Useful Tips About Snowboarding

It's that time of the year again - how often do you find yourself dreading the bitter cold winter and for many the real prospect of piling on weight partly due to over indulgence in food during the Christmas holiday season and also because of the general lack of motivation to exercise? If you need the fun factor in exercise during winter, try snowboarding.

Snowboarding has in recent years become increasingly popular especially with the general public. Just like snow-skiing, it is a well-loved winter sport. As you will be spending a lot of time on the snow mountain, it is important that you put on the correct protective snowboard clothing and gear to ensure your safety, comfort and warmth. Your first layer of clothing should be made of materials that wick moisture away from your body such as polypropylene or synthetic polyester. Avoid cotton materials as they absorb moisture without wicking it away from your body, therefore causing your body to lose heat rather than trapping it. Your next layer, after putting on a base layer of long underwear, sleeves and woollen socks should serve as the insulation layer. Put on a wool jacket, a pullover sweater or a micro fleece sweater top that you can easily take off if you warm up too much or add to if the day is particularly cold. Then your last outer layer of snowboard clothing (jacket and pants) should have strong waterproof and windproof properties to keep you dry and your body temperature sealed in. The harsher the environment and climate, the more robust your weatherproof clothing needs to be including having features such as additional venting, extra waterproofing and having inner cuffs on your pants to seal tightly around your boots to prevent snow from accumulating in your boots.

Being exposed to the snow all day can be very detrimental to your eyes especially on a bright sunny day when the ray reflects off the white snow. You must wear goggles to protect your eyes from the harmful rays and piercing winds. Wearing a helmet will protect your head and keep it warm. In more extreme weather conditions, you will need to have a neck wrap which will shield your neck and face from the elements. To protect your hands, make sure you get a pair of stretchable gloves that fit over the cuffs of your jacket. Some people prefer using mittens as they are warmer than gloves. There is a wide selection of snowboards designed for different groups of users depending on their snowboarding skill levels, age, body build and the type of snow mountain that the snowboard will be put to use. They come in different shapes and sizes and technical specifications, do check with the experts to determine the best snowboard for you. When selecting a pair of suitable boots, make sure the boots feel snug from heel to toe. When you raise your heel, the heel of the boot should raise in tandem. You should not be able to rotate your foot or ankle in the boot. Loose boots will lead to injury and cause you to lose control of the snowboard when sliding down the slope.

It is always a good idea to choose functionality over fashion, it is not so much as looking good as paying attention to your snowboard clothing and gear to ensure maximum comfort and protection for your body.