finishing school for skiboarding.

                        When it comes to skiboarding, first know that these comparatively little things can and will do absolutely everything your big skis do. Everything from hardpack to mid-thigh champagne can be done with absolute grace. Your tools will not be the limiting factor. You won't want to believe that at first but as you do more you will see that I'm not just blowing smoke. The great thing about skiboards is how integrated you will be with your terrain. It's not a harrowing, "I have to compensate for every little thing just to get through it" deal. Rather, your tools are such that you will be in touch with your surroundings. You use your body. You are in constant motion. It's much more consuming. The smile will never leave your face. Your face will actually ache because of the endless smile. You'll be up on a hard edge most of the time. You can soft edge or smear but that is just what you are doing. When you want to turn you'll need to set an edge. The Sherpas I normally ride are actually very stable when flat but the shorter boards, like my KTP's get freaky at speed when flat. But, those little 101's are the most vertical fun you will have in anything up to about top of your boot powder.

                        I sing out loud on KTP's. People have literally come up to me and said "I can't remember seeing anyone having so much fun." It's that type of deal.

                        It's all about the smile, all about fun, all about the relationship between you and your terrain. You don't have to be anything but you on skiboards so don't sweat it. Get used to setting those edges and everything else just falls into place. Don't worry, I assure you that you will indeed be "doing it right".

                        Can't wait to see you on the slopes. First cup of joe is on me.
                        "It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society" Jiddu Krisnamurti

                        Spruce Sherpa - RVL8 KTP - RVL8 Blunt XL

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                        • #13
                          great post mahatma, thank you !
                          Myself: RVL8 '11 KTP, Spruce 125 LE, RVL8 '23 RCs, RVL8 '23 Playmakers
                          Daughter: RVL8 '14 Slapdash, RVL8 '15 Blunt XL, RVL8 '21 SII, Spruce '18 Crossbows; Twoowt Pirania 95cm
                          Past: RVL8 '10 Revolt Trees, Spruce 120 Yellow/Red, RVL8 '09 ALPdors, RVL8 '14 Condor, Spruce '16 Osprey

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                          • #14
                            Thanks!

                            Wow thank you!! I'm so excited! This is going to be great.

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                            • #15
                              another question

                              alright I was think yet again about trying out my boards and I have another question. When you're riding in powder do you stay on your edges? wouldn't you sink in if you did? And is there ever a appropriate time to stay flat on boards? (not using your edge) thanks guys

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