HISTORY
Te learning concept of terrain-based teaching came about at the same time snow- boarding did. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, before snowboarders had access to mountain resorts, boards were made for backcountry powder and featured different shape and edge combinations specific to that kind of terrain.
At the time, riders picked steep enough terrain to get them moving, but with a nice runout to ensure that they could stop. As board design evolved in conjunction with resort access, creative instructors started to pick certain areas in their resort’s beginner areas that worked well for different kinds of skill acquisition – natural berms to help turn or redirect, natural gullies in which to link turns, etc.
Some resorts started building “terrain gardens,” which were usually little bumps, rollers, and berms built for young skiers to play in. It became common to see snow- boarders in this terrain because it was a fun place to ride and play. Tis presented a challenge for resort management because snowboarders were taking over terrain intended for young skiers. Terrain parks came onto the scene often as a place to attract snowboarders and keep them away from the area’s skiing guests on the hill. While the popularity of this took off for riders at the intermediate level and beyond, it proved challenging to convince management that such terrain made sense in the beginner area, too. However, at the insistence of forward-thinking snowboard managers, several areas started experimenting with this type of sculpted terrain. Tese early adopters enhanced natural features, creating shapes designed to help riders learn basic skills. Despite the constant struggle for both terrain and resources, some resorts had great success and managed to integrate it into their programs.
Burton Snowboards started encouraging this concept at annual East/West LTR® conferences (LTR stands for Learn to Ride). Tis lead to a partnership in the early 2000s between Burton Snowboards and California’s Northstar Resort to create an entire methodology around the concept of terrain-based teaching. Te concept was a success, producing higher than industry average conversion rates at Northstar in Tahoe, California. Another success story is Mountain Creek, New Jersey, which has seen a significantly increased first-timer volume and developed successful programming that increased their retention through terrain-based teaching by more than 50 percent in one season. In the beginning – and to this day – the concept requires collaboration between snowboard manufacturers, resort leadership, creative consultants, and talented instructors. Tis sort of combined effort and commitment is imperative to maintain the growth of the sport of snowboarding.
Burton Snowboards, recognizing the connection between having a passion to ride at an early age and future longevity in the sport, has also made a big push with a terrain-based teaching concept specifically for youths. Te company pioneered devel- oping environments for younger children as a way to encourage them to start and keep snowboarding. Tese “Riglet® Parks” are typically for ages 6 and under and are meant to be exciting. Te features are designed to help make snowboarding immediately fun. Instructors guide children individually through small, no-consequence features that instill the sense of fun that snowboarding offers.
124 AASI SNOWBOARD TECHNICAL MANUAL
TheSnowPros.org
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