How to Snowboard - the basics of riding for your first day | REI

Ready to hit the slopes? We partnered with Amy Gan of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) to teach you the basics of snowboarding. In this video, we cover everything from your snowboard stance to making J-turns and linking your turns down the mountain.

What you need to know:

Stance and skating on your board - 0:35
Gliding and J-turns - 2:48
Traversing - 6:43
Connecting turns - 9:54

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

A Co-op Films Production-
Producer: Mary Beth Lavender
Director: Jason Lohr-Johnson
Cinematography: Jonathan Houser
Camera: Corey Warren
Content: Amy Gan
Talent: Amy Gan
Editing: Katie Van Fleet

[Aphectz]

i tried snowboarding for the first time yesterday... full send downhill cus i thought it was like a skateboard.. massive bump, my ribs got cucked. & i got the wind knocked outta me . did that bout 12 times before realizing i should prob watch a video

[EliNelsonJusAwesome]

I’m impressed at how well the camera operator is tracking her while filming and snowboarding at the same time

[fudhater]

These tips will get you going quickly:
- When facing downhill (your body, not your board), the higher your toes, the slower you'll go; the lower your toes, the faster you'll go. Reverse for toeside (facing uphill)
- When you want to turn, turn your upper body in the direction you want to go


And if there's a "secret" tip it's this: When starting out, you'll have a tendency to lean backwards so you can fall on your rear instead of your face; you need to keep your weight slightly forward when going downhill (i.e. nose is pointed straight downhill) as it will be easier to initiate turns, and eventually you'll be able to use your tail as a rudder/brake. Once you accept that your weight has to be slightly forward everything will fall into place :)

[Aabdallahs]

The biggest thing that no one taught me during my snowboarding lessons is that, in order to go straight, you don't just point the board straight downhill and ride on the flat part of the board. If you do that, you will have a lot of wipeouts. The trick is to pretend you are riding a swing and always be going from heel to tow, back and forth. Once I had that epiphany, I had zero wipe outs.

[winstonsmith]

Step 1: Strap in.
Step 2: Stand sideways
Step 3: Profit

[kalebbryce]

I’m intermediate level at snowboarding and I still watched this... just Incase I’m missing something in technique

[passthemayo]

I’ve never snowboarded but my friends talked me into going on my local hill, this video is the only thing that kept me alive

[damienlewis]

wheres the 3 foot drop from chairlift on to icy ruts with a dog-leg right turn with one foot strapped in and 8 people behind you video?

[SuperHysy]

Went to try snowboarding the other day. This video was very helpful! Once I got traversing both ways on toes and heels mastered I was able to link up some turns smoothly. Took about 6 hours and dozens of embarrassing falls but in the end it felt like I started to make some progress.

[JaguarBST]

Unbelievable quality on video, audio as well as instructions and demonstrations. Phenomenal video!

[ydnas]

Yep. I did all of this during my first class. Getting better every time I visit the resort. Super stocked!

[katmananquil]

Fbi recommended it, lol just planned a snowboarding trip with friends and this popped up

[Cowboysway]

Been boarding for 15 years, Great way to simplify the process!

[gzrider]

Very good lesson for beginners. What's missing is THE cardinal rule: never catch that front edge. Almost anything you need to do to avoid that is worth doing. As you start, even if you have good balance you may not have the muscles just where you need them yet, which has consequences. It may not be as easy as she makes it seem to stand up while facing downhill. You may not have the edge control she does, either. You may not be able to jump like she does. As she initiates turns, she says flatten the board slightly. Given a tiny bit of slope, the board will do that automatically when you lean forward (tip from an instructor who helped me "undo" skiing practices) and you will naturally start turning. Don't panic as you pick up speed during the turn, and don't look at your boots. Also unlike skiing turn your neck, chin towards the leading shoulder in whichever direction you are going (skiing: chin in its normal forward position but torso twisted to look down the fall line, or at least towards it for shallow traverses). As you come around turns, don't panic about the speed and just ride it out. If you are an older beginner like I was, consider body armor. Pretty sure I cracked a rib the first time I caught a front edge. Gloves or mittens with a wrist brace recommended. Knee pads recommended.

[alicekane]

Sure wish my twin sister & I had had YOU for our instructor for our 'one-time' lesson (Vail/Lion's Head). We were advanced skiers and decided (as we approached middle-age) that we HAD to give boarding a try. We asked for a female instructor but this very young woman hadn't a clue as to how to get beginners started! She took us right to the top of a trail (fuddgedabout us getting off the lift)!! Granted, the boots they gave us were crummy (we have such narrow feet) and, sadly, much of the "lesson" was spent on the ground - not to mention my immediate face-plant that destroyed my prescription sunglasses -- so then 'good vision' became a challenge! The young woman seemed mainly amused at "these twins flopping around the snow, " but I always felt that she kinda ruined the possibility of us learning & enjoying the sport! Watching your video, I can totally understand what we SHOULD have been taught and your instruction makes so much sense to me! Bravo on a very good video & excellent teaching skills!

[isaiah]

Watching this on the way to snowboarding for the first time 😝

[HKDAVIS]

Excellent tutorial video, at age 58, i am going to try and have some fun with snowboarding for the 1st time

[stef]

I’m a skier but I kind of want to try snowboarding so if I like it I can get one and do both

[chuckchai]

one of the most important tips I got from my instructor was to look and point where you want to go, I was looking at my feet all the time and that caused a lot of falls

[viktoria]

All of the begginer snowboarding videos I've watched on youtube: Start with skating and gliding.
My instructor: Naww, let's go straight down the 30 degree slope.