Part 5: Getting Up The Mountain

Okay hold that thought. Let's climb the mountain but let's not do it physically. There's a much faster and easier way. Trust me!

The T-Bar

The T-bars used to get up the mountain were actually designed for skiers. It's a little trickier for the snowboarder, but that's okay because we love a little extra challenge like avoiding the bumps or the tracks the skiers have made.

First you need to strap your lead foot in. Now get into line and wait your turn. When it's time to go your rear foot should rest on the stomper pad then line up your board so it points straight up the mountain.

The T-Bar goes between your legs. So if you are a lefty get on the left side of the T-bar. If your right foot is forward then get on the right side of the T-bar. Stand as straight as you can and relax. Ya right easy for me to say.

Falling off a T-Bar is very common for beginners so don't worry about it. If you feel like you're going to fall off then just let go and fall as naturally as possible. Then get the heck out of the way because others are coming up right behind.

There are other types of lifts but the principle is pretty much the same. Once you get the hang of it you'll be riding the t-bar like a pro.

The Chairlift

Is your stomach doing flip flops thinking about what a fool you are going to make of yourself getting of the chairlift? No worries. Relax. We've got you covered.

First things first, lets figure out how to get onto the chairlift. Buckle up your lead foot then slide along in the line until you reach the gates. Now it's time to abandon and forget the whole process – just kidding.

Use your back foot to push you along just like you would if you were skate boarding. When it's time to go the gates will magically open and you can skate up to the line. As the chair approaches grab the back for support and park your butt. Now was that so hard? Now lower the bar from above your head down to your hips. This is considered the seatbelt for the chairlift and it's designed to stop you from falling of the lift which could be a very unpleasant experience.

You might find that your board is putting stress on your ankle. If the lift isn't crowded, place your back foot under the board to relieve some of the pressure. If the lifts crowded this won't be possible. Sometimes it pays to wait for a lift that has less occupants.

Now don't forget to enjoy the ride and take in the magnificent scenery. It's breathtaking and unless you're in a chopper or plane above you'll get no other chance for such a spectacular view!

As you approach the end of the ride, you'll see the people in front start to lift the bar up. You'll also need to lift your bar. Now turn side on and make sure your snowboard is aligned straight ahead. Place your back foot on your stomper pad. When your board touches the ground, stand up straight using the back of the chair for support. Don't cling to it or you'll be in trouble!

You also need to watch for your clothing getting tangled in the chair. This happens seldom but it can occur. Just let out a loud yell to get the lift operators attention. He or she will stop the lift and come assist you in getting untangled. You could chalk this up to one of your most embarrassing moments. The best way to avoid this is to make sure your jacket is done up and you've got no loose pieces flapping in the breeze.

Now let's assume you got off the lift okay. You stood up straight and now your off. Start sliding down the slope until you stop. Enjoy the ride! Now if the slope is busy with other skiers or boarders you might have to stop before you get to the bottom. But you've got that covered so no problem right?

If you're still a little iffy on the stops the worst that's going to happen is you are going to fall on your butt. Then just get back up and start again. In fact you'll want to get back up quickly before you get run over by the people behind you.

Most times a boarder falls down because they freak out and panic when they need to stop. Relax, take a valium you can do it. Everybody is going to fall at some point. It's pretty much part of the initiation for beginners and if it makes you feel better even the pros land on their butts occasionally. Most times your ego gets bruised more than your butt.

That's it you've made the circle from the lift to the bottom and now it's time to do it all over again. Enjoy the ride!

Next: > Page 6: Learning the Snowboard Turn

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