Mountain Boards, ATB, Grass Boards, Getting Started
Protection
Your board will get you down the hill at a good pace and if you take a tumble or hit a tree etc it is going to hurt. Prevention is better than cure they say. Don't sit back and say I'll be all right I'll only go slow, it hurts at any speed, ever just knelt down on a small stone? Plain open face lids are fine but a full face can protect your face more, visibility can be reduced with a full face and it gets hot in summer. At the very least a triple pad set is required, knee, elbow and wrist. The triple set is fine for riding under normal conditions but bigger better pads are available. Once you have been riding for a while you can upgrade your pads a bit at a time. If you are riding woodland trails or very rocky terrain then it would be a good idea to find some shin, forearm, and upper body protection as well as bum pads.
Starting off
Find a shallow slope and go with friends just in case. To discover your lead leg, run and slide like you would on ice, the leg you put in front is your lead or front leg. This can be wrong but is a good test. After trying that leg take a ride down with the other leg leading, see how you feel.
Either on the flat or with your board across the hill, get on the board and adjust your bindings so that you feet are placed facing straight ahead with toes slightly further over the deck edge than your heels and the straps are comfortably tight. All the following can be practised on the flat before hitting the slope.
Stopping
Stopping is the first hurdle. Standing on the board knees slightly bent feeling comfortable, keeping your weight central over the board, bend your knees and lower yourself down so you can grab the front edge of the deck with both hands. Lean backwards still holding the deck, this will cause the board to turn very sharp and come to a halt. If you do not keep your weight central while going down then the board will turn before you are ready and you will lose balance. Do this several times over a short distance and increase the distance and speed each time you get it right.
Turns
A toe side turn is where you turn the way you are facing. Start riding down the hill and then push your knees forwards lifting your heels putting weight onto your toes. Do this slowly and controlled as if you do it quick you will lose balance and we know what happens then don?t we. Keep the turn going and imagine writing a big J on the hill side and you will come to a stop. Practise a few times. A heel side turn is a turn the opposite way. Start riding down the hill and this time push your bum out lift your toes transferring your weight onto your heels. Again it must be slow and controlled to keep your balance. Keep the turn going and imagine the J again.
Practise these turns a few times and then practise the stops again, each time you do it increase the distance and speed of your run. Once you are brimming with confidence you start linking these turns together, start riding then turn one waay but befor you go all the way switch from heel to toe or vice versa and carry on riding, the more you turn the slower the ride will be, this is called carving. If you reduce the turn your speed will increase, don?t forget to leave space to stop at the bottom.
Tips
When riding hold your hands out above each end of the deck and keep your knees slightly bent with a straight back, this will help balance. Look where you are going by turning your head not your whole body. You can practise turns and stops in your front room it will help with your overall balance. You can get a balance board which is a plank on a roller that you try to stand on, it improves your core muscles and your balance.
This article was written by Alan greenhill from http://www.kitensk8.com We have been in the sport since early 2003. We are trained instructors and have our own team competeing in the UK championships. If you have any questions or wish more advice we can be contacted at alan@gruntys.co.uk Thank you for reading this article.
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