Gaining confidence with snowboarding

Censorsh!t

I've been going snowboarding for the last 5 or 6 years now. You'd think I'd be pretty good at this stage, but I'm still not great.
My problem is the whole fear of falling. Even though I always fall anyway and have never hurt myself. As soon as I seem to speed up, I'm okay, but then suddenly realise "oh craaap i'm flying it" (even though I may be going slower than everyone else:pac:) and just freak out a bit.
I've got the technique good enough, just can't seem to be able to go anyway fast and I'm pretty awful with getting down anything very steep.
I was thinking this year I'll take 2 days of lessons to get myself into it and see if it helps.

So, any other advice on how to gain confidence??

Overflow

I really think some lessons 2 or 3 days would be great idea. You may have picked up some bad habits in the past 5/6 years.

Can you comfortably carve from heel edge to toe edge ?

flikflak

Yep lessons will help you grow in confidence and will improve your boarding no end.

When you have confidence in your technique to handle any type of terrain you can begin to let go of the fear of falling.

Static M.e.

+ 1 to above.

Also make sure you are geared up with a Helmet and those protected, padded shorts (which I cant think of the name right now..).

Tristram

I used to laugh off the helmet suggestions but after a few recent spills am reconsidering. If only I could remember for long enough

Censorsh!t

Have bought a helmet for this year, and I also have knee pads. Might buy one of the asspads alright!

I can comfortably go from toe to heel no matter what, but going from heel to toe on the steeper slopes is what gets me, I'm just scared of speeding up and flying off, even though whenever I do get the confidence to do it and just go for it, I can do it pretty well.

I guess with lessons, I'll be forced to do it properly.

Tripp

Static M.e. wrote: »

+ 1 to above.

Also make sure you are geared up with a Helmet and those protected, padded shorts (which I cant think of the name right now..).

Dainese Impact Shorts

I have these and they are Great. Only 1 problem with them. Cant sit down for apres ski so have to go change out of them :-)

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

I have a similar problem as the OP. Once I start going anyway fast, I lose my confidence and slow down. It bugs the s**t out of me.

Just as a side note, are he d3o shorts any good?

Tripp wrote: »

Dainese Impact Shorts

I have these and they are Great. Only 1 problem with them. Cant sit down for apres ski so have to go change out of them :-)

Static M.e.

Tripp wrote: »

Dainese Impact Shorts

Thank you!

OP - Honestly I wouldn't go up the mountain without Impact shorts. They certainly boost my confidence, I've been wearing various pairs for 6+ years now..

Overflow

BearNecessities wrote: »

I have a similar problem as the OP. Once I start going anyway fast, I lose my confidence and slow down. It bugs the s**t out of me.

Just as a side note, are he d3o shorts any good?

Falling is just a part of skiing and snowboarding, doesn't matter how good you are, you are going to fall, just accept that fact and it might help. When i was starting out i found visualizing myself flying down the mountain carving, really helped with my confidence, may sound silly but it worked for me.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Thanks Overflow. I've been snowboarding a few years now, getting more confident each year but thought by now I'd be ok with it. Will be going again soon, so I'll give it a try!

Censorsh!t

I'll grab a pair of those shorts definitely! I can imagine I wouldnt be so scared of falling with them on:)

JKC

Try not to think about your speed, instead pick you line, with practice you will forget about the speed, just thinking of what line down the slope you want to take.

Hope this helps.

Demon do good shorts: http://www.demonsnow.com/store/body%20armor