Even though the snowboarding season is almost over, that doesn't mean you can't practice your moves at home. With a few adjustments to your garage space, you can create the perfect snowboarder's getaway. Here's how you can keep your boarding skills sharp without any snow on the ground:
Set up your garage for snowboard-gear storage
One of the most important parts of good snowboarding practice is keeping your gear in excellent condition. This means keeping it out of the way when it is not in use. The best way to do this install a wall mount storage system. You can neatly hang up your snowboards and helmets on one of the racks while keeping your boots, bindings and locks all in one place. Consider integrating a set of wall bins in addition to a wall mount storage system where you can place smaller items like your binding tools, footbeds, straps and rubber stomp pads until the snowboarding season returns.
Create an area for rail practice
Some people like to enjoy a leisurely ride down a slope, but if you are a more adventurous snowboarder, you've hit the rails at your local resort's terrain park. Even though you might not have the materials to build a full-blown rail, you can still practice your take-offs and landings with a simple PVC pipe. First, you'll need to find the right length of carpet or AstroTurf to lay down in your garage. Putting a plastic pipe down on cement or concrete can be dangerous, as it will likely roll around while you are trying to land on it. You won't need too much, a patch of 6 square feet should be enough. Then, find a sturdy plastic pipe, about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. This represents the typical type of railing you will find at a terrain park. With these simple materials, you can practice your landing variations, 180 and 360 degree spins, hops and grinds.
Install a mini trampoline
If you have enough room in your garage, consider installing a mini trampoline where you can practice your snowboard grabs. While you will still need to practice grabbing the board on actual runs, the trampoline helps simulate the act of hitting jumps just right. In the air, you can practice your timing and hand placement for maneuvers like the seatbelt grab, nose grab, Taiwan, Cross rocket, and chicken salad.
