Jonathan Tollefson

I have heard this snowboard question before, and I am here to answer it today.  At what age can your kids start snowboarding?  If you ask me, I would start teaching them as soon as they walk.

I bought my niece her first snowboard when she was three.  From there we took her to the backyard and to a couple super small hills.  We did not take her to a resort.  Just find a hill where your kids can pick up a little bit of speed.  This will allow them to ride in a very safe environment, and it will let them learn how it feels to have a board strapped to their feet.  You will be amazed how well balanced kids are and how fast they catch on to riding the board down the hill.

The most important part is that you make sure your kids are having fun.  It should also be fun teaching them how to shred.  When they are little you will be pushing them all over the hill which lets you make up all kinds of games and activities to keep their mind into it.  I think if you start your kids young there is a good chance you will soon be Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday.

With day snowboard passes reaching $40-45, and season passes climbing over $500 dollars, it is hard to see why people love the sport of snowboarding so much.  What a lot of people don’t know is that we who love to snowboard find creative ways to board without going to the hill.  One way many of us get on the snow more is by getting off the couch, going outside, we pick up a shovel, and build ourselves a backyard snowboard park.

I love creating and building different snowboard obstacles in the backyard, or anywhere else that you can find some open land.  One of my favorite hits to build is a simple wall.  The only materials you need are a couple saw horses, a 4′X8′ piece of plywood, and a little bit of the white fluffy stuff.  From there the options are endless, and the the tricks you can preform are amazing.  This winter get off your butt and go for it.  I have just given you one of the best ways to Board the Midwest All day Everyday!

Before I talk anymore about cable parks and about my 2011 Cable Park Tour.  I should fill you in on what a cable park is.

Cable Parks

A simple explanation of a cable park is a body of water where you get pulled by a rope that is connected to a overhead cable.  The cable is run by an electric motor which allows multiple people to wakeboard at the same time without the use of a boat.  Every rider on the cable can ride until they fall.  After they fall the cable will pull the rope around to the next rider, and they will be off and riding in a blink of an eye.  Along with getting pulled around the lake by a cable, the lakes are usually littered with obstacles that you can slide, bonk, or hit at your free will.  Obstacles come in all variations, and the most common obstacles include sliders and kickers.

If you don’t have a boat and want to learn how to wakeboard, look up a cable park, go there, and ride till your arms fall off.  You will never regret it, and everyone can do it.  I went to Wake Nation a few days ago, and there was a 60 year old bush whacker out there testing her skills.  If she could do it, so can you!  The best thing about cable parks:  They give us all another way to Board the Midwest All Day Everyday.

For many of us there are at least two different seasons throughout the year, snow season and water season.  I believe the general population calls them summer and winter.   In the picture above you will see one of the best backyard snowboard parks that my friends and I have ever built.  What I want you to ask yourself is, “how did we come up with this set up?”  Let me tell you, it did not come to us over a cold wintery night; however that is all that it takes.

This idea/design was crafted over the summer and into the winter months.  Everyone can have this and everyone should have a backyard snowboard park of their own.  It is easy, it is fun, and you can create anything you want.  Wait, I didn’t mention the best part about it.  It is completely free to hit all winter long.  If you want to  improve and take your game to the next level, you need to start thinking about the park you are going to build in your backyard right NOW.  It is going to take work and if you want a pimp rail to soup up your park, contact Board Sport Terrain Design.  They will build anything you can think of.

Materials are everywhere.  So think big, go big, and build yourself an epic backyard snowboard park.  You won’t regret it!

In the world of snowboarding, I believe there is a huge reason why more of the population does not get out on the slopes.  The reason; because snowboarding is conceived as expensive.  I am not saying it is cheap,  but I want to share with you a list of ways that will keep money in your pocket so you can have enough cash for your next lift ticket.

Buy Used Gear

Gear always seems to be a big purchase.  Snowboard, boots, bindings, pants, coat, hats, gloves, goggles, and hand warmers.  It all adds up.  Friends, Craigslist, Ebay, and your local newspaper can all be good sources for you to find some good used gear.  Take your time and shop around.

Get a Season Pass

The upfront cost can be huge.  However you will be able to snowboard as much as you want once you have the pass.  If you go enough, this can save you a lot of money.  Certain resorts have also teamed up and combined their season passes.  This means you can buy one pass and snowboard at a few different places throughout the year. Resorts will also have discounted season passes if you buy them at a certain time of the year. Figure out when that it is.

Saltines and Hot Sauce

This is one of my college favorite ways to save some cash.  Head to the soup display, grab some saltines, and snag a bottle of hot sauce.  BAM!  Instant snack that will hold you over until you get home.

Discounted Lift Tickets/Package Deals

Resorts will offer package deals on lift tickets.  Buy 3 lift tickets and get the 4th lift ticket free is a great way to save you money and get you out on the hill at least one more day.  For day passes, check in at your local shops for a discount on lift tickets.  If you are near the Rocky Mountains, stop into a grocery store on your way up to the hill, you might find a deal.

Ramen Noodles

Nothing better than stopping into the local grocery store, and picking up a couple of 19 cent packs of Ramen Noodles to eat for lunch.  You cook the Ramen at the hill by getting two cups.  Fill one cup with hot water from the coffee machine, crush up the Ramen, and put it into the hot water.  Flip the other cup upside down and use it to cover the cup with Ramen and hot water.  Five minutes later you will have perfectly cooked Ramen to fill your belly.

Snowboard During the Weekdays

Resorts will often have days during the week that are discounted for different reasons.  Give them a ring to figure out what they have going on throughout the year.  Snowboarding during the week will also allow you to avoid long lift lines which means more time on the snow for you.  Who knows maybe you will even find a buy one get one night!

Parking Lot Lunches

Pack a lunch, grill some dogs, stop by subway, or travel to the local Little Ceasars for a five dollar Hot and Doughy!  What ever you do, it will help you stay away from $10 bread bowls of chili, or $8 dollar burgers.  Granted every now and then I like to step up to the plate for the chili, but if you pack a lunch you will have money for another day of riding.

Après-Ski

For those of you who are like me and like to relax and chill with friends after a good day of riding.  Head to a tavern away from the hill.  Sometimes we will grab one on the hill and head somewhere else, but overall I have found that the local tavern down the street will  have the better deal.

Now it is your turn

I know I did not cover every little trick in the book, and I know you have some creative money saving tips up your sleeve.  Please leave a comment if you have found a way to save a buck or two.