If you’ve done even a cursory look into snowboarding, you’ve likely come across very different styles. You’ve no doubt seen the downhill style of snowboarding, and the half-pipe style. What are the real differences between the two? Are they both exactly the same? Which one is easier for a beginning snowboarder to try? In fact, the two are very different from one another, and it’s a good idea to keep that in mind if you’d like to look into them.
Downhill snowboarding is, in fact, precisely what it sounds like, and much better for the beginning snowboarder. You start at the top of a hill (or ramp), and go down it while staying up on your snowboard. On hills, there are usually small uprisings that one can jump from in order to do tricks in the air, while ramps launch a snowboarder through the air, allowing them to do a variety of tricks before they land. The reason downhill is best for a beginner is because it allows them to go in a straight line, instead of worrying about when and how to turn. The less a beginner has to worry about, the less likely they are to crash into something dangerous.
The half-pipe is a large, U-shaped object. The exact size varies, but it tends to be about teen feet high, with a horizontal base of about five to ten yards. The basic idea behind a half-pipe is that the snowboarder will start at the top of one side, slide down, and then up the other side. Upon sliding up the other side, the snowboarder will presumably have enough speed to raise into the air, perform a trick, and then turn around and slide back down, repeating the process. Clearly, this is not something a beginning snowboarder should try. The amount of control and quick reactions needed for even a simple run up and down is astronomical. The rush of moving up and down a half-pipe is nearly unexplainable. But it requires a certain amount of skill before attempting.
These are the two different styles of snowboarding. Either one is incredibly enjoyable, providing a rush of speed and adrenaline that’s almost unmatched. However, both kinds are not for everyone. If you’re a beginner, you should start with downhill, and wait until you can do that fairly well before attempting the half-pipe.
