Frosty

You're right Tango, Poma lifts are a dreaded nightmare for some snowboarders.  I remember a few years back while living in Steamboat, I got my wife a season pass to Howelson Hill ski area.  Problem was, the only main lift they had open regularly was the Poma and the hill is STEEP for a ground lift.  She was a really experienced snowboarder at the time having done some of the steeper runs in Colorado and Alaska, but that stupid Poma kicked her butt.  I didn't have TOO much of a problem with it — I learned to board on a mountain that had both a rope-tow and Poma, amongst others.  If you are not used to a Poma, there's virtually no way around the pending humiliation.  But keep at it and you will be zipping up it like a pro in no time.TIPS FOR RIDING A POMA LIFT ON A SNOWBOARD1) After the lift ahead of you passes, go immediately behind it so you

You're right Tango, Poma lifts are a dreaded nightmare for some snowboarders.  I remember a few years back while living in Steamboat, I got my wife a season pass to Howelson Hill ski area.  Problem was, the only main lift they had open regularly was the Poma and the hill is STEEP for a ground lift.  She was a really experienced snowboarder at the time having done some of the steeper runs in Colorado and Alaska, but that stupid Poma kicked her butt.  I didn't have TOO much of a problem with it — I learned to board on a mountain that had both a rope-tow and Poma, amongst others.  If you are not used to a Poma, there's virtually no way around the pending humiliation.  But keep at it and you will be zipping up it like a pro in no time.TIPS FOR RIDING A POMA LIFT ON A SNOWBOARD1) After the lift ahead of you passes, go immediately behind it so you have enough time to get ready.2) Put your board in the track (aiming uphill) and your back foot off while waiting for your lift.3) As your lift approaches, grab the pole and step slightly outward with your free foot.  That will spread your legs wide enough to place the disc securely on your butt.4) Once the disc is placed, step your back foot onto your board, with both hands on the pole prepare for the spring to max out and be pulled in a sudden jerk.5) Keep your weight centered over the board and keep your legs strong 6) Keep your back foot in gliding position between the bindings and up against the back binding.7) Don't sit down on the disc.  Sure, it is pressure on your butt just like taking a seat, but stay tall and pressure against the disc just enough to allow it to keep you moving up the hill.8) As you progress up the hill, keep your legs slightly bent, but mostly straight and strong.9) If you wipe out, let go of the lift and move out of the way ASAP!10) Keep your back foot centered heel/toe wise to prevent drag.11) Use a good stomp pad. (actually this could be #1)12) Keep your weight centered over the board, steer and keep the board in the track.  13) As you approach the exit point, pull down and back on the pole, spread your knees, remove the disc, let go, and skate away like a pro!

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Ooh ooooh.  Me first! (Raises hand and waves vigorously)Good question Tango.  I know I may sound like a broken record, but, as with most things about snowboarding, it is personal preference.  Some folks will just know whether they are regular foot or goofy foot.  Those people will most likely have skateboarded, wakeboarded, or surfed before and just ride the snowboard the same way.  I suppose if you have ridden one of those kick scooters that were really trendy a few years back, it may have given you preference to putting one foot forward and one trailing.If you have no previous [sideways] sports skills that might cross over into snowboarding, that's OK, there is still hope in choosing a directional preference.  Find a situation where it is really slippery.  It may be an icy spot on a frozen walkway or just on the kitchen tile in your socks.  Now run forward a li

Ooh ooooh.  Me first! (Raises hand and waves vigorously)Good question Tango.  I know I may sound like a broken record, but, as with most things about snowboarding, it is personal preference.  Some folks will just know whether they are regular foot or goofy foot.  Those people will most likely have skateboarded, wakeboarded, or surfed before and just ride the snowboard the same way.  I suppose if you have ridden one of those kick scooters that were really trendy a few years back, it may have given you preference to putting one foot forward and one trailing.If you have no previous [sideways] sports skills that might cross over into snowboarding, that's OK, there is still hope in choosing a directional preference.  Find a situation where it is really slippery.  It may be an icy spot on a frozen walkway or just on the kitchen tile in your socks.  Now run forward a little bit and slide.  Try to slide as far as you can.  You will find that you naturally will begin to lead with one foot when you do that — and there you go.Another way is to close your eyes and imagine snowboarding down a PERFECT run.  For me that would be a wide open powder field, well above tree line.  As I progress, the run gets a little steeper and I start to gain speed.  Now I can head to the right, slowly transition to the side, start slowly heading left as I progressively bank into the turn.  Speed increases.  My board starts to plane.  As the force presses me deeper and deeper into the snow, I can feel it flex my board from the pressure.  I hold strang in the stance as I head straight down the fall line and eventually cross over it slightly.  As the pressure has built to a maximum, I go for more speed.  I pull my legs in flatten the base and ramp out of the powder.  As I clear the snow surface, the momentum of my tipping carries my board behind me as im tipping toward the downhill.  Re-entering the powder I get the same sensation as before, but this time it's on the other side.  The fresh snow, the fresh air, the seclusion, the pressure, the release, the hill steepens, tiny frozen pines appear, left and right turns are nothing compared to the scope of the terrain itself.  In perspective it is a straight run.  In perspective it looks too steep, but to me it is just right.  Over my trailing shoulder I look behind me, and all I see is a roost of sparkling airborne powder, sometimes swirling in a vortex.  I catch a glimpse of more little trees and decide I better look forward again.  Back to looking over my front shoulder, I notice I'm now in a gladed meadow.  The only sound is my jacket and pants flapping; not from the wind but from the velocity.  Bank, bank.  Left, right, left, right…  Like a dolphin my board comes out and dives back in.OK, I will stop there.  Read it over.  Make sure you get to where you share that sensation along with me.  Sweet!  I italicized one phrase in that text, “Back to looking over my front shoulder”.  So is that looking over the right shoulder or the left?  I know what it is for me, do you know which one it is for you?OK, if you are still stuck, don't worry, one way is not any harder than the other.  They are both hard, LOL.  Simply pick one orientation and stick with it.  Stick with it.  Stick with it.Whichever way you choose, dont ask someone at the rental shop and let them push you!  (You know what I mean if it has happened to you)

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Good question man…  REALLY good.  OK, here's the scoop.  What your friends say is true to a certain degree and only to a certain degree.  Let's say 10% of doing freestyle is the specific gear you have.  MOST of it is your own skills and level of confidence you have.  Do not transfer responsibility to your gear.  Seems like you have really nice stuff.  I have been riding for over 17 years and rails always frighten me.  If I am really ON a certain day i might do them, but if any seed of doubt exists in my style I pass em up.  If some jerk wants to criticize me for it then forget him, I stay healthy enough to ride another day.  Doing rails WILL screw up your board after some time and you will most likely get really hurt when wrecking on one of them.  That's just the way it is.  Use your head and go for what you know.  Gear is only a small fract

Good question man…  REALLY good.  OK, here's the scoop.  What your friends say is true to a certain degree and only to a certain degree.  Let's say 10% of doing freestyle is the specific gear you have.  MOST of it is your own skills and level of confidence you have.  Do not transfer responsibility to your gear.  Seems like you have really nice stuff.  I have been riding for over 17 years and rails always frighten me.  If I am really ON a certain day i might do them, but if any seed of doubt exists in my style I pass em up.  If some jerk wants to criticize me for it then forget him, I stay healthy enough to ride another day.  Doing rails WILL screw up your board after some time and you will most likely get really hurt when wrecking on one of them.  That's just the way it is.  Use your head and go for what you know.  Gear is only a small fraction of doing freestyle.

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