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Snowboarding Gear to Keep you
Safe and Comfortable as you Learn and Ride
Are you thinking of trying
snowboarding, but reluctant because you've heard that
you'll be bruised after the painful edge-catching falls of
the first three days? Or have you tried snowboarding but
thrown in the towel because it hurts too much when you
fall?
Snowboarding without
Injuries--
Snowboarding without
injuries is actually a possibility. If you wear protective
snowboard gear you will greatly reduce the odds of hurting
yourself when you snowboard. You will not have to worry as
much about possible pain and injury on the slopes, and you
can relax and enjoy the ride. If you are lucky enough to
always ride on soft deep powder, protection is not such a
big issue. But hard snow happens, especially in Eastern
America.
Most Websites and Magazines
Do Not Discuss Snowboard Safety--
and protection for the
snowboarder. In some circles, it seems there is something
stoic and admirable about enduring pain. If you disagree,
and want to spend quality time on the slopes instead of
nursing bumps and bruises on the sidelines or sustaining
slow-healing injuries that can become chronic and
arthritic, read on.
Main Points of Impact with
Snow and Ice--
When you ride, the main
points of impact where your body will meet the snow or ice
are predictable: knees, hands and wrists, buttside or
tailbone, and head are the target zones. Protect these
body parts and you will hurt less and have a lot more fun.
Knee Protection for
Snowboarders--
Knee protection is one of
the most important pieces of snowboard protective gear.
Your knees are bony and vulnerable. And they are complex
joints that are painful and expensive to fix.
Wear in-line Skate Knee
Pads beneath your snow pants. Make sure they are soft and
well-padded on the inside and hard plastic to absorb shock
and protect on the outside. Good pads will also keep your
knees warm and flexible, and you can relax so much more
knowing that a fall forward is not going to be painful and
damaging. Beginners fall on their knees often. Believe it
or not, good knee pads also help to protect your wrists.
Read on.
Hand/Wrist Protection for
Snowboarders--
Falling forward with your
weight on your hands is a good way to break a wrist. Fists
should be balled up, with your thumb outside, as if you
were ready to punch someone. Try to relax and fall evenly
on your protected knees, and forearms. You should wear
good protective knee pads so you can distribute the weight
on both your knees and hands. Then you won't have to try
to catch yourself with your hands.
Some experts argue that
wearing skate wrist guards can increase the severity of a
fracture by sending the "shock" up the arm to a
larger bone. A new snowboard specific safety glove and
wrist guard is now on the US Market. It was designed by a
French Emergency Room physician who has worked on
thousands of snowboard fractures, and it is supposed to
reduce snowboard wrist injuries by up to 60%.
Butt/Tailbone Protection
for Snowboarders--
People sometimes say
"But I have plenty of natural padding on my
butt." Forget it. You need padding that is not
connected to your central nervous system.
If you're a beginner and if
you don't have anything else, you can slide some bubble
wrap down the back of your pants. Use plenty! You'll hear
the bubbles pop when you fall and you'll be glad you wore
them. And you will have saved a lot of jarring to your
spine as well as wear and tear on your buttocks and
tailbone.
Once you're convinced of
the need to save your posterior, invest in some real
padding designed for snowboarders. A hard plastic shell
outside with soft padding on the inside is great. It will
hardly be noticeable beneath your snow pants and it really
helps.
Helmets for Snowboarders--
You might think
(mistakenly) that helmets are only for people who ride in
the trees, or do big tricks. But the first time you catch
an edge and go CLUNK! and the back of your head hits the
hard hard ground, you'll reconsider. A helmet also adds
the comfort of warmth and dryness, as well as cushioning
for your brain. With a helmet on, you can ride in the rain
comfortably, and have the slopes almost to yourself.
You should buy a helmet in
person at a shop. Correct fit is mandatory and tricky. Get
expert help at the snowboard shop to be sure the helmet
fits. And have your helmet checked for safety and fit next
season if you fell on it a lot or grew dreds or shaved
your head since you purchased it.
Hydration for
Snowboarders--
Snowboarding creates heat.
That means you are perspiring, even when it's cold. Stay
hydrated with water, and you will be able to ride longer
and better. To replace the water lost perspiring and
breathing the dry winter air, use a hydration system. It
is a backpack with a water bladder, and a tube to deliver
the water to your mouth. Simple and efficient. Just grab
the tube, bite the valve on the end, and sip. You can
easily do it while sitting on the lift. You can wear it
outside your coat, or even under it on freezing days.
You can do tricks and ride
the pipe while wearing a small hydration backpack, no
problem. You can also throw an extra clothing layer,
energy bar, tool set, or whatever in the hydration
backpack. The backpacks come in many different sizes and
configurations.
Safety for Your Board--
It's just as important to
protect your trusty ride when you get off it. Hardcore
riders never let their boards out of their sight. If you
do, check yours at the lodge, or lock it with a small
cable lock that you carry in your backpack. Also register
it online at http://www.SnowboardRegistry.com/
so if it does disappear, you at least have a chance of
getting it back. And be a good citizen of the snowboard
universe. Before you buy a used board, check its serial
number at http://www.SnowboardRegistry.com/
to make sure it wasn't reported stolen.
Ride Happily Many a Day--
Unlike with skating and
surfing, you DON'T have to endure pain to learn and ride
your snowboard. Respect yourself. Dress for safety and
comfort on the slopes, and you'll come back to ride
happily many a day.
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