So… I love riding with my friends. It’s fun when you have other people to chat with on the chairlift and when you’re all getting each other excited to learn something new.
Friends can be a huge plus to your snowboard experience and can help push your progression. However, if you want to see quick progress, learn to ride by yourself as well.
For whatever reason, some people don’t ride by themselves. They think of snowboarding as a group only exercise, but really, if you want to get better quickly, you’re going to have to ride by yourself from time to time.
Why riding solo is good for your snowboarding
I love my friends as much as the next guy and I love my group park sessions and I’m not saying you can’t keep riding with your friends. However, it’s not always ideal to ride with your friends.
Let me give you an example or two.
1) You’re stuck on their schedule
You can’t always be relying on your friends to go snowboarding with you. Sometimes they’ll be hungover. Sometimes they’ll be slow and/or lazy to get up. Sometimes the conditions may be perfect and they aren’t there.
Don’t be afraid to strap onto your snowboard and go out by yourself. You don’t have to wait around for your friends to go snowboarding.
I’ve often met up with friends on the hill after having arrived much earlier in the day to get more runs in. Don’t feel like you have to snowboard only according to your friend’s schedule all the time.
Your snowboarding will progress faster if you mix in some solo riding outside of just riding with your friend, because at the end of the day, time on snow is the biggest boost to becoming a better snowboarder.
2) It’s harder to focus down on what you want to ride
When you’re riding with a friend or two, you have to ride what the group wants to ride. That means if you want to hit the jumps and learn 360s and everyone else wants to hit the rail park, you’re stuck going with them.
Sometimes it’s nice to just be able to ride exactly what you want to ride.
When you’re by yourself you can drill down on exactly what you want to do and focus. You can hit that jump 50 times if you want and you don’t have to wait around for anyone.
Some of the best progression I’ve seen were days when I was by myself on the slopes focusing down on the new trick I wanted to learn.
3) Zen?
I don’t know what to call it and maybe it’s just me, but it’s nice to be alone with just you and your snowboard once in awhile. There’s a certain peaceful feeling that comes with a relaxing, solo ride on the slopes.
Some days you just need to unwind and relax by yourself. Get away from noise and everything else and just enjoy snowboarding. I find those moments help you relax and re-focus if you’re getting frustrated or stressed out.
Maybe it’s just me for this 3rd point, but I’m sure I’m not alone 
I’m not saying you shouldn’t ride with your friends, but I am saying that I think it’s good to mix it up.
Ride by yourself from time to time
- Jed
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Funny – I searched “snowboarding alone” to see if others like to do the same. I actually prefer it to riding with friends because you get better quicker, and best of all #3 on the list. It becomes a religious experience when it’s just you and the mountain
There’s definitely something nice about riding by yourself from time to time
Hey there Jed,
I ride the Burton Nug 150 and really enjoy using it as my play around board. I am now looking to get the T Rice C2 HP BTX for powder and all Mountain riding. I am around 200lbs with 11.5 boot (Burton Ion). I am torn between getting the T Rice C2 BTX HP 161.5 (260ww) and the 164.5 (262ww).
I’ve read your article on sizing up boards, but would like to get your personal perspective on which size would be best for me. My questions are #1. Will the 161.5 be that much harder to float in the deep stuff over the 164.5? #2. Will the wider Waist Width of the 164.5 effect my turn initiation when I am not using it in the deep powder?
Thanks for your thoughts!
- Jason
I wouldn’t say there’s a HUGE different between 161.5 and 164.5, but there will be a noticeable difference in float. The 161.5 should still float okay in deep powder, even if the 164.5 is the better powder board.
The waist width is a non factor really, as long as both are wide enough to fit your boots (probably want to bring your boots with you to make sure when you buy). Some people even prefer a slightly wider waist (Arbor Blacklist comes to mind), so it’s personal preference there.
For me here’s how I’d pick the board: If it’s your do everything all-mountain board, I’d go with the 161.5, but if you’ll be primarily riding this as a mostly powder board I’d go the 164.5.