What is the Best way to introduce your kids to Snowboarding and where?
916099
As you probably already know, there aren't any ski resorts in Texas, at least that I know of. One good place to go is Utah. I know, I know, Utah, but the snow is great and there are some awesome out of the way resorts that aren't too busy. The best way to teach kids is to take them and get them lessons. Once they are comfortable on the board, they will be more likely to try more things. All of the resorts in Utah have incredibly good ski schools and really good instructors too. The best thing to do is take your kids on the bunny hill and on really easy winding green runs that aren't steep. That way they get used to lifts and carving down the runs. And when they fall just make sure that they get back up because it's going to hurt, but they need to get up and keep going. Also, they are going to be really sore so stock up on ibuprofen and make sure that your hotel has a hot tub. The resorts that I can recommend with good pricing are Powder Mountain www.powdermountain.com and Snowbasin which are up in the north part of the state. http://www.skicentral.com/utah.html has information about all of the resorts in Utah. Airfare isn't too bad from Austin to Salt Lake City and hotels in Ogden shouldn't be too bad. But, you'll want to take them somewhere where there aren't a lot of people.
528088
Ceebra had some great answers. You can also do follow the leader kind of this where they copy what you do. Also you can set up a simple obstacle course where you can encourage them to balance along wide beams, crawl through tunnels, step along stepping stones or in between ladder rungs on the ground. You can put a track on the ground made of masking tape where the children have to walk along the line like a tightrope walker. If you want more physical exertion, try running races (eg "show me how fast you can run (or walk/crawl/fly etc) to the sandpit and back again"!)
68240
wakeboarding is the closest you'll get to snowboarding, so do that if possible. skateboarding will help too. work on air awareness and grabs on a trampoline. strap in and hop to it. to get sponsored, first get good, then get video footage and photos and take them to local shops and try to get shop sponsored. take it from there.
852275
The best thing to do is work the beginning snowboard muscles. You pick your self up a lot so work your triceps, chest, back, butt (cause you'll fall on it) and thigh muscles as much as you can. Skiing and snowboarding aren't the same thing at all and it's important that you know that. Snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to maintain the skill of than skiing. So keep at it, take lessons from a person you like, friends are best, especially patient ones that have been snowboarding a long time. You'll fall alot and you will be in serious pain the next day. Don't try to go up on big hills until you're completely comfortable with the bunny hill. And lastly, just go out and have fun. Snowboarding is all about fun.
403091
You should be honest up front. Then take it slow. Later on when you feel comfortable you could introduce them to your kids.
227898
noggin is a good one for preschoolers. Discovery channel website for older kids.
18117
I've been to almost all of the mountains in tahoe both north and south.  I've been a professional ski patroller and patrol instructor for 10 years.  In my opinion, Northstar is the most "family friendly" resort, although it tends to get very crowded.  They have toddler lessons for parents and child - you should check it out.  Btw, in my professional opinion, 3.5 years old is not too young.  Great to get started early!
948272
If you have never snowboarded before, just take a regular first -timer group lesson. You should learn the basic stance, how to turn on your tow and heel edge, how to side-slip on both edges, how to 'falling leaf' and you may, depending on how you get on, get into basic linked turns although that would probably be in your second lesson.\n\nIf you're looking for a lesson which focuses specifally on your strengths and works on your weaknesses, consider private instruction.
891157
Stomp Stomp Stomp, Doing the yeti Stomp.\nWow my kids watch the Backyardigans a lot.
975685
Burton is by far the best, but you pay for it. \nSome other good ones are Ride, Salomon, Never Summer(good boards from what I've been hearing)\nYou may want to stay away from actually buying him a board/boots/bindings though. These are things that should be fitted for him and you wouldnt want to buy him something he's just going to take back. Maybe talk with a local board shop and see if they can set you up with a package gift certificate so he can just come in and get fitted and sized for what he needs. \nYou may want to even look into a season rental program from a local shop too until he figures out his style of riding that he wants to do, then he can buy something designed closer to that style. Board lengths/brands/design are a MAJOR factor in this as well as his height/weight and a good fitting boot is just as important.\nOther than that, some good cold weather clothing(preferably waterproof), some goggles too.\nIf he is just starting out,  I HIGHLY recommend a helmet and some wrist guards and knee pads. Helmet in case he falls and smacks his head. But he WILL fall and he WILL fall on his knees and wrists. Don't forget to protect them too. Don't wait for an "I told ya so". I'm a big fan of the Burton/Red impact gloves ($100 pair)with the built in guards and the Burton/Red knee gaskets($100 pair. Although, they are getting harder to find. Pro-tec makes a viable runner up($20-35 pair), but if you can find the burton stuff, it IS worth the money.\nNow that we know rick is a complete BONEHEAD........\nWhy anyone would tell you not to get pads is beyond me. It doesn't take a backflip to hurt yourself. All it takes is to catch one edge at a decent speed. Something a beginner WILL DO. Blown out knees and broken wrists aren't the most common injury among boards b/c they don't. The physics of the matter dont get much clearer. Not to mention it takes some of the pain out of learning (minor bumps and bruises)and puts the fun back into it. Yeah it's snow, but it's best friend is ICE. Which can be hard as concrete at times, especially on a groomed/packed snow base which you'll find on about 90% of the slopes out there. Unless your brother plans to be a strict powder hound, get the pads. And definitly dont listen to knuckleheads like rick that dont put safety and well being first.
440669
do something fun . not to bore the kids or anything . some kind of reviewing activity like flash cards or a " mind dump " ( what my 5th grade teacher used to do ) a mind dump is where you take all your knowledge and just write it on a piece of paper. lol . if not then just go original and ask them questions .
50196
About 6 years ago, I took lessons at Alpine Meadows, then boarded at Boreal.  They seemed quite adequate.\n\nMy family now skis at Northstar.  My son is too young to board yet but the ski school at Northstar seems to have a great program for kids through adults.  And Northstar is extremely popular for boarders (seems like it is 50-50 skiers boarders).\n\nWe have friends whose kids learned at Sugarbowl.\n\nHonestly, I think you'd not go wrong with any of these resorts.  Any place with decent beginner and intermediate runs would probably be a good place to start.\n\nI'm waiting until the kids are independent enough on skis or boards before I try to take up boarding again.
251230
Make the environment hand son and experiential. Make sure each kid has alot of choice in what they can do and always offer a variety of challenges. Group building and team activities work really well with this age group and they enjoy the bonding that things like a high wall or rope challenge bring.Putting the kids directly in a challenging situation will definately make them become creative and self-sufficient. Hiking and camping skills can be taught as well. \n\nteaching kids about local plants and animals can be done as well.\n\nHere are good outdoor therapy ideas:\n\nhttp://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txextrst.htm\n\nwww.outdoor-learning.org/horizons
800612
The first suggestion has to be if you cannot snowboard yet then give it a try!  You might like it, and it solves the problem of having nothing else to do when everyone else is out on their boards. Even if you are unable to snowboard then there will be some snowy sport you could have a go at.\n\nAnyway, back to the question.  I went to Are in Sweden a couple of years ago which is quite a nice little place with a reasonble amount of things to do in town if you're not boarding/skiing.  There's dog sledding, skidooing, ice driving (take your licence) and a fair few shops and nice cafes etc. to keep you occupied.  If  Sweden won't suit then try and find a resort near e.g. Salzburg in Austria.  In general France is a bad choice if you are not going to be out on the slopes as many of the resorts are purpose built and have nothing else for you to do!
432656
I do- I use Ride boots and bindings, and my trusty Peter Line board.  I board in Utah, so powder is the only way to go.  (It is the "Greatest Snow On Earth" after all...).  And, to the previous poster, spring boarding is some of the best boarding there is- sun, no crowds or lines, inexpensive lift tickets, and I actually enjoy the slush, believe it or not...
266463
snowboard, waterproof pants & jacket tresspass are good, snowboarding boots you can get them in major towns or off the internet, a hat & glasses thats about it.
747893
Okay, you won't get lost, trust me. Don't leave the bunny hill, and I don't think you'll want to anyway, and there are maps everywhere. If you feel lost just keep going down, you'll end up somewhere. Also, NC mountains aren't that big so it won't be that easy to lose your way. If you have trouble getting o the lift, your lift operator will slow it down and you just hop on. You get on with one foot in the front binding and you scoot along with the other foot. It's kind of awkward at first and it'll fell uncomfortable but don't worry, you'll get on. If you meet someone in your snowboarding class that you get along with, ask them to spend the day with you. At the very least, they'll say no and then you can not worry about embarassing yourself around someone else, if your easily embarassed. Sometimes I like to go snowboarding by myself if all I'm doing is spending the day on the mountain. It's less embarassing than going slow and having to have people wait for you. That always sucks. The most important thing is to just have a good time. Make sure you have strong muscles in your chest, abs, arms, and legs because otherwise you'll be really, really sore.