Safety gear

If you’re completely new you might still be under the illusion that snow is soft & fluffy and that any falls ain't gonna hurt. Hummmmm. Don’t get put off, but that’s not entirely true. Good news is you CAN limit your chances of injury with a combination of gear, techniques & park safety knowledge.

To think about park safety check this link or keep reading to get onto our etiquette section. www.terrainparksafety.org/index.php/learn-to-ride/safety-facts-tips/

Our top safety tip linked to technique is to always avoid landing on your wrists. This is gonna be tricky at first as that’s gonna be your first instinct, but when snowboarding you really have to try and unlearn this pesky habit. Watch this from thrive snowboarding to get yourself falling safely and with style:

HELMETS

Next to consider is your helmet - important for avoiding scrambled brains - and any other protection gear like body padding and tailbone protection, which might limit your bruising from any hard falls.

When it comes to selecting there’s plenty of choice out there, and various safety features to consider. The following clips and sites will give you a hand to find what’s ideal for you.

Just how safe will it really be? Watch whiteline’s ‘how to choose a helmet and protection’ to consider certification.

Tips for buying a helmet from Snowboard Pro Camp.

What padding options are out there? View these two for an idea of what to look for… So will it be shorts or an arse pad guys?!?

And one final thought in case you’re debating the whole ‘wear/not to wear decision’. Czech snowboarder Pancochova smashed so heavily in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics that her helmet completely split. :s (Click below to see the video).

www.express.co.uk/news/world/459051/VIDEO-Why-you-HAVE-to-wear-a-helmet-Winter-Olympics-snowboarder-survives-HORROR-fall

So a massive thank you to helmets for keeping major head injuries at a minimum. Wooohoooo!

P.S. One last hype bite - don’t forget they’re also good for attaching cameras! Relive that epic run over and over! And drive your clan to distraction in the process. :D

AVALANCHES

Riding outside of terrain parks is what a lot of riders dream about and live for. However, avalanches happen… and unfortunately even some of the best riders, who can read mountains like newspapers, have lost their lives to the beasts.

They’re not likely to be a prob at the terrain parks you’ll be learning on… but if you long for backcountry adventures then it’s wise to find out about the signs and get clued

If you’ve still got your eyes set on freeriding the wilds, then you best investigate this great ‘How to read avalanche terrain’ clip. Bruce Tremper shares his top tips for giving yourself the best chance of avoiding, or at least surviving, major snow shifts.

Backcountry mega master Jeremy Jones runs through 5 red flag signs that could indicate the conditions are ripe for avalanches.

There are some incredible bits of kit that’ll give you the best chance if you find yourself in a horror situation. Watch on to see why wearing an avalanche airbag in the backcountry is a smart move.

Find yourself in a slide without a bag and you’ve still got a chance if you’re with friends. But you still need heaps of luck on your side. The next clip shows some skiers who suddenly find themselves in masses of trouble. This guy saved himself with his ski pole… and fast acting mates. As snowboarders we don’t have this extra chance, so riding with an avalanche beacon is therefore a pretty smart move. Especially when you see the levels of mayhem involved in such situation.