You've just ended a beautiful run but now there's one of the dreaded flat bits facing you... for beginner snowboarders, this is one of the worst things about a winter sports holiday! You start to pick up speed but it only carries you so far before you find yourself stuck in the snow, trying to jump your way along or hoping that a friendly skier will lend you their poles. Anything to avoid actually having to take off your snowboard and walk! Here are some tips for how to survive the flat bits while snowboarding.
By keeping an eye on what's coming up ahead of you, you can sometimes get enough warning to pick up speed before a flat bit. We're not saying to gun it so fast you lose control, but maybe cut down on the turns and angle your snowboard more towards the fall line to keep a constant, decent speed. Skilled snowboarders will be able to put their boards flat on the snow, but novice snowboarders may want to rock gently from one side to the other, toes to heels to toes to heels, to prevent catching an edge.
If you're lucky, you'll sail right through the flat bit without having to stop. While on the flat part, try to pay attention to your posture and keep your eyes fixed on a spot in the distance. Keep your back straight and your ankles, knees and hips slightly bent, but make sure to stay flexible so you can adjust to any bumps in the trail as needed.
If you haven't picked up enough speed or if the flat part was a little too long, then it sometimes happens that you'll be forced to come to a dead stop. This is when it's really handy to have a skier come along and give you a helping pole! Unfortunately, most skiers won't think of this on their own and you'll have to ask, which is a little awkward. If you're with a group of skiers and snowboarders, you can train the skiers to offer a pole. If not, you'll have to leg it on your own. Hey, you'll have earned that schnitzel!
The most common way to propel yourself forward on a flat part is by loosening your rear binding and skate just like you would on a skateboard. Take a few strides and then you should be able to put your foot back on the board and glide a few metres - by playing with your centre of gravity you can propel yourself a little further. Some people prefer not to take off their snowboard, and you'll see them jumping along. This does help you pick up some speed but it takes practice. And, of course, there's always the option to take off your board completely and walk.
As a beginner the flat parts are just the worst, but you'll find that eventually you'll start to pass some of the skiers and man, doesn't that feel good!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
