How to train to snowboard even when there is no snow? Is there a way to improve physical and above all technical form between one season and another? In recent years the surfskate phenomenon has literally exploded and some snowboarders have started to use it and see its benefits. The first ones were those who also surfed and got to know this simulator before, but soon others also joined. In the snowboard forums it often happens to read posts about it, with dozens and dozens of comments both for and against and we have already talked about it on various occasions, for example in this post we have created a short guide and some advice to train at snowboard with surfskate. But let's go in order and first of all see what a surfskate is, secondly what are the pros and cons of using it as a snowboard training and finally some advice.
The surfskate is a particular type of skateboard created to simulate surf on the road and help surfers to train even when there are no waves. The famous dry training. The difference of a surfskate compared to a longboard or other types of skateboards is that it has the front truck made to turn much more. To learn more and learn more, I suggest you also read our guide to the surfskate and how to choose it or this post with a collection of questions and answers on the surfskate to clarify further doubts.
But what does surfskate have to do with snowboarding? If it was born to simulate surfing, what benefits can it bring to those who instead snowboard.
First we must remember that they are both side sliding sports, that they are boardsport and that they all have points of contact and are preparatory to each other, although some are more so than others.
1. The surfskate is a great muscle workout
The surfskate is training for the whole body: legs, arms and core. Improve endurance and overall fitness. When you surfskate you don't just use the leg muscles, but the muscles of the whole body, abdominals and arms included. So this may already be reason enough. Snowboarding requires a lot of energy and if you are not in great shape it is easy that after a few descents your muscles will already begin to suffer ... arriving prepared for the season on the snow means having your legs and the whole body more ready and reactive for many more descents!
2. The surfskate trains carving
The surfskate was born to carve, draw curves on the asphalt. Performing clean turns is one of the biggest challenges for beginner snowboarders, and more. The surfskate allows you to try, at low speed and even flat, the correct compression - extension technique and accompany it with the right position of the body and arms. If the movement is set correctly, the simulation can be very close and therefore preparatory to snowboarding.
3. Surfskate trains muscle memory
Muscles have memory. Perform a movement ad nauseam and it will eventually become automatic, like walking and cycling. So train yourself in the execution of curves and arrived on the snow, once you have adapted to the differences due to the type of board you have under your feet (with bindings instead of free, larger, with edges and not wheels), your muscles will try to reproduce the movement they have already learned.
And from here we connect directly to the risks...
CONS: acquiring wrong movements
Muscle memory is a double-edged sword: if you learn a movement well done you will always repeat it correctly, but if you learn a wrong movement you will always do it wrong again ...
This actually applies to everything, not just the use of a surfskate in snowboarding training. In order for the surfskate training to be truly preparatory it is necessary that the movements are performed correctly and to do so the advice is to rely on an instructor able to correct your posture on the surfskate and to advise you on the most targeted and effective type of training for snowboarding
CONS: Skating is dangerous
This is one of the most cited arguments by those who are against using the surfskate to train in snowboarding groups. And I will never cease to be amazed. It seems strange that those who are willing to throw themselves off a snow-covered crust, with the real risk of causing avalanches at every bend or planting themselves against a tree while crossing a forest or more simply shattering while descending at crazy speed on the track doing the slalom among the other skiers, on the other hand, you think skateboarding is so dangerous. Those who think so probably have other skate disciplines in mind, certainly more dangerous, such as downhill or simply street or freestyle. Even if, even these disciplines, done with knowledge of the facts, with the right preparation and protection, are ultimately no more dangerous than many other table sports.
The point is that surfskate is neither downhill nor "traditional" skate. The surfskate normally does not include tricks, jumps, etc. (although it is also possible to do some with a surfskate). The surfskate is generally used on flat ground, at low speed, to make turns. This does not reduce the risk of falls to zero, but it is evident that it greatly reduces the possibility of more or less serious accidents.
We add a helmet, good protections and maybe some lessons at least to start and we can be quite calm even if we are no longer 15 years old.