Ski school questions & answers

Questions and answers about snowboard sport

• Which snowboard is right for beginners?

  Especially for beginners we have our Burton snowboards with the Flat TopTM flex, which provide a stable, soft and playful ride. The flex of the snowboard should therefore be lower. This will help you keep your balance, make turns easier and tilt less often. For all Burton snowboards applies: The weight decides the length, NOT the height!

• What snowboard binding for beginners?

  As a snowboard beginner you need material that you feel comfortable with. Important here are flexible bindings (snowboard soft bindings), which make it easier for you to turn and you still have a good grip.

  We have the Progression Custom snowboard binding from Burton.

• Which snowboard is right for me?

  In general, one can distinguish between three major directions:

  • Freestyle-Snowboard for slope, fun park, pipe

  • Freeride-Snowboard for piste, powder snow, off-piste, freeride

  • Race-Snowboard for slope, fast curves, high speed

  For all Burton snowboards applies: The weight decides the length, NOT the body size! You distinguish then only the width of the board, which depends on your shoe size, whether you need a normal board or a wide.

  Preload:

  • Camber -> only the outer contact points (nose & tail) lie on, therefore good edge grip is created. This is more difficult to ride, but offers more stability at faster speeds and harder conditions.

  • Rocker -> The support is thereby centered, the snowboard is thus much more rotatable, but no longer so grippy

  • Flat -> ein mix of camber and rocker, the snowboard lies rather flat for optimal grip and yet good turning ability

• What to look for when buying a snowboard?

  You should consider all the above points and, of course, find out for yourself what suits you best or to which riding style the snowboard is best suited.

  The combination of snowboard, snowboard binding and snowboard boots makes only the total package!

  For this purpose, a corresponding snowboard rental is suitable to be able to test enough -> TEST & BUY.

• Is it hard to learn how to snowboard?

  As with any sport, the learning success depends very much on age, condition, strength, body feeling, balance, talent.

  Especially in the beginning, the assistance of a snowboard instructor is very important here, on the one hand to maintain confidence, and on the other hand to learn the right technique right away.

  Somehow you always get down the mountain, but HOW is then very decisive about the fun of snowboarding.

  And even if the beginning is difficult, you will then be overwhelmed with feelings of happiness throughout your life, when you stand on the mountain, and the descent on the slopes, in deep snow or through the fun park in front of you and then mastered.

• Which is easier to learn ski or snowboard?

  In the beginning, skiing is easier to learn because you have skis strapped to both feet, keeping your balance is greatly assisted.

  In snowboarding, you are fixed with both feet strapped, you can easily tilt forward or backward, so the assistance of the snowboard instructor is also very important in the beginning.

  In the further learning stage, after the first turns, snowboarding is again easier, because you can then overcome steeper slopes (red slopes) also sliding (backside, frontside).

  When skiing, you need a very solid technique for steeper slopes (from red slopes).

• How long does it take to snowboard?

  This depends entirely on what your personal goal is and how far you want to develop. On the one hand, this depends on the time invested to be able to practice accordingly, and how often you get tips from a snowboard instructor.

  The learning success is always individual, generally you can ride blue and light red slopes after 3 full days of snowboarding lessons, or overcome steeper sections by sliding.

  But you never stop learning, even we as top trained ski and snowboard professionals can always improve.

  Very important: the better your technique, the better you have the snowboard under control, and the lower your risk of injury!

• Which leg must be in front when snowboarding?

  • Regular -> the left leg is in front

  • Goofy -> the right leg is in front

  In our rental shop we always like to set all bindings to "duckstance" (-15 degrees and +15 degrees) in the beginning. Also for those who can already snowboard, but the last day on the snowboard is already back a bit.

  So you are ready to move in both directions, you notice even after some time, in which direction you turn easier. After that we adjust the binding in the rental or the appropriate snowboard instructor.

• What do I need to snowboard?

  Snowboard, snowboard boots, snowboard binding, snowboard pants, jacket, appropriate underwear, gloves (preferably those that support the wrist), helmet, snowboard goggles.

• Can you teach yourself to snowboard?

  Like so many things, you can teach yourself to snowboard.

  But does it really make sense:

  • to learn the wrong technique?

  • that the sport thus becomes a cramp and not a pleasure?

  • puts yourself and others at increased risk of injury?

  • with all the total costs that such a sport carries, to save just on the snowboard course, that is, on yourself and your technique improvement?

  Because just the right technique makes you a better snowboarder and brings you the fun you should have!

Questions and answers about snowshoe hiking

• How exhausting is snowshoeing?

  Depending on the tour and duration, this is of course also correspondingly strenuous. Therefore, choose and plan your tour with our guides so that you can also enjoy each tour.

  Our beginner tours are generally designed for enjoyment!

• How to walk with snowshoes?

  As with any sport:

  Once you have the technique under control, it's a lot easier! Especially when going uphill you should use the prongs - similar to a crampon. When going downhill, shift your weight to the heel, so you stay stable and have full control.

  Our guides will support you in every situation.

• What equipment do I need for snowshoeing?

  When it comes to equipment, pay particular attention to the length of the poles. These vary depending on body size. The height depends on whether you are hiking uphill or downhill! Therefore, telescopic poles are ideal for this. These can be adjusted individually depending on the situation.

  What belongs in my backpack:

  • pack enough liquid. Any sport is strenuous and our body needs enough water!

  • A snack for in between: In case you get a little hungry!

  • Don't forget a change of clothes and a tour map: Pack dry clothes, and never hike off the official routes without a guide!

• What size snowshoes do I need?

  Snowshoes come in different sizes (22 to 30), which have nothing to do with the normal shoe size, because the binding is flexibly adjustable.

  The decisive factor is the weight of the hiker including equipment.

  As a rule of thumb:

  • Size 22 for up to 70 kilos

  • Size 25 for 70 to 100 kilo

  • Size 30 for over 100 kilo

• Which snowshoe suits me?

  It is best to strap the snowshoes to mountain or hiking boots with sturdy, torsion-resistant treaded soles.

• The binding of the snowshoes?

  It should be easy to open and close by means of a quick-release fastener - even when wearing gloves. Bindings that allow a lateral tilting movement reduce the load on the ankles. Adjustable bindings have the advantage that they can be adjusted for different shoes.