N00bie skiboarder (Japan)

[Ke-chan]

Hey folks, I'm going to try skiboarding for the first time next week, and I have a few questions...mostly just about the basics and getting started.

Some background: I've gone skiing 3 times in as many months, taking lessons, and I just can seem to get comfortable. I constantly feel out of control and awkward. A friend of mine suggested I try snowblades/skiboards, as I might find them easier to deal with, particularly since I was an avid skater (rollerskates, not ice) when I was young, though that's been a while ago. However, what I've seen from this site, and from the videos I've watched, the "gorilla" stance looks exactly right to me, whereas skiing just makes me feel shaky and weird.

So here's my question. I've tried all of the resorts relatively close to me, and NONE of them offer lessons in skiboarding. Do you think my limited skiing knowledge (VERY limited) and skating experience will be enough to get me started? I'm not looking to do tricks or anything crazy, I just want to be able to cruise comfortably and safely down groomed green and blue runs. (Or...at least I say that now);)

What advice do you have for the basics? Stopping/turning, etc? And getting on/off lifts?

I realize I'm asking a ton of questions, but I'm heading off to Gala Yuzawa next week by myself to try this out...and I think I need a little help.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you!

[H2O Junkie]

Trail riding is pretty much the same as riding long skis. Ski boards are easier to manage due to their smaller size which can tend to shorten the learning curve. The bad side to that is that it can also create a false confidence in one's ability causing them to over-ski.

There are some differences you will find and which ski board you ride will alter some of these. True ski boards (the wider ones) prefer to be ridden on edge when on groomers. Running flat they can catch in the grooming lines and ruts. Keeping them on edge keeps that from happening. The bad news is, if you don't know how to edge, you will find them difficult to ride.

Snow blades are thinner and usually don't exhibit this riding quirk. But because they are thinner, you will quickly find they aren't so good on the smaller vertical drop trails and in most cases, totally stink in powder.

I would highly recommend that you learn the basics before getting carried away. That means learning to stop, turn, etc. Otherwise you will put yourself at a high risk for injury. There is no easy fix to inexperience. Learn and have fun. That is what skiing is all about.

[Ke-chan]

H2O Junkie:

Thanks for your reply!

I wasn't aware of the differences between snowblades and skiboards on groomed runs, so that's good to know.

And while I understand, from carefully watching a few videos, the mechanics of edging, I'll just have to see what I can put into practice. It seems to me, though, that turning on a snowblade/skiboard is more of a "skating" turn than the wedge turns/parallel turns made on skis. Am I wrong in thinking that?

And there's no worries about me over-skiing...:) I have no intention of leaving the beginners slopes until I feel 100% confident.

I'm thinking of buying these snowblades for learning the basics:

Snowblades 90cm (in Japanese, sorry) (http://www.sportsauthority.jp/shop/ProductDetail.aspx?CD=F1000502&WKCD=F1000497-F1000501-F1000502&sku=20571170)

I know they're 8-hole bindings and not the best, but if things go well, I've got my eye on some SnowJam 90s that I'll invest in later on.

And I agree about having fun. I'm not going to push myself to try anything I'm not ready for. One of the reasons I'm turning to skiboards/snowblades that that I'm NOT having fun on skis!

[anaesthetic]

Did you see this website:

http://www.skiboardshop.co.jp/

All high quality skiboards and bindings from Japan, USA and the Lokens from Norway. They have Loken Apetorch on sale, cheaper than SnowJams, good deal for good skiboards!

[Ke-chan]

anaesthetic:

Thanks so much for the link! I googled ski shops in Japan/Tokyo, and found zip. Grrr. Should have used katakana instead, probably would have had better luck.

I'm sort of in a quandary, though--the boards are so expensive, at least for what I'd like to have. (The Revel8 Bantam 75s look really cool, though I'd rather have 90s I think.) With the additional cost of bindings and mounting, it's really quite expensive equipment for a sport that I'm not even sure that I can DO. :)

Still cheaper than skis, though...

Part of me thinks that I should just go ahead and buy a good board (and boots, of course) and learn on that, but the much more practical part of my brain says that I should buy something cheaper just to try learning on. The other choice is to rent, but I'd rather get used to my own equipment.

*sigh* decisions, decisions....

[taimos]

can you rent snowblades?

rent the widest ones you can and see if you get on with them, and if you do, shell out for some skiboards.

most important is getting soem decent boots though, if youve got ones that work well for you on, it will make even skiing blades a better experiance.

do you have an ebay/craigslist in japan? you could see if anyone is selling secondhand?

[H2O Junkie]

Originally posted by Ke-chan
H2O Junkie:

Thanks for your reply!

I wasn't aware of the differences between snowblades and skiboards on groomed runs, so that's good to know.

And while I understand, from carefully watching a few videos, the mechanics of edging, I'll just have to see what I can put into practice. It seems to me, though, that turning on a snowblade/skiboard is more of a "skating" turn than the wedge turns/parallel turns made on skis. Am I wrong in thinking that?

It is a lot like a snowboard in that respect. How many times have you seen the snowboarder dragging his/her rear sideways down the hill pushing a nice wall of snow in front of the board? Can you ride a snowboard that way? Yes. Is it right? No.

You can wedge a turn on ski boards easily. That doesn't make it the correct way technique-wise. It has uses at points depending on your goals, but skiing technique on steeps will be similar to long skis in that respect.

Just so you know, I am not a park rider. I leave that to the bullet-proof youngsters. There may be a difference in the way they ride vs how I ride. My info is based on what I learned in years of riding long skis and transferring that over to my ski boards.

[Manlenium]

Take the plunge dude. You wont regret the buy and you will enjoy them so much after the first time out. Your progression will be so fast, you will be amazed.:D

[Ke-chan]

Hmmm....

After reading this, I think I've found a good compromise. I'm going to go ahead and try to find a decent pair of boots--preferably hard shell snowboard boots, and then rent the skiboards or snowblades. Since I sort of loathe the horrid, clunky skiboots I usually get stuck with at rental shops, this is probably the best way to go.

Now if I could only find lessons, I'd be golden. Grrrr.

Oh..and by the way, I'm a dudette, dude. :) I know it's not easy to tell online, and I didn't make it known. Sorry.

[skierbrent5530]

dude just take some ski lessons and ride the skiblades or skiboards the concept is the same when u start out.

[t21]

Originally posted by skierbrent5530
dude just take some ski lessons and ride the skiblades or skiboards the concept is the same when u start out.

dude, she's a lady.. either you miss that one or your just messing around :),but i do second that opinion though. Ke-chan, just take your time and enjoy skiboarding.

[skierbrent5530]

Originally posted by t21
dude, she's a lady.. either you miss that one or your just messing around :),but i do second that opinion though. Ke-chan, just take your time and enjoy skiboarding. yea i didn't know and i call most people "dude".

[airdonut41]

On that Japanese website I saw some boards called Blue Moris (company or model?). Has anyone heard of these/had experience to know if they're any good or not?

Dan