On Thursday, I went Snowboarding with my housemate, Christine. We went to Xscape in Castleford for the first lesson.
Our Xscape Snowboarding Lesson
It was advised we get there an hour before, we got there about 45 minutes before the lesson time and that was about enough time to park up, sign in, rent the clothing, get changed and get into our boots and grab a board.
There were about 8 in the group altogether and Josh, our instructor, took us out onto the slope.
At some point between then and getting onto the snow, I broke my thumb nail. When I say broke, I mean snapped backwards and ripped halfway around my nail and bleeding. It was less than ideal and I spent the first part of the lesson in pain until I finally plucked up the courage to tear it off. It hurt. It bled. It was dramatic. But I managed it and then got on with the lesson.
We learnt how to put the snowboard on and how to climb up a hill strapped in with one foot, then we were taught how to slide down backwards, using the toe edge to stop us and control the speed.
After doing this a few times, we were taught how to go down in diagonals on our toe edge.
The 90-minute lesson went really fast and before we knew it, it was over.
Christine and I are both dying to go back and can’t wait to go to our next lesson in the next few weeks.
It was hard, but doable and it’s all about the balls really. You just have to do it and realise that if you fall, there’s not any way to get hurt.
We were given a card that says we’d completed the first lesson and the things we can do:
- I can put on and take off my boots, snowboard and helmet.
- I’ve had an introduction to posture and balance.
- I can side slip on my toe edge.
- I can make a diagonal side slip on my toe edge.
Lesson two is heel edge side slipping, which basically means going down the hill facing the bottom of the hill rather than with our back to it. Here are the things we need to be able to do to pass the class:
- I can side slip on my heel edge.
- I can make a diagonal side slip on my toe and heel edge.
- I can consistently side slip on my toe and heel edge.
Woo! Exciting.
It was quite the workout too, using your leg and core muscles to control your speed and direction as well as running back up the hill with the board.
I can ski, I’ve been on 3 ski holidays when I was a teen but I’ve never tried snowboarding – it’s totally different but fun. By the 5th lesson, we should be able to go down the main slope on our own.
Have you ever tried snowboarding or skiing?
Ahh this is so weird ’cause Jake and I were just talking about taking a trip to Xscape last night haha!
I can ski…well, I learnt to ski years ago but haven’t been since and Jake was a sponsored skateboarder so he used to go snowboarding alot too. He reckons I won’t be able to do it but I think lesson sounds really good.
I look forward to seeing more in your Snowboarding series! Oh and the nail drama doesn’t sound fun 🙁 Hope it’s okay now.
Best wishes, Danielle xo
Ohh, you should do it! It’s so much fun!
I’ve never tried either snowboarding or skiing – I went ice skating once and broke my arm so I’m guessing winter sports aren’t my forte! Sounds like you had a really fun time though, and I’m sure snowboarding is quite the strain on the quads!
lily x
Oh dear, my mum broke her arm skating when I was younger. You should try it, there’s really no way to break a limb in the first few lessons when you’re on the little slope!
I did the same lesson but only one, I knackered my knee. A shame as it was so much fun. It is like skating on a tea tray. You look like you both had fun Lucy x
It is like skating on a tea tray 😀
I never tried snow boarding or skiing, but I would love to. I did tried ice skating this year, that was a lot of fun!
I would recommend you put it on your ‘things to do’ list for sure!
I tried snowboarding this time last year – it was hard but I loved it. Really want to go again soon! x