Dendex

StaticAge11

Does anyone have any tips for snowboarding on Dendex? I board in Kiltiernan about twice a week. I was pretty confident on it last year until I had a bad fall and destroyed my hand. Since then I have just been either not going near the dendex or when riding on it, side-slipping all the way. With college intervarsities coming up I want to compete but cannot seem to get over this fear. Anyone have any tips on over coming this and improving my riding on this surface?

SpaceCowb0y

Ive only ever been to Kilternan once and i'll never go back! That stuff is lethal, it might be ok on skis but i found it treacherous on a board! Actually felt like i had forgotten how to snowboard it was awful!

It is nothing like riding on snow at all! The other surface isn't as bad but still nothing like snow whatever its made of but the run is too short! I know we don't really have any other option if you're eager to get up on your board but personally i'd just wait to get away again. Left the place with the fear, when i strapped in on top of the mountain again at xmas i wasn't sure what was going to happen ha!

sheesh

I fell at kiltiernan as well and totally shagged my thumb for a couple of months, a few Years ago. I did end up falling correctly afterwards though (don't put your hands out! or up to your chest if anything try to land on your back is what I did).

Have you tried practicing falling on the surface up there?
Get some advice on how to fall correctly.

just go up to the top of the beginner slope on your board and throw yourself down its actually not that sore. A bit drastic I admit but sports like martial arts all have correct ways of falling over. Its bit of aversion therapy too. show your mind that falling over does not necessarily end in searing prolonged pain.

Last year did in a tendon in my leg and I am still a bit wary (scared sh*tless actually) in rough ground so I'm practicing on slightly rough paths to regain confidence then I'll move on to rockier ground.

StaticAge11

SpaceCowb0y wrote: »

Ive only ever been to Kilternan once and i'll never go back! That stuff is lethal, it might be ok on skis but i found it treacherous on a board! Actually felt like i had forgotten how to snowboard it was awful!

It is nothing like riding on snow at all! The other surface isn't as bad but still nothing like snow whatever its made of but the run is too short! I know we don't really have any other option if you're eager to get up on your board but personally i'd just wait to get away again. Left the place with the fear, when i strapped in on top of the mountain again at xmas i wasn't sure what was going to happen ha!

Perfectly fine on snow, but I was liable to the odd fall and I just wanted to iron that out and learn to carve in the meantime. I just have gotten so into it I wanna keep at the boarding and improve as much as I can to make the most of the next time I go away. Unfortunately it's the only place I can seem to get any practice in is KT and the small slope just is not long enough

StaticAge11

sheesh wrote: »

I fell at kiltiernan as well and totally shagged my thumb for a couple of months, a few Years ago. I did end up falling correctly afterwards though (don't put your hands out! or up to your chest if anything try to land on your back is what I did).

Have you tried practicing falling on the surface up there?
Get some advice on how to fall correctly.

just go up to the top of the beginner slope on your board and throw yourself down its actually not that sore. A bit drastic I admit but sports like martial arts all have correct ways of falling over. Its bit of aversion therapy too. show your mind that falling over does not necessarily end in searing prolonged pain.

Last year did in a tendon in my leg and I am still a bit wary (scared sh*tless actually) in rough ground so I'm practicing on slightly rough paths to regain confidence then I'll move on to rockier ground.

Im perfectly fine on the other slope, know how to fall (which is a rare occurance an that slope these days for me) but once I get onto either dendex I just freeze up, reactions are definitely not what they would be elsewhere

SpaceCowb0y

StaticAge11 wrote: »

Perfectly fine on snow, but I was liable to the odd fall and I just wanted to iron that out and learn to carve in the meantime. I just have gotten so into it I wanna keep at the boarding and improve as much as I can to make the most of the next time I go away. Unfortunately it's the only place I can seem to get any practice in is KT and the small slope just is not long enough

I hear ya, that was my intention heading up there too! I don't think going there will do me any favours though! Its crazy and it might sound a bit mad but funnily enough i find when i go away by the end of the trip my body is so tired from trying to push myself for the whole trip that progress begins to stall but when i get back up the mountain again when i'm fresh everything that i was trying to do that last time but couldn't has somehow magically clicked in my head and becomes second nature like i could always do it!

perfect example was trying to ride switch last year, i just couldnt figure it out and every time i tried i inevitably fell after about 4 or 5 metres of sketchy wobbly riding! When i went away at xmas i went up to the nursery slope and the very first time it tried to ride switch it went perfect, i even began to get confident and ride switch at a bit of speed and took it onto the steeper runs switching between regular and switch with ease which in turn made riding a whole lot easier as i wasn't on the one leg all the time (which for me was killer).

Obviously its personal choice but after scaring myself on it last time i'd just rather wait till i get up on the mountain again. I even tried the indoor place on the treadmill but that was worse again, constantly on the one leg leaning down the whole time with no real way to check your speed as you cant take an edge on a treadmill ha!

granty1987

Static

Are you looking to compete in the racing or freestyle?

Dendex and Snowflex are different to snow and are less forgiving - ie you need to really emphasise shifting your weight from edge to edge for racing and it's a case of just going gung-ho!
People can and do get injured on it - falling hands first make you liable to catch them, wear impact shorts and fall back where possible.

If you are looking to compete in the freestyle, all of the competitions have now moved to the Snowflex slopes from my days in the IV's where it was a case of hucking and hoping on the dendex! The snowflex is way better for freestyle, more cushioned, less chance of catching an edge etc. Go up on Fridays as there is always a good crowd who can show you how to progress, everyone there has been confused/angry at some point at not being able to translate your ability on snow to KT but you get over it and you can definitely improve and learn a heap.

Don't write it off, snowflex is far more oars friendly than dendex so I wouldn't stress over it. Ireland's not getting a snow dome anytime soon and if you're anything like me, I can't stick waiting the guts of a year to strap onto my board. Get on it!