Westbound Boarder

Broken bones suck.  A lot.  Especially when they’re your wrists (trust me, I know; I’ve broken mine twice!  Once while snowboarding, and once, well…  Remember this story?)

Snowboarding and falling pretty much go hand in hand, so here’s a little rule we learned a long time ago that just, well, stuck: Fall on your fists, not on your wrists.

OK, I’ll just come right out and say what I know you all are thinking - The best way to protect your wrists is to not fall at all!  Duh moments aside, I really believe that if you’re not falling while riding, at least a few times, then you’re not pushing yourself hard enough or stepping outside of your comfort zone.  After all, we all want to become better snowboarders, right?  But another part to becoming a good rider is knowing how to protect your body from injury, first and foremost. And your wrists are your most vulnerable body part, so its good to keep this little rule in mind when using your hands to keep you from hitting the ground.

So next time you fall, don’t just fall; fall with a goal in mind - to fall on your fists, and then to get up and do it all over again.  Oh, and not come out with a broken wrist in the process.

Yes, yes, we know with several ski resorts beginning to open up nationwide, its easy to forget about that so-forgotten water sport surfing.  But fall and winter are actually prime time out in the surf!  The swells are bigger, the wind’s a bit more aggressive, and there are less people out, so as long as you can handle the colder water, late fall is a great time to hit the beach.  So grab a good wet suit and board, and hit the waves this fall, especially if you can’t make it up to the local mountains in the next month or two.

The ski/snowboard season is right around the corner, and with numerous resorts across the nation seeing their first signs of snow this past weekend, opening day is already in sight.  Which means… time to get your bootie in shape, so you can enjoy a full, tire-free day on the slopes (and not still feel it your next weekend up).

In case you missed our series on getting in shape for the upcoming snowboard season, definitely check it out:

• Establishing a Routine
  
• Beginner’s Workout
• Advanced Workout
• And a fun new toy to try… The Balance Board!

Enjoy!