Proper equipment, technique stressed for snowboarders

By Matt Nelson
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Looking for a change this winter, Dennis Garvin, 21, a junior communications major from Hudson, Mass., hung up his skis and decided to approach the fast-growing sport of snowboarding.

"My parents got me involved with skiing at a young age," Garvin said. "I started getting bored with the sport and decided to make the change to snowboarding."

In 1929, M.J. Burchett cut out a plank of plywood and tried to secure his feet with some clothesline and horse reins. Not knowing what he was doing, he invented the snowboard.

Despite the lack of snowfall and unusually warm temperature, Norwich students are heading toward the mountains with snowboards instead of skis.

Killington, Pico, Sugarbush, and Stowe are among the closest to Norwich and therefore more frequently skied, Garvin said.

As of Jan. 9, Killington and Pico have 141 out of 200 trails open and 16 out of 30 lifts open. The base depth is 41-42. Sugarbush has 100 out of 101 trails open with a base depth of 6-40 inches and 12 out of 18 lifts open. Stowe has 43 out of 48 trails open, with a base depth of 28-42 inches and 8 out of 11 lifts open, according to Vermont's No Bull Ski Report. (www.nobullski-vermont.com)

"I love boarding at Killington," Eric LaRose said, 21, a junior business management from Andover, Mass. "They have so many more trails to choose from and is therefore less crowded."

Like skiing, snowboarding is an expensive sport to start up. A good snowboard will cost anywhere from $600-$3,000. Snowboarding boots range from $70-$200, depending on the quality.

"The proper clothing is another necessity that is needed while being on top of a mountain," Justin Sarofian said, 23 a senior criminal justice major from Haverhill, Mass. "Gloves, snow pants, a warm jacket, and a hat are a must for these conditions. The combination will cost around $200 to $600, depending on the brand."

First time snowboarders need to understand the fundamentals of the sport before they can hit the mountain, Sarofian said.

According to the History of Snowboarding web site, "you have got to be relaxed. When you tense up bad things happen. An easy way to stay loose is to keep your knees slightly bent. This will also help you absorb the bumps that are in the snow, like shock absorbers."

"The first time I tried snowboarding I got very frustrated with the sport and wanted to quit," said Jeff Hueneke, 22, a senior psychology major from Chicago, Ill. "Once I got the hang of it, it was a piece of cake."

It is important to select the right kind of snowboard, boots, and bindings. You need to make sure your boots fit properly and that your board is not too short, long, wide, or narrow.

"The first time I went boarding I rented a board from a ski shop," said Mike Hostetler, 22, a electrical engineering major from Union Mills, Ind.

"My board was way too big for my body, and my front foot was the wrong one. This caused me a lot of grief and aggravation."

You need to start off by playing around with your board on one foot, in order to see what foot is most comfortable in front. Before you strap in your back foot, try skating across the hill before you go down it, advises the History of Snowboarding web site.

"The toughest aspect of snowboarding for me was turning," said Vin Paitoon, 22, a senior finance major from BKK, Thailand. "Whenever I tried turning, the side of my board would catch and flip me over."

Both skiing and snowboarding are a great form of exercise. They work both your lower and upper body as well as your cardiovascular system.

"It could be 15 degrees outside," said Mike Jourdanais, 21, a junior architecture major from West Newbury, Mass. "You work up such a sweat that you need to down dress. The next day, your shoulders, back, stomach, and legs all kill from exhaustion."

In 1994 snowboarding was declared an Olympic sport. It finally became accepted as a real, competitive sport, not just a new trend that would disappear. The first time snowboarders actually competed in an Olympic event was the 1998 Olympics, according to the History of Snowboarding web site.

"Snowboarding is a sport that is primarily viewed for younger people. But it is not. It is a sport that everyone can enjoy. You just need to give it a chance," Garvin said.

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