3 Great Tips to Improve Your Ski and Snowboard Fun

Everybody has friends who have had at least some type of injury while they were skiing or riding on snowboards. Sure it is a great way to have fun but sometimes there are also dire consequences associated with it. If you want to remain upright, safe and injury free you are going to need to keep up with the latest techniques as well as making sure to always have your wits about you and remembering your common sense. So today we're bringing you three great snow sport lessons for skiing or snowboarding.

Learn how to read your routes and look for tell-tale signs of past events. You always hear about the huge avalanches on the news. As you well know, they are devastating and unforgiving. It's important to realize, however, that a much smaller avalanche is just as deadly as the larger ones. It takes practice and practical experience to really learn how to read your route. You shouldn't ignore this skill just because it isn't the easiest to learn. You need to study the variations in the terrain, which can sometimes be difficult to detect. You can often spot potential hazards as well as recognize signs of past damage to trees, etc. Ski bindings are super critical to safe skiing, even though many inexperienced skiers take their operation for granted. Or, the fail to properly maintain them or inspect them. Ever thought to have a pro check your bindings at your local ski shop? Do you know the right setting for weight, ability and height? Obviously, bindings are important when you're skiing and moving, but did you know they need to properly release during a fall? You bindings need to be properly maintained each year. That includes inspection, adjustment, and cleaning at the start of each new season, and it won't hurt to maintain good operating condition during the season, as well.

Pole planting is the most overlooked aspect of skiing, even though it is one of the most important tools. Proper pole planting is important because it allows you to time your turns better. It also helps you hold your balance better while improving your turning ability and technique. The correct position is to have your poles in front of your body and up, which positions your arms away from your body.

If you're a skier or rider, you know that skiing and snowboarding are incredibly fun sports. When you continue to learn and practice safety precautions, you can help your passion for this sport to last a lifetime.