In Nevada, more than half of the team snowboards. We love it. But it's true that snowboarding injuries can happen quickly, which is why it's important to protect yourself and follow these tips to avoid bad falls on the slopes and off-piste.
Prepare the right gear for safe riding:
Make sure you have:
- A snowboard in good condition, well waxed and sharpened and checked by a professional like our specialized team in snowboard hire in Les Gets
- A helmet designed for snowboarding. Make sure it fits well and keep the chin strap attached.
- Wrist guards, very useful for preventing fractures.
- Butt protection, which will allow you to sit at the end of the day without gritting your teeth!
- Goggles suitable for the weather. Indeed, you must check the proper protection category of your goggles before going on the slopes. Category 1 goggles are suitable for white weather (snow and clouds) while category 3 goggles are suitable for sunny weather. Photochromic goggles are ideal as they will tint according to the brightness and will be useful in all weather conditions. Sunglasses are not recommended as they can break during falls and cut your face.
- Warm and technical clothing, including a hat, gloves or mittens, snow pants, and a winter jacket. A neck gaiter (which goes around the neck and can be pulled up over the face) can help keep your face warm. Dressing in layers can help you adjust if you get too warm. If you wear thermal underwear, opt for wool or synthetic material rather than cotton, which takes time to dry and will make you cold.
- Sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher for daytime snowboarding, even on cloudy days.
For all of this equipment, before renting your snowboard with us, you can equip yourself in our store in Les Gets.
Take lessons and start gently without skipping steps:
There is no shame in taking a few lessons. You need to learn basic control so you can slow down or stop as needed and make the snowboard go where you want it to go.
Really important tip, applicable to all levels: Knowing how to fall is very important! This will prevent you from getting injured in the fall, but also from hesitating to fall if it's the best solution at the moment. Out of fear of falling, one may sometimes try to maintain control at all costs, which can lead to an even worse situation.
So, how do you fall properly while snowboarding without getting hurt? First thing, resist the reflex to put your hands out first: it's the best way to break your wrist (the main injury for snowboarders). If you fall forward, your forearms should take the impact. If you fall backward, bend your knees to get as close to the ground as possible, and curl up into a ball by rounding your back. This way, you'll avoid a shock to the tailbone or head.
Warm Up Properly before going on the slopes
It will only take you 3 short minutes to warm up before hitting the slopes! Start with a series of 10-15 squats and lateral lunges, with your boots loosened. By the way, a piece of advice, only tighten them firmly after 30 minutes of practice; this will help you avoid sensations of foot cramping. As important as your legs, your pelvis needs mobility. You may not know this, but this part of the body is extremely engaged during turns. A bit of hula hoop, followed by pelvis placement at the 4 cardinal points, will give you enough range to avoid unnecessarily stiffening up. These simple exercises will reduce the risk of common injuries such as knee sprains and ligament ruptures. Now you're ready to tear up the slopes!
Be mindful of other riders
Just like on the road, danger may not always be obvious, so never forget that you're not alone on the slopes. Pay attention to what's happening in front of and behind you, don't stop in the middle of a slope, especially behind a bump, and control your speed. Enjoy your ride!