First-Time Lesson - Snowboard

Lineup

  • Be professional. On time, ready to teach, jacket zipped. Not eating or drinking.
  • Be positive and fun!
  • Help guests as they come out of the rental shop find where they need to go/how to carry the board.

Introduction

  • Be professional. On time, ready to teach, jacket zipped. Not eating or drinking.
  • Be positive and fun!
  • Help guests as they come out of the rental shop find where they need to go/how to carry the board.

Equipment Check

  • Be professional. On time, ready to teach, jacket zipped. Not eating or drinking.
  • Be positive and fun!
  • Help guests as they come out of the rental shop find where they need to go/how to carry the board.

Drills - Board Off

  • STANCE: make sure they practice getting their weight over their front foot (belly button over big toe).

  • Balance on toes, balance on heels.

  • Balance on front foot, balance on back foot.

  • Flex and extend.

  • Explain that falling will happen, teach them how, and practice. Practice falling forward onto forearms/elbows, “Make a fist save your wrist.” Practice falling backward: chin tucked to chest, hands in front, fall on your butt.

Drills - Board On, One Foot

  • On flat ground, have them demonstrate proper riding stance.
  • Teach them how to skate. Slide the board forward, step with the foot that’s out. Then bigger steps and have them step on while gliding.
  • Straight runs down a gentle slope.
    • Add-Ons: Tapping the back foot to reinforce weight on the front foot, Flexing and Extending, Slight toe/heel pressure to start change of direction.
  • Down a gentle slope, have them do both a toe and heel turn to a stop. Once the student can do at least one, they can go to the magic and start working with both feet in.

Riding the Magic

  • At the bottom of the Magic, explain how to get on and off the lift. (One foot in, stepping up to the belt, lining the board up. At the top, weight forward, look where you want to go, ride off and clear the way for other guests. Strap in both feet.

Drills - Board On, Both Feet

  • Start with toe or heel stops (whichever they are more comfortable with)
  • Once they can do both stops, have them work on linking turns. (As the board crosses the fall line, add pressure to the front of the board and begin to pressure the other side of the board.
  • For those who are struggling to link turns, they can practice J turns/C Turns

Wrap Up

  • Go over what you worked on and what to practice.
  • Thank them for sharing a great lesson.
  • Go over the next step in their learning process. Practice more or next lessons.
  • Make sure they know your name and that they can ask for you.

Extras

  • Remember to have fun, if you do, they will too.
  • DEMO,DEMO, DEMO!!!
  • Use EDEE (Explain, Demonstrate, Execute, and Evaluate) every time you introduce something new. Demonstrate after every third or fourth student goes so that the class has a good visual to help them.
  • The WHOLE GROUP must be able to link turns in order to go to the Wizard lift.
  • HAVE FUN!!!