We've all been in the situation before, where we are about to drop-in on a terrain park feature when suddenly your conscious kicks in and you psyche yourself out. Making the transition to freestyle terrain can be intimidating and even down right scary. Northstar and Heavenly's terrain park team has set up two killer early season parks to get everyone in the swing of things. The features range from super mellow to advanced. Don't let that voice in the back of your head scare you away from trying new things in the terrain park. Here are a few tips to help you flee your early season jitters. Remember if it wasn't scary, it probably wouldn't be fun.
Start small Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned-vet, starting small is key to getting back in the game. You don't want to crack a rib on a down rail when you struggle with a flat box. Start small and work your way up.
Simmer Down now I know you're stoked to get out there and kill it, but remember it's only the first week and trust me you don't want an injury to put you out for the season. It almost happened to me the other day on my second run. I thought I was feeling it then I found myself folded in half like a taco shell sliding down a box. I know you're ready to get out there and clock some jib-time, but just remember cowboy, there's a long season ahead.
Know before you go "Is that a flat rail or a flat down?" "How big is the gap on that kicker?" If you've ever asked yourself these questions before and misjudged the feature, it probably didn't turn out in your favor. If you're not sure, you can always cruise by the feature and scope it to get all the details. Trust me that box isn't going anywhere, so scope it out first because it will always be there the next time around.
Don't think, just do Approaching new tricks can be intimidating but, if you are able block out all the consequences as well as all the bad stuff in your mind then concentrate on the basics, you'll find yourself having more success. Instead of thinking about copping a beating or getting ridiculed from the lift, turn your focus to the approach, speed, mechanics, and landing.
Patience is a virtueTrying new things can be scary at first, but it's always the case that once you do it, you seem to realize how easy it was. Next time you psyche yourself out in the terrain park, try to keep these tactics in mind. Also remember snowboarding is supposed to be fun don't get too heated if you don't land your tricks the first few tries. Be patient-everything comes with time and practice!