I've always wanted to get into snowboarding but I never knew where to start. There are so many places all over the world that offer great slopes, scenery and people and it's hard delving into a new sport not knowing anything about it. Friends of mine had been doing skiing holidays for years but while the sport didn't appeal to me, the lifestyle did. I decided to take a look at snowboarding, skiing's cooler younger brother, and this is what I learned.
Snowboarding in its rawest form was invented in the 1920s but its modern connotations were not truly known until the 60s when engineer Sherman Poppen designed a crude toy for his daughter which consisted of two skis stuck together and a rope tied to the front to give her control. He called the new activity 'snurfing', a combination of snow and surfing. His invention became so talked about that he had to take his design to a larger market. He began holding snurfing competitions and one of the favourite competitors was Tom Sims, an avid skateboarding fan who took Poppen's idea and ran with it, creating a new design which he called the 'winterstick'. Many other people added to the design but the snowboard we know today was finally finished by two Welshman who had the idea of using lightweight plywood.
Modern snowboarding is a huge market with millions of followers so it's a great way to meet people and have a luxurious vacation at the same time. With so many clothing brands offering the essential gear there will always be something of your style and size, and don't forget you can use the colours of your snowboard to match or play off the colour of your clothing - so make sure you look perfect on the slopes! Just because it's a sport, it doesn't mean snowboarding needs to not be feminine. Just a cursory look online will show you so many variations of style and comfort. Once you're dressed for it though, you need to know what board to buy.
Deciding where to go is the next hardest thing for would-be-snowboarders. Europe seems the obvious choice for a Brit but the resorts in America and Canada are immense and the perfect excuse to go a little further afield for a holiday. It makes such a change to sitting on a beach doing nothing all day; you can end the day feeling totally satisfied with what you've achieved. Nothing quite like a real wood fire and a hot chocolate with marshmallows in an actual snow-topped wood cabin! So picturesque!
Winter sports resorts can be found on every continent but you will have no problem finding English-speaking instructors to help get you started. There is a whole glossary of terms to learn if you want to get the lingo right but a quick Google search will help if anything gets lost in translation. Snowboarding is such an exciting sport; the search for the best slopes and most talented trainers will be never ending.
So why not try it and see if you can recapture your lost youth or even just throw yourself into middle age with a bang? It isn't just something for the young and restless, or the bold and the beautiful. It's a perfect way to relax for those who don't know how to! If you are rushed off your feet with work or children, perhaps you are used to a challenge, so this will be the perfect stepping stone from day to day life to the extreme.
Snowboarding in its rawest form was invented in the 1920s but its modern connotations were not truly known until the 60s when engineer Sherman Poppen designed a crude toy for his daughter which consisted of two skis stuck together and a rope tied to the front to give her control. He called the new activity 'snurfing', a combination of snow and surfing. His invention became so talked about that he had to take his design to a larger market. He began holding snurfing competitions and one of the favourite competitors was Tom Sims, an avid skateboarding fan who took Poppen's idea and ran with it, creating a new design which he called the 'winterstick'. Many other people added to the design but the snowboard we know today was finally finished by two Welshman who had the idea of using lightweight plywood.
Modern snowboarding is a huge market with millions of followers so it's a great way to meet people and have a luxurious vacation at the same time. With so many clothing brands offering the essential gear there will always be something of your style and size, and don't forget you can use the colours of your snowboard to match or play off the colour of your clothing - so make sure you look perfect on the slopes! Just because it's a sport, it doesn't mean snowboarding needs to not be feminine. Just a cursory look online will show you so many variations of style and comfort. Once you're dressed for it though, you need to know what board to buy.
Deciding where to go is the next hardest thing for would-be-snowboarders. Europe seems the obvious choice for a Brit but the resorts in America and Canada are immense and the perfect excuse to go a little further afield for a holiday. It makes such a change to sitting on a beach doing nothing all day; you can end the day feeling totally satisfied with what you've achieved. Nothing quite like a real wood fire and a hot chocolate with marshmallows in an actual snow-topped wood cabin! So picturesque!
Winter sports resorts can be found on every continent but you will have no problem finding English-speaking instructors to help get you started. There is a whole glossary of terms to learn if you want to get the lingo right but a quick Google search will help if anything gets lost in translation. Snowboarding is such an exciting sport; the search for the best slopes and most talented trainers will be never ending.
So why not try it and see if you can recapture your lost youth or even just throw yourself into middle age with a bang? It isn't just something for the young and restless, or the bold and the beautiful. It's a perfect way to relax for those who don't know how to! If you are rushed off your feet with work or children, perhaps you are used to a challenge, so this will be the perfect stepping stone from day to day life to the extreme.
About the Author:
The best part isn't actually the snowboarding, deciding on your colours, bindings and pants is far better! Browse and buy online.
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