How long does it take to get good?

JæKæ

Hey guys, new to snowboarding. I've been up on the slopes 4 times in the last 6 weeks. I'm staying on the greens slopes for now, trying to improve and perfect my turns there.
I can do turns both ways now, I think that's the first hurdle? How long did it take you guys to get to a decent level, where your gliding down blues and blacks effortlessly?

Static M.e.

Blues = By my 3rd day I was doing blues (I started Skiing), I would say two weeks though before they gave me no hassle.

Blacks = Depending on the black in question... 5 or 6 weeks maybe. On my last holiday I did the Olympic Black in Val D'isere which although didn't knock me, I still had to heel edge a couple of times and certainly didn't glide down it in any shape or form It was tough.

As a snowboarder you can go down any black after a few weeks just using your edges but its not doing the run. It can be quite daunting picking up a small bit of speed facing down a long black, especially at the end of a day!! when your feeling brave

How are you liking it so far?

Once you can link both your turns move on a nice wide blue and give it a go. Sometimes a little speed will help you perfect your turns.

JæKæ

cheers Static, when you say 4 or 5 weeks, how many hours a week are we talking?
Since I got the turns working both ways, I'm loving it. Before that it was frustrating enough

ShayK1

I learned on a blue. On my first day I spent about 4 hours on the blue and then the boys who had been there 2 or 3 days before I arrived decided I should go down a Red. So I did. Got about half way and got so scared, annoyed and frustrated that I walked to the nearest lift and headed for the bottom. I spent the next 2 full days on the blues, thats 8:30am to 5pm, and by 5pm on the 2nd day.... my last run before going home.... We all went down the Reds together. I did fall alot but I did "Do the Run" and it was awesome. Going back in 31 days and as soon as my girlfriend is comfortable on her own its Reds all the way for me!!!! Might even try a black after a few days.

Static M.e.

@Jæ;Kæ. Its all relative really, thats just how long it took me, I think it really depends on the people you go with, the state of the mountain Ice \ Man made \ Powder and how long you spend with an instructor. Also probably how often you go out the night before

A day on the mountain for me is usually 9 - 4/5, depending on what im doing for the day.

The real fun starts once you can link your turns! Start hitting the blues constantly and get some practice in, everything gets easier from now on

Don1

I thought I could link my turns, now I have a head injury! :rolleyes: Oh well, more practice for me!!

JæKæ

Thanks for the info lads. I'm have been doing about 4 hours per session so far, only 2 hours in total with an instructor.
Now that I can link turns, I think I can go longer without getting pissed off. It's handy living in Vancouver, the slopes of the North Shore are within 35 mins drive from my house. I can go up any time.
Found myself accidentally heading for a black slope on Sunday-nearly **** myself when i saw the black diamond sign!
Once I get better then it's off to Whistler for the real slopes.

cson

Don1 wrote: »

I thought I could link my turns, now I have a head injury! :rolleyes: Oh well, more practice for me!!

I can link my turns now, but to learn how to do it cost me two pairs of sunglasses. One of them were oakleys too.

ShayK1

should've got goggles

Don1

ShayK1 wrote: »

should've got goggles

Well isn't that very helpfull............:rolleyes: