Now you are ready to ride with the big boys.

This lesson is an application of the skills you have learned up to this point. The only difference is that you now have the skills to carry you across most of the terrain on the mountain. At this point you will want to make sure that you have a copy of the mountains trail map with you so that you will be able to differentiate between the different types of trails you will encounter. There are four levels of trails available to you in the US and Canada. I assume that this is the case in many of the more developed European countries as well. Beginners’ routes are always designated by a green circle. Next, intermediate routes are marked by blue squares. Finally, you have the advanced and expert trails, which are designated by the infamous “black diamond” or in the case of the latter, two “black diamond’s”. There is no point in trying to ride these types of trails yet. Blacks are usually riddled with rocks, trees and other things that are not fun to hit at a high rate of speed, although this is also where you will find the most powder. There are huge differences between riding on the groomed trails and powder, so until you really learn to ride, stay away from the blacks; these areas may also have a history of avalanche activity, particularly in the Western states.

So now that you have gotten off the lift safely, it’s time to drop in for the first time. Get up and allow your shoulder to lead you down the hill and follow the “fall line”. Do not worry about pulling off any airs or tricks at this point; just get used to the feel of riding without having to stop after 150 yards or so. When you do reach the bottom of the hill, ride up to the lift line and repeat.

I’d also suggest investing in a book that helped me a lot through my outdoor adventures, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers, Seattle, WA. They can be ordered at http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1201 I have a well worn copy of the 6^th edition that has been with me on many a climb and overnight snow camping trip in the Sierra Nevada. This book is truly invaluable and is exhaustive in its content. Be sure to read 13 and 16, especially if you plan to do some backcountry riding at some point in your snowboarding experiences.

Not to be a downer, but One must be prepared to encounter any emergency while on the mountain, even those that are highly developed and equipped with the best rescue teams. Bottom line, one must take responsibility for their own safety on the Hill and it is up to the individual to know their boundaries. As your skill level progresses, you will be rewarded with the reduction of these boundaries. Never forget, however, it is possible for major trauma or death to occur on a “big resort mountain”, as we learned from the tragic deaths that occurred in the Kennedy and Denver Families in the late 1990’s.

Part of responsible snowboarding, like gun ownership, is to know the safety rules thoroughly. “I was drunk”, or “I did not know the people I was riding with” or, “It was just too tempting not to jump off that 50 foot cliff on my second day of riding” are not excuses that will make a difference to the rescue patrol or to the attending doctors in the ER.

In lesson six we will discuss the differences between riding groomed versus powder (pow, for short). Until then, go out, have some fun riding and remember, safety first!