I thought I was beginner but I'm intermediate? I suddenly feel a lot more motivated now! A stranger on the internet believes in me more than I do... haha
I’m an advanced rider for I can confidently charge down 95% of my home mountain here in PNW. I would love to progress to expert level but freestyle isn’t just my thing… especially when approaching 40 it’s hard for me to start on rails and such when I have so much fun carving down the mountain adding in simple butter and 180s here and there. It’s crazy to see some kids casually hitting 360s on XL jumps and yet they can’t properly carve or ride pow.
This is exactly where I am at. 34 with lingering sports injuries. I can hard charge and carve . Even side hits as well. I see kids killing it in park but cant handle steep terrain 😐. Blows my mind.
Me three. I’m 39, been riding for 5 years. I love free riding steeps and trees. I’m spending some more time in the park this season so I can throw 3s here n there. I don’t have the desire to jib. My worst injuries have come from hard features. I do wanna get better at switch and start throwing 3s though. I’d be happy with that.
I am 44 and started riding at 28. I consider myself and Advanced rider, not an Expert. I can ride the whole mountain but not charge the whole thing. One thing I would recommend before hitting 40 is to start doing some freestyle., as it only gets harder the later in life you do it. The goal her is not to be able to 360's or 720's but to improve your all mountain riding. In my mid 30's I started practicing easy rails and small jumps because I wanted to be able to go down a black diamond and not have s**t my pants if any moguls or small drops appeared in front of me . Being able to land small or medium jumps can help you in a lot of situations outside of the park and possible help you unlock the other 5% of the terrain.
I ran out of things to do so now I freestyle in the park. 34 now been riding park for 3 years, all the paddings lol, also allows me to ride into april when its slush its park time
I think you're alluding to this, but starting from as early as Advanced is when people start forking into Specialist tracks - where they can just fall into a niche and get extremely good in that area
I guess I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate. This season is my 2nd (1st season with my own gear. Last season I was using rentals). I'm really glad that I've found a hobby that I'm passionate about, because I've never been interested in any activities for more than a year before and that was really frustrating for me. Currently I'm working on 180s, riding switch and hitting jumps properly. Hope you all are having really good season!
Full switch down the mountain was my big accomplishment last season. But I barely go shredding so expensive But ive also gone at least 1 time a year since I was 4. 22 now
I prefer "Novice" but according to your definition, I'm an intermediate. I've been able to spend a few more days on snow this season, and can now link turns, try blues without eating it, but I still crash. I got to try some small tree runs, and it was pretty sweet!
At 45.. I'm perfectly happy just going mach 12 and carving it up.. popping off side hits and Moguls here and there. My focus the rest of the season will be to improve my switch riding. If I could carve as smoothly as I can in my normal stance, that would be plenty enough progression for me. At that point just enjoy your skills and have fun✌🏽
@@Max_Snellink @HAWKWIND I'm with you gents! I'm nearly 44 and I'm going to start on switch soon. I only started at 31 but taking it in the direction I want to go! Have fun!
@@jamesmartindale8783 I started at 27 but it wasn't until i was 33 that i started to really learn.. Did my first season with all the 18 to 25 year old rippers.. 10 seasons later i can ride 99% of the mountain. I'll straight air jumps and spin side hits only. I snapped my spine in half at 40 so best take it easy.
My wife decided to take up skiing this year, so I've taken it as an opportunity to practice my switch riding, and it has felt so good! Based on the vid I'd say I'm between advanced and expert, where I was able to navigate around everything switch, but not exactly charging. but really refining my technique this year riding only switch on green and blue runs has made me so much better overall
Similar here, been shredding for about 30 years now (vacation only though, unfortunately), and been thinking I need to work on my switch riding. I started it early on along with 180s and it used to be quihe decent. But over the years, going to huge resorts, preferably riding sheeper terrain etc., my regular riding kept improoving without the switch catching up.
I would say high level intermediate or beginner advanced. I feel like I'm getting more confident every time I ride and this season plans to be the most days I'll get to ride! Still a beginner at Freestyle but it's what I love the most about snowboarding and just have to build up the confidence for going fast when I need and making switch more comfortable!
Got a huge confidence boost after watching this video. Realizing that being able to charge through literally any terrain, to drop small cliffs, to throw 360s casually and to backflip every now and then sets me in the top 1-2% of all snowboarders does have a damn strong effect tbh.
Totally agree with the video. I've been snowboarding for 20+ years. When I was younger I was Expert rider, Intermediate Level Freestyle. Could hit the jumps at the park, do some cool tricks, hit the halfpipe, and come home unscathed. Now that I'm in my 40s that's not only harder for me to do now, it's also riskier with everything else I've got going on now. So I swallow my pride and stay away from the terrain park, but still am happy knowing I can charge anything the mountain sends my way including backcountry. Backcountry is one thing that wasn't mentioned in this video and I believe makes a difference. Great vid!
I'm in my 40s and I can still hit the park. Do a bit of stretching and it all comes back quickly. Now I'm not going to stay all day, but an air or two gets the adrenaline pumping.
Great information! I'm "advanced", 33 years of experience but have always been a bit too conservative about tricks to move on to "expert". No flips or cliff jumping but confident in most situations with a concentration on flow & grace with my run
I've only ever went boarding once, found it easy to push myself with 1 leg, got on and off the lift without any major issues, first run down the green slope, took me 15 minutes(idk how they measure the time on the website but its apparently 2 minutes on this slope), second took 7, and by the end of my session I was going down with max of 3-5 falls and under 4-5 minutes. I could only really go down regular, hardly ride switch, I could slow myself down. Super excited to be going back!
Love watching all the vids. Best bit of advice you’ve given me on here is do at least 1 full run a day switch. I only do 2/3 weeks holiday snowboarding a year, this year I’m 3 days into my first week. So far I’ve done 6 full runs switch and it’s not just made my switch riding better but I’m so much better riding regular now. Cheers kid !!
Nice breakdown. I'd say I fit around a low advanced rider. Been riding for about 10 years now, average of about 4-5 days a season. 1. Riding: can do any trail but steep tight trees are a challenge for me. comfortable on double blacks + moguls. 2. Switch: can ride down blues while carving, black while making more skid turns 3. Park: a weakness of mine. can do basic boxes and ollies. can land a 180 sometimes. Goals: I want to progress toward having confidence in riding through steep and tight trees while holding speed. Thats my goal for 2023.
I guessed right at being an advanced rider. I do have some curve towards expert skills like riding switch on any run, jumping moguls, side hits, and charging down the entire mountain. I believe the only thing keeping me from expert at this point is living on the East Coast. While I can tear up the ice in New England and confidently ride double blacks I just don't get many deep pow days so that's where I struggle. As for freestyle I'm Intermediate. I have some butter tricks, 5050 rails and boxes, boardslide some wide features, and hit small and medium some large but no XL jumps being able to grab indy, mute, stalefish, do shifty's and throw 180's and 3's. At 53 it's tough to progress in the park as I don't take slams like I used to. I keep chipping away at it though. Baby steps.
this is pretty funny to me as a 19yr old snowboarder who can throw dub corks, front lip any rail feature, can launch side hits and feels great riding switch, but as soon as i gotta go down an icey black or charge trees, im intermediate.
I feel like I'm finally moving up to the higher level intermediate side. Just got back from a trip out to Schweitzer and had my first taste of steep groomed and ungroomed black diamonds. Also, got my first taste for whiteout pow conditions too and had a blast!! I'm always learning and trying to challenge myself and your videos have definitely helped me with my journey, Ed!! 🤙🏻
So Id say I'm approaching being an advanced snowboarder, can confidently ride everything except for double blacks (honestly just been too scared to try). I am getting really close to toeside euro carves. I don't fall getting off the lift as I always make sure Im on the furthest right chair. but skating is honestly a huge painpoint for me in general when it comes to riding down an empty liftline especially I'm always struggling.
I agree on most of it with one small change. An expert knows how and why and can explain and pass on how the board functions and works and why. Advanced people can shred but experts can say look the board twists here you can use this foot in the opposite direction of that foot to bend the board and skip from corner front to corner back and carve edge to edge immediately. There is a fundamental difference. I'd say that is the major difference. Omni directional yes, the ability to pull out of dire mistakes without issue yes. But knowing how it works and why is an expert. Like you.
This dude is the best. His analysis of the top 5% is spot on. As with all endeavors the very top performing players are in ratified air. I have been snowboarding for 30 years I consider myself expert level in all facets and it's been one of my goals as an athlete to be able to go anywhere anytime on any mountain and absolutely throw down. Ed keep up the good work and positive messaging brother.
It might only be my second season snowboarding, but since i’m living in Japan. I’ve snowboarded almost every weekend this season. Transportation, Lift Tickets, and general cost of living is so cheap that I was able to go from Semi-Beginner to Intermediate-Advanced in 1 season. God bless the Japow!!
Yayy, I was right!!! 😅 After watching the whole video, I am officially a intermediate snowboarder. I'll take it, considering this is my first season consistently boarding, and at 51yrs old. Hoping to be advanced by the end of next season. Please keep the vids coming, they're AWESOME!!! ✌🏾
I am definitely an intermediate. Started snowboarding at 46 and this will be out 4th season getting about 25 days per year. Feel confident on most blues and groomed blacks. Focus for this season will be trees and steeper powder day runs. Would love to do backcountry but need to be more confident in variable conditions at a resort. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like a huge gap between intermediate and advanced. Would love to hit the start of advanced in the future minus the park. Great content! Glad I found this!
Cool, I would have said I’m intermediate, but according to you I’m advanced towards expert 😅 but I love the fact that you’ve put freestyle in its own category, cause I am like most of us, your average 20-30 mountain days a year guy, who feeds on clips on youtube during the warm season and just tries to make the best out of those few days a year we’re actually spending on the mountain. So yeah, awesome clip and ranking system! Love your channel so far 🤘
I think I'm an expert now, and still think there is SOOO much room to get better and learn new things. Love the path of mastery with snowboarding so far.
Just to follow up, I would say ed shreds thinks I'm advanced and CLOSE to expert. I can pop air off of bumps and stuff and ride switch a bit down blues but I have some work to do to if I wanted to be an expert. I would argue though the parts I'm missing is in the freestyle aspect of the sport, which I'm probably intermediate, since I can hit some jumps and ride boxes and rails but nothing fancy yet. I think this is a pretty fair ranking though.
Im just wondering how such good content isnt totally blowing up. stay exactly how you are doing things and you this channel will go crazy. im also wondering how i am in the middle of advanced and expert 😂. I thought i would be intermediate at the most
I'm an expert bomber on all slopes. Riding a Lib Tech Dynamo & Never Summer Proto FR with Nitro Phantom+ bindings and ThirtyTwo Dual BOA boots. For those who are learning, that's like taking your mouse sensitivity from low to insanely high. My setup is STIFF, but I can shred complete bs mogul fields on black diamond ice coast & carve through double black glades in powder with finesse, despite my setup. I can fakie to backside 360 to stiffy off 6 foot jumps and easily do advanced butter tricks like tripod after jumping off ~10 foot cliffs. I live to bomb black diamond. Idc if it's skiied out, sheets of ice, and/or moguls. I'll pull 180s off moguls then charge switch over ice. I've been snowboarding 22 years (since age 4).
Didnt hit the snow for 16 years, went two times on wintersports, and now when i went again in the local indoor ski hall, i hit the funpark and the big jumps.. Really fun sport! Bases on your description i'm advanced beginner freestyle.
According to your video I'm an advanced snowboarder touching the expert level as I can perform boxes, rail, jump and few rotation. Thanks for the video! 🙂🤙
Excellent video man. I’m stoked to Use this when I have customers who c all themselves advanced or expert and have yet to ever purchase a board. You can’t be an expert when you live in Florida and ride a week every year on vacation on rentals
Beginner freestyle here I think. I just spent two days in WV and finally ride switch with about 90% of my normal confidence. Landed some jumps with board grabs in the small park that was open, but still ate it when I tried to do a board slide on a rail. I absolutely love buttering.
I'm glad you put park and summit into different categories because I'd say I'm intermidiate/advanced at park features, and by the requirements here maybe advanced/expert at summit riding. But one thing that should be talked about in this video is stamina, where I live I mainly ride small mountains with short runs and get a break from the punishment of a powder run or choppy snow within minutes. Whenever I go to a bigger mountain I'll find myself gasping for breath halfway through the run; and that's where you realize that no matter what tricks you have locked in on the rails, no matter how many rotations you can get on a jump, or even what variety of conditions you've rode in, snowboarding takes just as much of a degree of athletic training as any other sport if you wanna go big.
31 years old, Riding "12" years but really only the last 6 have been 30+ days with a season pass. I assumed I would be "advanced", but after your description I feel I'm definitely an expert. I can charge the mountain switch, I'm always searching for side hits to spin and ollie. I dont particularly play in trees or moguls but I can do it confidently (as well as you can on the ice coast...). I've also taught 5-10 friends and progressively I've gotten faster and faster at teaching them just by reading body language. In an ideal world for me, every trail would have features and rails to play with instead of being packed into one single trail.
In 1998, I got on a snowboard and took my first and only lesson...figured I knew what I was doing....ffwd 20 years and by some strange happenstance, got a free lesson with the school. Judging by their criteria, I put my self in the top level course. And then I learned that I had developed many bad habits and spent the next three years unlearning them. Went from plateauing at intermediate (for twenty years) to intermediate freestyle (according to your criteria) in a matter of 2 years. I love a good coaching session now.
I think I’m an intermediate. I am an intermediate, but on the higher side of it. I am highly confident charging down blue runs, and can get down some black runs without falling. I can also ride switch very easily, but I have always been able to. I actually barely feel a difference, and I technically am goofy, but I ride regular just cause I prefer it. Not sure if it counts if I didn’t have to really learn to ride switch.
I would say I’m an intermediate. I’ve been boarding for about 4 years now. Just learned how to properly carve. Can’t wait to put in more work tho. This is so much fun!!
26 and currently in my first season ever with 14 days. (I’ve rode 5 times prior to this season throughout my life) I’ve skateboarded for almost 16 years now and it really has helped me progress fast in snowboarding. 14 days I can definitely say that I’m advanced snowboarder and intermediate freestyle. On the mountain I can get down all runs with ease and speed connecting turns, hitting 360s off side hits, Ollie’s with grabs, tail presses, moguls. I do struggle with powder riding but only have 2 days with major powder. Freestyle riding I can do 50/50s. Hit the major jumps with just a simple air or sometimes grab. Can do back boardslides. Front/Back 360s. And that’s about my riding for now.
Hm, well one thing I noticed about snowboarding is even if I only go a few times in one year, I'm significantly better the next year. Add your 16 years of skateboarding which is much harder in a lot of ways.. like wrecking, and it makes sense why you would progress that fast
Another category that is not mentioned are those that are professional snowboarders that work at resorts. The lift mechanics, the ski patrollers that ride snowboards, and guys who work in snowmaking. These are guys who can carry heavy bulky weight to and from locations on mountains in all weather and snow conditions. They often average over a 120+ days on a snowboard a year and very rarely fall or even get noticed by the guests at each mountain. Although they are not usually the best in terrain parks they have skills that go above and beyond in other areas.
At the start of this video I definitely would've said I was beginner (I've only been once) but after watching this I actually think I progressed to being intermediate, I was happily linking turns down green and blue runs and my asshole friends took me down a black diamond run... Growing up skateboarding was a huge help to understanding the basics of just being on a board.
i’ve been riding for a few days now and according to this list i’m already advanced. Hitting double blacks with moguls, doing indy and nose grabs off side hits and backside 180s. Still trying to get switch down but im having a blast learning
I originally would say I'm intermediate since this is only my second season, and because I only go once a week due to work. After watching your video it sounds like I'm either advanced or in the freestyle category somewhere. I live in Utah and go to Brighton a lot, and I'm all over the place. Somedays I spend 5/6 of the day on Great Western doing all blacks and trees, and then the next week I'll make runs through groomers, trees, and the park. I've been slowly working on side hits and feeling comfortable with uneven terrain hits vs a park jump that is predictable. Great video like usual!
PSIA/AASI should watch this video. This is a much better way of breaking down the skill levels than what they use. Also, I would say I am an expert level freerider/ intermediate freestyle
I would describe myself as a high intermediate snowboarder. I am confident on any terrain from green to double black diamonds, groomed or powder. I still fall every now and then, maybe due to me not seeing a bump or maybe my equipment isn't perfect for my style. I can ride switch on easier terrains, but don't have the confidence to go fast yet. I just learned how to ride switch a week ago, so I just need more experience. This is also my first season back after a 10 year hiatus, so still getting comfortable. I would consider people advanced when they know how to ride switch at least 80% as well as they can ride their dominant stance. I agree that Park/freestyle is in its own subcategory, since some people don't ride park at all, and some people that do ride park can't ride various terrains/switch.
keep in mind that switch is also a lot to do with your equipment/board and how you tune your board too. try experimenting with angles of your bindings to see if that helps when in switch since it will normally (duck footing) be harder
I considered myself a beginner but now im guessing intermediate. I grew up skiing and boarded a few times like 20 years ago. This season my family decided to snowboard so we all geared up. Being early 40s i dont have interest in hitting big jumps (yet) but can carve my way down the black diamonds on my local (east coast) hill and even turn and carve a little switch. Weather and conditions have been absolute crap but unlike in my teens i have put a lot of focus on body position and technique especially since i was teaching my 7 and 10 year old so i think that has helped a lot. Also skateboarding and wakeboarding has transitioned well. I appreciate the content you put out!
I'm 67 have not snowboarded for 5 years. Going to Hakuba and other resorts in Japan. for 4 weeks in early Feb. Would have thought I was a strong intermediate But will be starting as a beginner until I can regain some confidence. Looking forward to it.
Riding for 12 years (20+ days per season), from the description it sounds like I’m advanced who’s bridging into expert. Riding switch is where I’m lacking and why I can’t call myself an expert yet. Working on it though :)
Makes me happy beeing a mid expert,low intermediate freestyle snowboarder 🙂 Working on butters and general freeriding depending on weather and mood this season
From the start of this video I assumed im an intermediate rider, after watching id then say im on the verge of being advanced. I can confidently do most runs on the mountain, although i havent seen much powder when ive been snowboarding. Im still Trying to get to grips with riding switch, but as someone who can only snowboard when i go on holiday. I think im doing pretty well. It would be a dream of mine to be able to have a local mountain i could regularly go to so i could progress alot more!
I spent 10 seasons in parks on small hills in my youth, never been to mountains. Then I paused my snowboarding to surf for 12 years, and yesterday I have returned to snowboard, and this time on real mountain. And holy moly, I didn't know I missed it so-so much! I believe that I'm a kinda intermediate park rider (stable stylish 360s, sloppy 540s on 15-20 meters big airs, medium fs lipslide disasters on a sloped rail), but advanced to expert slope rider. I have never been in proper mountain powder yet (but the season has just started!), never rode black slopes, but yesterday i felt that red was easy for me (even after such a long break), went full speed, even though it was really icy and bumpy at times. Before video I thought I was advanced :)
Do you guys think rip-sticking and long-boarding really really help. Iv’e done both and went for the very first time and could easily do a blue/black diamons.
Cool video. 20 years without snow and i'm just back from the mountains. i actually have two broken ribs, i guess i'm an old overconfident intermediate.
I'm a farirly advanced rider, can confidently cover most terrain on the mountain at speed without eating snow. I'm a beginner freestyle, can do reasonable 180s, but nothing really beyond that. Looking to improve that in future seasons, but that feels the most difficult thing to progress for me.
Per these definitions I think I'm somwhere in between intermediate and advanced, which is also what I'd have said before watching the video. When the snow is fairly soft I can make it down most blacks and even some moguly double blacks with proper carves. When conditions are less than ideal, I'm definitely not as confident and I will take some falls. My goal by the end of this season is to tighten up my carving game on blacks/double blacks in variable conditions, properly send one of the Sisters chutes to skiers left on The Wall at Kirkwood (I tried Heart chute but wussed out and side slipped it), and to be able to consistently stick a front 3.
You can do it! Go on mon - wed when theres almost no one there on those large wide runs and practice doing wide long turns.. and also drills to learn better posture, Malcolm Moore has a lot of good things to do to get better at smoother turning.. im still learning them to get carving down
I can do skidded turns on pretty much most runs up to euro red. I rate myself as a ''competent beginner''. I wouldn't consider myself an intermediate until I can consistently carve. No interest in park but wouldn't mind learning how to take some interesting side hits. I would absolutely love to know how to ride berms/mtb tracks!
I’ve got about 70 days total in my snowboarding life over 4 seasons. According to your video I’d be advanced. However I rate myself as beginner intermediate. I can do black diamonds and moguls but I’m not charging down either one but I can ride switch on both. I can carve riding regular and carve riding switch on smooth runs. I prefer more freestyle and park riding though which is why I think I’m a beginner intermediate rider. I can do 50/50 on boxes, I can do smaller medium jumps but I am just now learning how to do 180’s and I’m still working on getting all grabs and I’m starting to tweak some grabs. I cannot hit a jump riding switch yet though. I feel like once I can do all 180’s and all basic grabs as well as at least front board slides I’ll be a solid intermediate rider. Agree or disagree?
I was thinking I was upper intermediate since it’s only my second season but according to you I’m advanced… hell yeah! I can send blacks in packed snow and pow, I can carve(been watching a lot of Ryan knapton), I can ride groomed blues switch much more confident than blacks, Ollie off side hits with basic grabs. currently learning spins and tweaking airs and I never go onto the park but I can hit small jumps and 50-50 a box. Would you say advanced?
This video was a huge help in identifying where my skill level is. Definitely intermediate, but thats also because I dont have the exposure opportunity to get to advanced yet. First season on a board in general so going from beginner to intermediate in 5 days was a TON of work. Thanks for making this, I know where I sit, and I know where I need to improve. 10/10 video.
I have been snowboarding for 2 years with no professional lessons but ive dedicated friends who have helped me. I find double black diamond slopes are just techical slopes which I can barely turn on and mostly break going down. I can do black diamond but its still a technical slope but easier to zig zag going down with a little more riding. Blue's are my favourite for speed runs and carving. Love hitting side hits and around tree's but im no freestyle snowboarder. The main thing I need to work on is when going fast 50-60kmph how do I do quick breaking to reduce speed breifly
Kind of interesting because this is my first real year snowboarding, but I used to downhill longboard. So after a little adjustment period, I'm checking most boxes for advanced
Grew up in VA, riding the icy Mid Atlantic south PA resorts at 18. Stopped riding around 25. Started riding again around 36. Now 44. Only get out 3-4 days a year. I’m riding harder than ever, just started switch. Can riding mogul ice fields, prefer not too. East coast tree riding is harder than west coast as the trees are more dense the runs are rutted out. Almost seems. Like the trees runs out west are thinned out.
I am 48 with 30 years of experience in snowboarding. Last year I changed to skies. I couldnt find fun anymore because I wasn’t progressing. I founded fun again in skis but I will always love the board.
I have been snowboarding for years - I think I am intermediate. I like to challenge myself each time. I am on the east coast and have been able to snowboard all over the world. This East Coast ice is not as fun.
I wouldn't add powder, trees, and general off-piste skills into the basic tiers either, as well as freestyle. Those are so much different. According to your definition, I'm an intermediate snowboarder, but I would definitely call myself an advanced skier with 20 years of experience, but in all that time I have never once gone off-piste, it's just not my thing - and I firmly claim, I'm well above linking turns level, even if I can't ski in powder.
"Can I get down the mountain without eating BLEEP?" -- I was looking away for a second when this came on and couldn't lip read what was BLEEPED so my first thought was "Can I get down the mountain without eating psusy? No sir, I cannot." :))))))))))))))
I consider myself an advanced expert rider and intermediate park rider. I used to send it over the huge jumps but now tend to stick to MD and SM parks. I think to be at the top of riding skill one must be able to charge the whole mountain switch as good as normal without thinking of the concept of switch. Meaning you need to learn to skate and load/unload switch. Carve going 60+ switch, Ollie and takeoff jumps switch too.
Hey, Im an advanced beginner expert! 😆 I can rip and carve down any part of the mountain, but if my 52 year old body gets airborne, its pucker factor time. But Im now working on that and my switch riding is getting easier. You can go to my cha nell to see me heli skiing alaska less than a year ago. A day to remember fer shur.
I'm an intermediate, because I've been riding for 30+ years, can carve, go down black diamonds or ride in pow without an issue, but am too old to do jumps. Also, arrivals on chairlifts and flat stretches stress me out :) I usually ride in Val d'Isère or Val Thorens (Alps).
i'd sadly say still intermediate after 21 years of riding. i was too afraid to dabble into freestyling and parks, but i decided i'll start doing tricks from now on. I can somewhat do powder, but not really well, I get frustrated with it quite quickly lol. Moguls are no problem, as well as going switch. Was never the carver type so this technique isn't too much in my books as well yet. going to do a fresh up course for technique so I can improve the carving, powder and tricks.
I’d say I’m intermediate to advance… I’ve ridden out west in fresh pow(still getting the hang of it unsure if I need a different board), east coast raised on ice, still perfecting my moguls but killing it, def love tree riding. Love to bomb down the mountain at high speed awesome at carving and quick with it. Enjoy the occasional jumps and boxes. Originally thought I was more of an intermediate but after watching definitely leaning more towards the advanced side!
I would say I’m a intermediate rider. I can link big to small S turns, vice versa. Hit a few small jumps and small side jumps, and small ledge drop offs. I can kinda do quick short turns on short and narrow slope. I can ride straight on my flat surface. I can ride easy green to easy black. I still struggle with edge control and doing different turn sizes. I can ride fast and kinda ride switch.
I think I'm starting to get into the advanced section. I can pop off of side hits and ride pretty steep groomers as well as trees. But I could really learn to ride switch
I am a skier and I would say I am advanced. Been skiing for 18 years, raced for 4 of those, and any ski place that is accessible to me I have skied without trouble. However, I am east coast and I know there is so much more for me to learn. Like skiing in powder, steeps, moguls, trees, I am unable to experience that and learn those skills because I don't have access to it at all. I have traveled with my race team to BC and Vermont and experienced it a little there but it still just is not enough to get me to the next level I want to be at and it is frustrating.
You can bend over and triple-cork up your own backside if you are failing to have basic manners and consideration for others on the slopes and in the lift-lines. This is the ONLY metric worth measuring in others. If you are preparing your quippy comment about how "lol, I bet you cant even... whatever" you are probably the person who needs to hear this the most. Snowboarding is about going having fun. Don't spoil it for others.
I always thought I was a beginner given that I only started 2 yrs ago but based on this I'd be a comfortable intermediate. I need to stop underestimating myself
I am a young teen who has been snowboarding for a while and doing mountain sports my whole life. I can confidently say I am an expert snowboarder (not trying to sound cocky) I think the key to getting good at skiing or boarding is to love it. I would rather be on the mountain than anything. if you go up every chance you get, want to be a good boarder, and love the sport, you will get really fast.
I’ve only snowboarded twice but am now able to link turns after my second time. I can take the chairlift without falling the majority of time. Beginner or intermediate?
idk... I was falling leaf down Mammoth blacks before I could link turns on greens. What was I at that point in time? (I was falling leaf for like 3 years back in my elementary school days)
I was so curious to watch this video because the clips at the beginning were all park tricks. I've been riding for 16 years, I hate the park with a burning passion! My primary concern is finding the steepest and deepest snow. I frequently take air in challenging terrain, although I don't do rotation tricks, just grabs and tweaks and stuff like that. But everybody that sees me riding says I'm a pro and I'm perfectly okay with that. A NOTE FOR ANYONE THAT DOESNT LIKE PARK: you don't need to put your life or your ribs on the line to be an amazing rider, if you can keep up with me down a double black you're a God in my books. Happy riding!
I thought I was a beginner snowboarder but it seems I'm an intermediate, cool! Just been snowboarding for 7 times (started in Feb 22) and I can ride down greens and blues without hurting myself linking turns, even short ones in more mellow zones. Still need to work more on riding switch and ofc the rest that will come after.
Okay so: I skiid for a while and but I skateboarded for like somewhere around 10 years and just started snowboarding this season. I went I total of 8 times and I’m already learning 180s and half cabs, tail butters etc. so I guess my question is am I intermediate if I’m falling while going down the mountain. But I’m falling while trying to hit jumps and grabs off side hits. Or am I still a beginner.
I thought I was beginner but I'm intermediate? I suddenly feel a lot more motivated now! A stranger on the internet believes in me more than I do... haha
Same here 😅
Saaaame! 😅
Yay I am intermediate too!
Same
Today was my first day and I'm already intermediate😭😭😭
I’m an advanced rider for I can confidently charge down 95% of my home mountain here in PNW. I would love to progress to expert level but freestyle isn’t just my thing… especially when approaching 40 it’s hard for me to start on rails and such when I have so much fun carving down the mountain adding in simple butter and 180s here and there. It’s crazy to see some kids casually hitting 360s on XL jumps and yet they can’t properly carve or ride pow.
This is exactly where I am at. 34 with lingering sports injuries. I can hard charge and carve . Even side hits as well. I see kids killing it in park but cant handle steep terrain 😐. Blows my mind.
Me three. I’m 39, been riding for 5 years. I love free riding steeps and trees. I’m spending some more time in the park this season so I can throw 3s here n there. I don’t have the desire to jib. My worst injuries have come from hard features.
I do wanna get better at switch and start throwing 3s though. I’d be happy with that.
I am 44 and started riding at 28. I consider myself and Advanced rider, not an Expert. I can ride the whole mountain but not charge the whole thing. One thing I would recommend before hitting 40 is to start doing some freestyle., as it only gets harder the later in life you do it. The goal her is not to be able to 360's or 720's but to improve your all mountain riding. In my mid 30's I started practicing easy rails and small jumps because I wanted to be able to go down a black diamond and not have s**t my pants if any moguls or small drops appeared in front of me . Being able to land small or medium jumps can help you in a lot of situations outside of the park and possible help you unlock the other 5% of the terrain.
I ran out of things to do so now I freestyle in the park. 34 now been riding park for 3 years, all the paddings lol, also allows me to ride into april when its slush its park time
Let's go rip Baker!! 🤘🏽
I think you're alluding to this, but starting from as early as Advanced is when people start forking into Specialist tracks - where they can just fall into a niche and get extremely good in that area
I guess I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate. This season is my 2nd (1st season with my own gear. Last season I was using rentals).
I'm really glad that I've found a hobby that I'm passionate about, because I've never been interested in any activities for more than a year before and that was really frustrating for me.
Currently I'm working on 180s, riding switch and hitting jumps properly.
Hope you all are having really good season!
Keep on it!!!
I’m def in the same boat 😂
Me too bro!!
Full switch down the mountain was my big accomplishment last season. But I barely go shredding so expensive
But ive also gone at least 1 time a year since I was 4. 22 now
Heck yeah bud!
I prefer "Novice" but according to your definition, I'm an intermediate. I've been able to spend a few more days on snow this season, and can now link turns, try blues without eating it, but I still crash. I got to try some small tree runs, and it was pretty sweet!
Exactly. Well put 👍🏻🏂
At 45.. I'm perfectly happy just going mach 12 and carving it up.. popping off side hits and Moguls here and there.
My focus the rest of the season will be to improve my switch riding.
If I could carve as smoothly as I can in my normal stance, that would be plenty enough progression for me.
At that point just enjoy your skills and have fun✌🏽
Same age.. Same same. Not forgetting sending pow fields and tree runs.
@@Max_Snellink @HAWKWIND I'm with you gents! I'm nearly 44 and I'm going to start on switch soon. I only started at 31 but taking it in the direction I want to go! Have fun!
@@jamesmartindale8783 I started at 27 but it wasn't until i was 33 that i started to really learn.. Did my first season with all the 18 to 25 year old rippers.. 10 seasons later i can ride 99% of the mountain. I'll straight air jumps and spin side hits only. I snapped my spine in half at 40 so best take it easy.
My wife decided to take up skiing this year, so I've taken it as an opportunity to practice my switch riding, and it has felt so good! Based on the vid I'd say I'm between advanced and expert, where I was able to navigate around everything switch, but not exactly charging. but really refining my technique this year riding only switch on green and blue runs has made me so much better overall
Similar here, been shredding for about 30 years now (vacation only though, unfortunately), and been thinking I need to work on my switch riding. I started it early on along with 180s and it used to be quihe decent. But over the years, going to huge resorts, preferably riding sheeper terrain etc., my regular riding kept improoving without the switch catching up.
I would say high level intermediate or beginner advanced. I feel like I'm getting more confident every time I ride and this season plans to be the most days I'll get to ride! Still a beginner at Freestyle but it's what I love the most about snowboarding and just have to build up the confidence for going fast when I need and making switch more comfortable!
Lol this is literally my exact position as well
I feel like this description also applies to me 😅 glades & park/switch are still iffy for me, but can carve down the mountain with relative ease
Same
Got a huge confidence boost after watching this video. Realizing that being able to charge through literally any terrain, to drop small cliffs, to throw 360s casually and to backflip every now and then sets me in the top 1-2% of all snowboarders does have a damn strong effect tbh.
23 years in I'm happy to say I would fall in your intermediate freestyle category. Leaving for a trip tomorrow, thanks for the confidence booster 😁
Totally agree with the video. I've been snowboarding for 20+ years. When I was younger I was Expert rider, Intermediate Level Freestyle. Could hit the jumps at the park, do some cool tricks, hit the halfpipe, and come home unscathed. Now that I'm in my 40s that's not only harder for me to do now, it's also riskier with everything else I've got going on now. So I swallow my pride and stay away from the terrain park, but still am happy knowing I can charge anything the mountain sends my way including backcountry. Backcountry is one thing that wasn't mentioned in this video and I believe makes a difference. Great vid!
so well put! i feel the same way
I'm in my 40s and I can still hit the park. Do a bit of stretching and it all comes back quickly. Now I'm not going to stay all day, but an air or two gets the adrenaline pumping.
@Andrew Atkinson Wish I could man. I tore my ACL last time I was in the terrain park.
@@krzycarl yeah, that's a different story. Gotta listen to your body.
Great information! I'm "advanced", 33 years of experience but have always been a bit too conservative about tricks to move on to "expert". No flips or cliff jumping but confident in most situations with a concentration on flow & grace with my run
I've only ever went boarding once, found it easy to push myself with 1 leg, got on and off the lift without any major issues, first run down the green slope, took me 15 minutes(idk how they measure the time on the website but its apparently 2 minutes on this slope), second took 7, and by the end of my session I was going down with max of 3-5 falls and under 4-5 minutes. I could only really go down regular, hardly ride switch, I could slow myself down. Super excited to be going back!
Love watching all the vids. Best bit of advice you’ve given me on here is do at least 1 full run a day switch. I only do 2/3 weeks holiday snowboarding a year, this year I’m 3 days into my first week. So far I’ve done 6 full runs switch and it’s not just made my switch riding better but I’m so much better riding regular now. Cheers kid !!
love that!
Nice breakdown.
I'd say I fit around a low advanced rider. Been riding for about 10 years now, average of about 4-5 days a season.
1. Riding: can do any trail but steep tight trees are a challenge for me. comfortable on double blacks + moguls.
2. Switch: can ride down blues while carving, black while making more skid turns
3. Park: a weakness of mine. can do basic boxes and ollies. can land a 180 sometimes.
Goals: I want to progress toward having confidence in riding through steep and tight trees while holding speed. Thats my goal for 2023.
I guessed right at being an advanced rider. I do have some curve towards expert skills like riding switch on any run, jumping moguls, side hits, and charging down the entire mountain. I believe the only thing keeping me from expert at this point is living on the East Coast. While I can tear up the ice in New England and confidently ride double blacks I just don't get many deep pow days so that's where I struggle. As for freestyle I'm Intermediate. I have some butter tricks, 5050 rails and boxes, boardslide some wide features, and hit small and medium some large but no XL jumps being able to grab indy, mute, stalefish, do shifty's and throw 180's and 3's. At 53 it's tough to progress in the park as I don't take slams like I used to. I keep chipping away at it though. Baby steps.
this is pretty funny to me as a 19yr old snowboarder who can throw dub corks, front lip any rail feature, can launch side hits and feels great riding switch, but as soon as i gotta go down an icey black or charge trees, im intermediate.
I feel like I'm finally moving up to the higher level intermediate side. Just got back from a trip out to Schweitzer and had my first taste of steep groomed and ungroomed black diamonds. Also, got my first taste for whiteout pow conditions too and had a blast!! I'm always learning and trying to challenge myself and your videos have definitely helped me with my journey, Ed!! 🤙🏻
I’d call myself advanced. Started last January and have done total of around 15 days in different resorts until now. Love it!
So Id say I'm approaching being an advanced snowboarder, can confidently ride everything except for double blacks (honestly just been too scared to try). I am getting really close to toeside euro carves. I don't fall getting off the lift as I always make sure Im on the furthest right chair. but skating is honestly a huge painpoint for me in general when it comes to riding down an empty liftline especially I'm always struggling.
I agree on most of it with one small change. An expert knows how and why and can explain and pass on how the board functions and works and why. Advanced people can shred but experts can say look the board twists here you can use this foot in the opposite direction of that foot to bend the board and skip from corner front to corner back and carve edge to edge immediately. There is a fundamental difference. I'd say that is the major difference. Omni directional yes, the ability to pull out of dire mistakes without issue yes. But knowing how it works and why is an expert. Like you.
This dude is the best. His analysis of the top 5% is spot on. As with all endeavors the very top performing players are in ratified air. I have been snowboarding for 30 years I consider myself expert level in all facets and it's been one of my goals as an athlete to be able to go anywhere anytime on any mountain and absolutely throw down. Ed keep up the good work and positive messaging brother.
thanks brother 👊
It might only be my second season snowboarding, but since i’m living in Japan. I’ve snowboarded almost every weekend this season. Transportation, Lift Tickets, and general cost of living is so cheap that I was able to go from Semi-Beginner to Intermediate-Advanced in 1 season. God bless the Japow!!
that's epic, Japan is the best
You, sir, are a lucky bastard. Make some videos of your progression, and share the pow with us at least digitally!
@@mr-boo check out my youtube shorts man. Love to share the Japow life!
Yayy, I was right!!! 😅 After watching the whole video, I am officially a intermediate snowboarder. I'll take it, considering this is my first season consistently boarding, and at 51yrs old. Hoping to be advanced by the end of next season. Please keep the vids coming, they're AWESOME!!! ✌🏾
Mm yee, me too!
I am 52, beginning in The advanced level. I need tô feel more confortable beetween trees and hard bumps.
I am definitely an intermediate. Started snowboarding at 46 and this will be out 4th season getting about 25 days per year. Feel confident on most blues and groomed blacks. Focus for this season will be trees and steeper powder day runs. Would love to do backcountry but need to be more confident in variable conditions at a resort. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like a huge gap between intermediate and advanced. Would love to hit the start of advanced in the future minus the park. Great content! Glad I found this!
Cool, I would have said I’m intermediate, but according to you I’m advanced towards expert 😅 but I love the fact that you’ve put freestyle in its own category, cause I am like most of us, your average 20-30 mountain days a year guy, who feeds on clips on youtube during the warm season and just tries to make the best out of those few days a year we’re actually spending on the mountain. So yeah, awesome clip and ranking system! Love your channel so far 🤘
thank you Alex 🙏
I think I'm an expert now, and still think there is SOOO much room to get better and learn new things. Love the path of mastery with snowboarding so far.
Just to follow up, I would say ed shreds thinks I'm advanced and CLOSE to expert. I can pop air off of bumps and stuff and ride switch a bit down blues but I have some work to do to if I wanted to be an expert. I would argue though the parts I'm missing is in the freestyle aspect of the sport, which I'm probably intermediate, since I can hit some jumps and ride boxes and rails but nothing fancy yet. I think this is a pretty fair ranking though.
Very spot on IMHO, especially on the BIG difference between an advanced and truly expert snowboarder.
Im just wondering how such good content isnt totally blowing up. stay exactly how you are doing things and you this channel will go crazy. im also wondering how i am in the middle of advanced and expert 😂. I thought i would be intermediate at the most
i am inbetween intermediate and advanced id say i have about 300 hours on a board
i picked it up quickly
thanks my friend 🙏
@@fredclements5474 same
@@ShredSchool1 no way! no problem
I'm an expert bomber on all slopes. Riding a Lib Tech Dynamo & Never Summer Proto FR with Nitro Phantom+ bindings and ThirtyTwo Dual BOA boots. For those who are learning, that's like taking your mouse sensitivity from low to insanely high. My setup is STIFF, but I can shred complete bs mogul fields on black diamond ice coast & carve through double black glades in powder with finesse, despite my setup. I can fakie to backside 360 to stiffy off 6 foot jumps and easily do advanced butter tricks like tripod after jumping off ~10 foot cliffs.
I live to bomb black diamond. Idc if it's skiied out, sheets of ice, and/or moguls. I'll pull 180s off moguls then charge switch over ice.
I've been snowboarding 22 years (since age 4).
Didnt hit the snow for 16 years, went two times on wintersports, and now when i went again in the local indoor ski hall, i hit the funpark and the big jumps.. Really fun sport! Bases on your description i'm advanced beginner freestyle.
According to your video I'm an advanced snowboarder touching the expert level as I can perform boxes, rail, jump and few rotation. Thanks for the video! 🙂🤙
Excellent video man. I’m stoked to
Use this when I have customers who c all themselves advanced or expert and have yet to ever purchase a board. You can’t be an expert when you live in Florida and ride a week every year on vacation on rentals
Beginner freestyle here I think. I just spent two days in WV and finally ride switch with about 90% of my normal confidence. Landed some jumps with board grabs in the small park that was open, but still ate it when I tried to do a board slide on a rail. I absolutely love buttering.
I'm glad you put park and summit into different categories because I'd say I'm intermidiate/advanced at park features, and by the requirements here maybe advanced/expert at summit riding.
But one thing that should be talked about in this video is stamina, where I live I mainly ride small mountains with short runs and get a break from the punishment of a powder run or choppy snow within minutes. Whenever I go to a bigger mountain I'll find myself gasping for breath halfway through the run; and that's where you realize that no matter what tricks you have locked in on the rails, no matter how many rotations you can get on a jump, or even what variety of conditions you've rode in, snowboarding takes just as much of a degree of athletic training as any other sport if you wanna go big.
31 years old, Riding "12" years but really only the last 6 have been 30+ days with a season pass. I assumed I would be "advanced", but after your description I feel I'm definitely an expert. I can charge the mountain switch, I'm always searching for side hits to spin and ollie. I dont particularly play in trees or moguls but I can do it confidently (as well as you can on the ice coast...). I've also taught 5-10 friends and progressively I've gotten faster and faster at teaching them just by reading body language. In an ideal world for me, every trail would have features and rails to play with instead of being packed into one single trail.
Happy to learn that I'm advanced ... figured I was intermediate. Shooting for 50+mph this coming weekend. Wish me luck!
In 1998, I got on a snowboard and took my first and only lesson...figured I knew what I was doing....ffwd 20 years and by some strange happenstance, got a free lesson with the school. Judging by their criteria, I put my self in the top level course. And then I learned that I had developed many bad habits and spent the next three years unlearning them. Went from plateauing at intermediate (for twenty years) to intermediate freestyle (according to your criteria) in a matter of 2 years. I love a good coaching session now.
I think I’m an intermediate. I am an intermediate, but on the higher side of it. I am highly confident charging down blue runs, and can get down some black runs without falling. I can also ride switch very easily, but I have always been able to. I actually barely feel a difference, and I technically am goofy, but I ride regular just cause I prefer it. Not sure if it counts if I didn’t have to really learn to ride switch.
I would say I’m an intermediate. I’ve been boarding for about 4 years now. Just learned how to properly carve. Can’t wait to put in more work tho. This is so much fun!!
26 and currently in my first season ever with 14 days. (I’ve rode 5 times prior to this season throughout my life) I’ve skateboarded for almost 16 years now and it really has helped me progress fast in snowboarding.
14 days I can definitely say that I’m advanced snowboarder and intermediate freestyle. On the mountain I can get down all runs with ease and speed connecting turns, hitting 360s off side hits, Ollie’s with grabs, tail presses, moguls. I do struggle with powder riding but only have 2 days with major powder.
Freestyle riding I can do 50/50s. Hit the major jumps with just a simple air or sometimes grab. Can do back boardslides. Front/Back 360s. And that’s about my riding for now.
That's cool, I started snowboarding in 2013 and I wonder if I'll ever get to that level 🤣
Hm, well one thing I noticed about snowboarding is even if I only go a few times in one year, I'm significantly better the next year. Add your 16 years of skateboarding which is much harder in a lot of ways.. like wrecking, and it makes sense why you would progress that fast
skateboarding is the ultimate cheat code
Another category that is not mentioned are those that are professional snowboarders that work at resorts. The lift mechanics, the ski patrollers that ride snowboards, and guys who work in snowmaking. These are guys who can carry heavy bulky weight to and from locations on mountains in all weather and snow conditions. They often average over a 120+ days on a snowboard a year and very rarely fall or even get noticed by the guests at each mountain. Although they are not usually the best in terrain parks they have skills that go above and beyond in other areas.
At the start of this video I definitely would've said I was beginner (I've only been once) but after watching this I actually think I progressed to being intermediate, I was happily linking turns down green and blue runs and my asshole friends took me down a black diamond run... Growing up skateboarding was a huge help to understanding the basics of just being on a board.
i’ve been riding for a few days now and according to this list i’m
already advanced. Hitting double blacks with moguls, doing indy and nose grabs off side hits and backside 180s. Still trying to get switch down but im having a blast learning
skateboarder?
@@ShredSchool1 nope never in my life… My mom used to be an instructor with Nick Baumgartner so maybe it’s just a natural talent. I grew up a skier.
I originally would say I'm intermediate since this is only my second season, and because I only go once a week due to work. After watching your video it sounds like I'm either advanced or in the freestyle category somewhere. I live in Utah and go to Brighton a lot, and I'm all over the place. Somedays I spend 5/6 of the day on Great Western doing all blacks and trees, and then the next week I'll make runs through groomers, trees, and the park. I've been slowly working on side hits and feeling comfortable with uneven terrain hits vs a park jump that is predictable. Great video like usual!
PSIA/AASI should watch this video. This is a much better way of breaking down the skill levels than what they use. Also, I would say I am an expert level freerider/ intermediate freestyle
Hmm... I could've sworn I thought I was an intermediate rider, but according to this, I'm advanced. Love it. Thanks, this helps.
I would describe myself as a high intermediate snowboarder. I am confident on any terrain from green to double black diamonds, groomed or powder. I still fall every now and then, maybe due to me not seeing a bump or maybe my equipment isn't perfect for my style. I can ride switch on easier terrains, but don't have the confidence to go fast yet. I just learned how to ride switch a week ago, so I just need more experience. This is also my first season back after a 10 year hiatus, so still getting comfortable. I would consider people advanced when they know how to ride switch at least 80% as well as they can ride their dominant stance. I agree that Park/freestyle is in its own subcategory, since some people don't ride park at all, and some people that do ride park can't ride various terrains/switch.
keep in mind that switch is also a lot to do with your equipment/board and how you tune your board too. try experimenting with angles of your bindings to see if that helps when in switch since it will normally (duck footing) be harder
Expert level snowboarder. Intermediate freestyle snowboarder. Love it
beginner? less? my first lessons are coming up and I cannot be more excited!!
I considered myself a beginner but now im guessing intermediate. I grew up skiing and boarded a few times like 20 years ago. This season my family decided to snowboard so we all geared up. Being early 40s i dont have interest in hitting big jumps (yet) but can carve my way down the black diamonds on my local (east coast) hill and even turn and carve a little switch. Weather and conditions have been absolute crap but unlike in my teens i have put a lot of focus on body position and technique especially since i was teaching my 7 and 10 year old so i think that has helped a lot. Also skateboarding and wakeboarding has transitioned well.
I appreciate the content you put out!
I am 1000% a beginner i have only gone snowboarding twice, but watching videos like these inspire me to push hard and SHRED!!!!! see you out there.
awesome 🚀
I'm 67 have not snowboarded for 5 years. Going to Hakuba and other resorts in Japan. for 4 weeks in early Feb.
Would have thought I was a strong intermediate But will be starting as a beginner until I can regain some confidence. Looking forward to it.
Riding for 12 years (20+ days per season), from the description it sounds like I’m advanced who’s bridging into expert. Riding switch is where I’m lacking and why I can’t call myself an expert yet. Working on it though :)
Makes me happy beeing a mid expert,low intermediate freestyle snowboarder 🙂
Working on butters and general freeriding depending on weather and mood this season
From the start of this video I assumed im an intermediate rider, after watching id then say im on the verge of being advanced. I can confidently do most runs on the mountain, although i havent seen much powder when ive been snowboarding. Im still Trying to get to grips with riding switch, but as someone who can only snowboard when i go on holiday. I think im doing pretty well. It would be a dream of mine to be able to have a local mountain i could regularly go to so i could progress alot more!
I spent 10 seasons in parks on small hills in my youth, never been to mountains. Then I paused my snowboarding to surf for 12 years, and yesterday I have returned to snowboard, and this time on real mountain. And holy moly, I didn't know I missed it so-so much!
I believe that I'm a kinda intermediate park rider (stable stylish 360s, sloppy 540s on 15-20 meters big airs, medium fs lipslide disasters on a sloped rail), but advanced to expert slope rider. I have never been in proper mountain powder yet (but the season has just started!), never rode black slopes, but yesterday i felt that red was easy for me (even after such a long break), went full speed, even though it was really icy and bumpy at times.
Before video I thought I was advanced :)
Do you guys think rip-sticking and long-boarding really really help. Iv’e done both and went for the very first time and could easily do a blue/black diamons.
What I think is that snowboarding is blessed to have you. Thx Ed
Yes! Your definition aligns with what I had in mind. Other people had very different definitions! It got very confusing. 😅
I've just snowboard for 4 days, did my first half-pipe, really cool!
Very cool!
Just ended my third year of snowboarding and I’m happy to say with confidence that I just entered advanced🎉🎉🎉
Cool video. 20 years without snow and i'm just back from the mountains. i actually have two broken ribs, i guess i'm an old overconfident intermediate.
I'm a farirly advanced rider, can confidently cover most terrain on the mountain at speed without eating snow. I'm a beginner freestyle, can do reasonable 180s, but nothing really beyond that. Looking to improve that in future seasons, but that feels the most difficult thing to progress for me.
Per these definitions I think I'm somwhere in between intermediate and advanced, which is also what I'd have said before watching the video.
When the snow is fairly soft I can make it down most blacks and even some moguly double blacks with proper carves. When conditions are less than ideal, I'm definitely not as confident and I will take some falls.
My goal by the end of this season is to tighten up my carving game on blacks/double blacks in variable conditions, properly send one of the Sisters chutes to skiers left on The Wall at Kirkwood (I tried Heart chute but wussed out and side slipped it), and to be able to consistently stick a front 3.
I’m definitely a beginner…started 3 weeks ago but have been progressing incredibly well over the past few weeks.
Okay after watching the video I’m intermediate for sure and I’m hype about that 😁
@@MajjasDiary awesome to hear 🚀
Started last week. What a feeling! According this video, intermediate is within grasps😎
You can do it! Go on mon - wed when theres almost no one there on those large wide runs and practice doing wide long turns.. and also drills to learn better posture, Malcolm Moore has a lot of good things to do to get better at smoother turning.. im still learning them to get carving down
I love this, except I think you should add a Pro and Master category this would help further distinguish between Expert, Master, and Pro.
I can do skidded turns on pretty much most runs up to euro red. I rate myself as a ''competent beginner''. I wouldn't consider myself an intermediate until I can consistently carve. No interest in park but wouldn't mind learning how to take some interesting side hits. I would absolutely love to know how to ride berms/mtb tracks!
I’ve got about 70 days total in my snowboarding life over 4 seasons. According to your video I’d be advanced. However I rate myself as beginner intermediate. I can do black diamonds and moguls but I’m not charging down either one but I can ride switch on both. I can carve riding regular and carve riding switch on smooth runs.
I prefer more freestyle and park riding though which is why I think I’m a beginner intermediate rider. I can do 50/50 on boxes, I can do smaller medium jumps but I am just now learning how to do 180’s and I’m still working on getting all grabs and I’m starting to tweak some grabs. I cannot hit a jump riding switch yet though. I feel like once I can do all 180’s and all basic grabs as well as at least front board slides I’ll be a solid intermediate rider.
Agree or disagree?
I was thinking I was upper intermediate since it’s only my second season but according to you I’m advanced… hell yeah! I can send blacks in packed snow and pow, I can carve(been watching a lot of Ryan knapton), I can ride groomed blues switch much more confident than blacks, Ollie off side hits with basic grabs. currently learning spins and tweaking airs and I never go onto the park but I can hit small jumps and 50-50 a box. Would you say advanced?
This video was a huge help in identifying where my skill level is. Definitely intermediate, but thats also because I dont have the exposure opportunity to get to advanced yet. First season on a board in general so going from beginner to intermediate in 5 days was a TON of work. Thanks for making this, I know where I sit, and I know where I need to improve. 10/10 video.
I have been snowboarding for 2 years with no professional lessons but ive dedicated friends who have helped me. I find double black diamond slopes are just techical slopes which I can barely turn on and mostly break going down. I can do black diamond but its still a technical slope but easier to zig zag going down with a little more riding. Blue's are my favourite for speed runs and carving. Love hitting side hits and around tree's but im no freestyle snowboarder. The main thing I need to work on is when going fast 50-60kmph how do I do quick breaking to reduce speed breifly
Kind of interesting because this is my first real year snowboarding, but I used to downhill longboard. So after a little adjustment period, I'm checking most boxes for advanced
skateboarding helps so much
Grew up in VA, riding the icy Mid Atlantic south PA resorts at 18. Stopped riding around 25. Started riding again around 36. Now 44. Only get out 3-4 days a year. I’m riding harder than ever, just started switch. Can riding mogul ice fields, prefer not too. East coast tree riding is harder than west coast as the trees are more dense the runs are rutted out. Almost seems. Like the trees runs out west are thinned out.
I am 48 with 30 years of experience in snowboarding. Last year I changed to skies. I couldnt find fun anymore because I wasn’t progressing. I founded fun again in skis but I will always love the board.
Its fun being able to carve/turn well enough to get around all the other people that stop or have fallen on the slopes
it sure is
I have been snowboarding for years - I think I am intermediate. I like to challenge myself each time. I am on the east coast and have been able to snowboard all over the world. This East Coast ice is not as fun.
I am definitely a beginner. What do you think of outerspace living for a first board?
I wouldn't add powder, trees, and general off-piste skills into the basic tiers either, as well as freestyle. Those are so much different. According to your definition, I'm an intermediate snowboarder, but I would definitely call myself an advanced skier with 20 years of experience, but in all that time I have never once gone off-piste, it's just not my thing - and I firmly claim, I'm well above linking turns level, even if I can't ski in powder.
Advanced if can do 360s do big rails grabs and can go down any slope on the mountain?
"Can I get down the mountain without eating BLEEP?" -- I was looking away for a second when this came on and couldn't lip read what was BLEEPED so my first thought was "Can I get down the mountain without eating psusy? No sir, I cannot." :))))))))))))))
I consider myself an advanced expert rider and intermediate park rider. I used to send it over the huge jumps but now tend to stick to MD and SM parks. I think to be at the top of riding skill one must be able to charge the whole mountain switch as good as normal without thinking of the concept of switch. Meaning you need to learn to skate and load/unload switch. Carve going 60+ switch, Ollie and takeoff jumps switch too.
Hey, Im an advanced beginner expert! 😆 I can rip and carve down any part of the mountain, but if my 52 year old body gets airborne, its pucker factor time. But Im now working on that and my switch riding is getting easier. You can go to my cha nell to see me heli skiing alaska less than a year ago. A day to remember fer shur.
I'm an intermediate, because I've been riding for 30+ years, can carve, go down black diamonds or ride in pow without an issue, but am too old to do jumps. Also, arrivals on chairlifts and flat stretches stress me out :) I usually ride in Val d'Isère or Val Thorens (Alps).
i'd sadly say still intermediate after 21 years of riding. i was too afraid to dabble into freestyling and parks, but i decided i'll start doing tricks from now on. I can somewhat do powder, but not really well, I get frustrated with it quite quickly lol. Moguls are no problem, as well as going switch. Was never the carver type so this technique isn't too much in my books as well yet.
going to do a fresh up course for technique so I can improve the carving, powder and tricks.
I’d say I’m intermediate to advance… I’ve ridden out west in fresh pow(still getting the hang of it unsure if I need a different board), east coast raised on ice, still perfecting my moguls but killing it, def love tree riding. Love to bomb down the mountain at high speed awesome at carving and quick with it. Enjoy the occasional jumps and boxes. Originally thought I was more of an intermediate but after watching definitely leaning more towards the advanced side!
I would say I’m a intermediate rider. I can link big to small S turns, vice versa. Hit a few small jumps and small side jumps, and small ledge drop offs. I can kinda do quick short turns on short and narrow slope. I can ride straight on my flat surface. I can ride easy green to easy black. I still struggle with edge control and doing different turn sizes. I can ride fast and kinda ride switch.
I’m definitely advanced at my home resort in the Midwest. I’ll find out how truly advanced I really am when I go out west next year.
I think I'm starting to get into the advanced section. I can pop off of side hits and ride pretty steep groomers as well as trees. But I could really learn to ride switch
I am a skier and I would say I am advanced. Been skiing for 18 years, raced for 4 of those, and any ski place that is accessible to me I have skied without trouble. However, I am east coast and I know there is so much more for me to learn. Like skiing in powder, steeps, moguls, trees, I am unable to experience that and learn those skills because I don't have access to it at all. I have traveled with my race team to BC and Vermont and experienced it a little there but it still just is not enough to get me to the next level I want to be at and it is frustrating.
You can bend over and triple-cork up your own backside if you are failing to have basic manners and consideration for others on the slopes and in the lift-lines. This is the ONLY metric worth measuring in others.
If you are preparing your quippy comment about how "lol, I bet you cant even... whatever" you are probably the person who needs to hear this the most. Snowboarding is about going having fun. Don't spoil it for others.
I always thought I was a beginner given that I only started 2 yrs ago but based on this I'd be a comfortable intermediate. I need to stop underestimating myself
I am a young teen who has been snowboarding for a while and doing mountain sports my whole life. I can confidently say I am an expert snowboarder (not trying to sound cocky) I think the key to getting good at skiing or boarding is to love it. I would rather be on the mountain than anything. if you go up every chance you get, want to be a good boarder, and love the sport, you will get really fast.
I’ve only snowboarded twice but am now able to link turns after my second time. I can take the chairlift without falling the majority of time. Beginner or intermediate?
idk... I was falling leaf down Mammoth blacks before I could link turns on greens. What was I at that point in time? (I was falling leaf for like 3 years back in my elementary school days)
Before watching i think im beginner-intermediate range. Can carve, ride switch, hit jumps and boxes and do some basic buter tricks like tail plants
this guy is super good at editing
I was so curious to watch this video because the clips at the beginning were all park tricks. I've been riding for 16 years, I hate the park with a burning passion! My primary concern is finding the steepest and deepest snow. I frequently take air in challenging terrain, although I don't do rotation tricks, just grabs and tweaks and stuff like that. But everybody that sees me riding says I'm a pro and I'm perfectly okay with that. A NOTE FOR ANYONE THAT DOESNT LIKE PARK: you don't need to put your life or your ribs on the line to be an amazing rider, if you can keep up with me down a double black you're a God in my books. Happy riding!
I thought I was a beginner snowboarder but it seems I'm an intermediate, cool! Just been snowboarding for 7 times (started in Feb 22) and I can ride down greens and blues without hurting myself linking turns, even short ones in more mellow zones. Still need to work more on riding switch and ofc the rest that will come after.
Okay so: I skiid for a while and but I skateboarded for like somewhere around 10 years and just started snowboarding this season. I went I total of 8 times and I’m already learning 180s and half cabs, tail butters etc. so I guess my question is am I intermediate if I’m falling while going down the mountain. But I’m falling while trying to hit jumps and grabs off side hits. Or am I still a beginner.