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Snowboard Basics: A Winter Sports Guide for Beginners

Posted on Nov 24th 2009 5:15PM by Vicki Salemi
Snowboarding is an extreme sport that's been on the rise in popularity over the past few years. The sport's origin was inspired by combining the concepts of skateboarding, surfing and skiing. It officially became a winter sport at the Olympics in 1998. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), snowboarding first became to the United States in 1965 when Sherman Poppen bolted two skis together, and it became popular when commercial snowboards became available in the late 1970s and now snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport in the United States.

Snowboarding for Beginners
Your legs should be in relatively good shape before you attempt this sport. A workout consisting of leg presses, lunges, calf raises and squats will isolate and build the leg muscles and hamstrings to prep you before you get on your snowboard. Plus, a snowboarder's body should be flexible in order to twist and turn without getting injuries. Stretching is key and practicing yoga is also helpful to limber up that body. Of course, walking, swimming and running will strengthen one's cardio abilities and endurance.

How Many Calories Does a Snowboarder Burn?
Approximately 10 minutes of snowboarding burns 88.9 calories for a 140-pound person. That's compared to 77.79 calories burned during a ski-machine workout.

What's My Risk of Injury in Snowboarding Versus Skiing?
Although people are susceptible to injuries in both skiing and snowboarding, knee injuries are most common with skiing as are broken bones, while snowboarding injuries are most common in the ankles, wrists and upper body, according to the AAFP. Ski helmets are commonly worn by skiers, while snowboarders shouldn't be without wrist guards in addition to helmets.

What Equipment Will I Need for Snowboarding? How Expensive Is it?
In addition to protective gear, (wrist guards for $8 and a snowboarding helmet for $50 to $60) a snowboarder should have boots (approximately $175 - $250), snowboards with bindings (approximately $300 - $400) and proper clothing such as a base layer, warm insulation, and waterproof outer layer. Plus, goggles (approximately $60 - $100) are essential on bright days to prevent snow blindness. Another option? Most snowboarding resorts offer rentals.

Are you worried that you'll get out of shape this winter? Don't be. Instead, follow these tips to avoid winter weight gain.

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