Snowboarding on Erciyes: What to Expect on Your First Day

Snowboarding is a little harder than skiing on day one, but with good instruction the fun picks up quickly from day two. Erciyes' wide beginner areas are ideal for finding your balance on the board.

Find your stance: regular or goofy?

On a snowboard one foot leads. Left foot forward is called regular, right foot forward is goofy. If you don't know which you are, don't worry — your instructor will work it out with a few simple tests and set up your bindings accordingly.

Four levels of a beginner lesson

• Level 1: Getting to know the equipment and the right stance
• Level 2: Controlled stopping and braking on the heel edge
• Level 3: Steering left and right on the board
• Level 4: The toe edge and basic turns

Braking on your heel edge usually comes more easily; the toe edge takes a little more courage. Once you are comfortable on both, your first turns follow naturally.

Protect yourself when you fall

Because your feet are fixed, falls on a snowboard differ from falls on skis. Falling forwards, land on your knees and forearms; falling backwards, sit down on your bottom and tuck your chin to your chest. Above all, don't put your hands out to catch yourself — that is how most wrist injuries happen.

Equipment

A snowboard, snowboard boots, a helmet and goggles are the basics. Our packages also include a ski jacket, ski trousers and gloves. Just bring thermal base layers and thick socks; thin knee pads can help too.

Tips for your first day

• Practise getting off the chairlift with your instructor
• Take a break when you are tired — that is when falls happen
• Look where you want to go, not at your feet
• Drink plenty of water and reapply sunscreen during the day

• Erciyes
• Snowboarding
• Beginners