We are BACK with another winter of the BEST snowboard camps in the WORLD!
Year after year our snowboard camps see a lot of returning and new faces, all of them have one thing in common……the love for SNOWBOARDING! This year is going to be no different!
We have THREE mega weeks of camps running this season, we would love to shred with you this winter!
Early Winter Snowboard Camp – 15/12/24 – 22/12/24
Level: Beginner to Advanced
The BEST way to kickstart your winter. This camp is for you! The start of the winter is the perfect time to dust off those snowboard boots and refresh your skills, Or for those who never stepped foot on a board, enjoy the quiet mountains and learn the fundamentals early in the season and become a REAL (excuse the pun) snowboarder.
Not sure if it’s for you? Listen to Molly – see what she has to say about the camp.
REAL x TREELINE January Camp – 05/01/25 – 12/01/25
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Teaming up with the AMAZING Treeline Chalets again this year we bring you an upgraded camp from last year! Amazing Accommodation overlooking the whole valley, with Sauna and Hot tub.
Daily coaching from REAL topped up with amazing chalet style catering and comfort from Treeline, what more could you want?!
Come and enjoy the amazing mountains in the heart of winter, cold fresh days, loads of snow, good people, it’s dreamy!
March Madness with REAL – 16/03/25 – 23/03/25
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
March can bring it all, Slushy park laps, knee deep pow riding. We will take you on a snow safari around the Portes du Soleil to ride all the best terrain and ensure you progress your riding. This year we have teamed up with the mega ATLAS Chalets to offer a unreal week of amazing snowboarding, outrageously good food and a mega chalet to stay in. Ease the body and mind after each day of riding in the hot tub and Sauna or a few cold ones by the fire.
We look forward to seeing you on the hill!
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
A frontside board slide and a frontside nose slide are two different tricks because they use different parts of the snowboard. More than often they will find themselves under the front foot while doing so.
Why go under the front foot?
The front foot offers you more balance and stability it is that simple. Many people consider a true frontside boardslide to be between the bindings meaning it is exactly between your bindings. At REAL Snowboarding we love all snowboard tricks, some more than others but we are avid fans of having a frontside boardslide both under your front foot and between your bindings. This is simply because they are two different tricks therefore we can appreciate both of them separately.
What is counter rotation on a snowboard?
As our tutorial explains you must create counter rotation in order to be aligned and ‘stacked’ over your snowboard. To be stacked means to be balance over your snowboard in its optimum position with good posture. Many people when doing a frontside boardslide for the first time will twist their shoulders in the direction of there board meaning they will keep rotation while on the feature. In order to stop the board and body from over rotating and essentially going into another trick you must stop this continuous rotation. This is where counter rotation comes into your toolbox.
Practice your snowboarding
Practice with or without your snowboard on in a flat area. If you jump in the air and turn your board one way try to go the opposite with your upper body. By doing this you are essentially creating a shift but landing still in that shifty position. The torsion and wind-up you creating in your torso will allow you to become balance and potentially able to spin our of this frontside boardslide in the future.
Off snow snowboard training
One of the first tricks that you can learn on a snowboard is a backside boardslide. You must first be comfortable snowboarding around the mountain and turn with confidence. After becoming intermediate or above at turning a snowboard you may then ask yourself the question; how to boardslide on a snowboard.
Freestyle snowboarding isn’t for everyone but the natural stages of snowboarding will always go towards some sort of basic freestyle snowboarding. It is our recommendation that you practice basic freestyle snowboarding therefore you can understand more movements on a snowboard.
Many winters of teaching snowboarding has lead us to understand what a learner needs to progress in. For us there are two categories that stand out within a persons ability. People who have never done freestyle snowboarding and people who can snowboard but don’t want to learn the freestyle element. We are not saying everyone needs to learn freestyle snowboarding but what we are saying is that everyone needs to be aware of what the body is doing above their snowboard.
To achieve the desired results of knowing what the body is doing in a multiple of scenarios with a snowboard we urge you to predict and practice. This simply means that where possible you predict and practice a movement by learning in a safe environment. Knowing the fundamentals will in achieve better performance and a reactive snowboarder.
For us, a safe environment for kicker training is on a trampoline with or without a trampoline specific snowboard. To learn rail and box tricks we use our ‘at home, how to snowboard’. This brings us to our quarantine series of using the snowboard addiction or a homemade version. If you are not sure how to setup this at home see our pilot episode to get ideas.
Without further chat let us present to you a tutorial we made during our coronavirus isolation lockdown
February half term is nearly here. For thousands of
But whether you’re heading to the slopes for your annual snow fix or living in resort, here are some time tested tips on how to not only get through one of the most chaotic weeks of the season – but enjoy it too.
For the family heading out to the hills
Firstly, choose Morzine, Avoriaz or Les Gets! Not only are they fantastic family resorts, with brilliant terrain, but they’re insanely close to Geneva airport. This means transfer times are well under the 2 hour mark. When you have kids in the party, this can make all the difference.
Organise as much as you can in advance
The great thing about school holidays is that you know when they are, way in advance. This means you can plan your annual trip with plenty of time to spare, and avoid the inevitable ‘fully booked’ email responses.
Transfers, ski and snowboard rental, ski passes. Your chalet company, or your tour operator will often be able to arrange these so they are ready for you when you arrive, saving time and hassle once you’re in resort.
Our friends at Doorstep Skis will deliver your kit to your door, and take it back from your accommodation at the end of the week – no more trudging through resort with heavy snowboards or skis, and no more smelly ski basements trying on boots.
Most importantly, book your snowboard lessons in advance. School holidays are always busy and lessons are in high demand. Make sure you get the lessons you want by booking them as early as possible.
Packing Essentials
Family packing can be chaos. Try our ‘toes-up’ method for each person you’re packing for to make sure you get to resort with everything you and your family need.
It’s simple: start with your feet, and work your way up until you’re fully dressed with the kit you plan to take.
- Snowboard socks – we can’t stress how important the right socks are
- Boots – of the snowboarding kind but don’t forget boots for walking around the resort
- Thermal base layers
- Salopettes
- Tee shirts to use as under-layers
- Hoodie or riding shirt as a mid-layer for cold days
- Snowboard jacket
- Gloves or mitts
- Neck warmer or face mask
- Goggles – check out the latest Dragon goggles available this season for the best eyewear on the hill
- Sunglasses for apres action – always protect your eyes, snow blindness is no fun
- Beanie
- Helmet
- High SPF suncream and lip balm
Get up early, head to the edge of resort, and bring your lunch
The closer the slopes are to the nearest resort lifts, the busier they’ll be. Our advice is to get up early and head to the outer reaches of the resort where the crowds venture least.
Consider taking an early lunch and enjoy slightly quieter half term pistes while everyone else is sat eating their €20 spag bol. If you have your own picnic, find an awesome view, and stop when you want! You can also look for the green ‘salle hors sac’ icons on the piste map. These are sheltered picnic spots dotted around the resort.
Take a break
Yes, you’re on holiday to go skiing but there’s plenty of other things to see and do around Morzine. Swimming pools, skating rinks and bowling alleys are great for indoor fun. There’s also sledging, paragliding and a whole host of events running throughout the winter. Have a look at the Tourist Information site to see what’s on while you’re here.
For the seasonnaires
The lifts are going to have queues like Disney Land, your favourite bars will be full to the brim, and you’re going to trip over kids in the street.
Our advice? Get some rest. Between extra busy work shifts, half term week is the perfect time to give your body a break, so you’re ready to shred when the crowds die down. Catch up on sleep and hustle for your guests to make a little extra money. Above all, enjoy the down time without feeling the FOMO on the hill.
Heading out over half term? Book your snowboarding lessons with REAL Snowboarding and learn to snowboard the REAL way. Get in touch hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
Photo credit: @samuelmcahon
The end of the winter season here in Morzine, Avoriaz, and Les Gets, is in here. The mountain air is getting warmer, the snow is melting, and the goggle tans are in full effect.
And whilst we’re all looking forward to a little R&R at the end of an awesome, busy winter, we’re always thinking of the next opportunity to strap back in, and go riding.
Our friends and clients often ask how to get a snowboard fix during the long summers. So, we’ve prepared a little guide on how to make it through the warmer weather, as a snowboard addict.
Get to a glacier, stat!
Some of Europe’s higher resorts offer summer shredding on their glaciers. Because they’re so high up, usually above 2,500m, they benefit from cooler temperatures, so the snow remains in workable conditions year round.
Whilst these ski areas are fairly limited in size, they’re generally well groomed and cared for, and tend to provide brilliant snow parks for those looking to train during the off season – awesome!
Our favourite European glaciers
Stubai, Austria
Boasting one of the most famous snow parks in Europe, Stubai is also home to over 62km of piste – so you can spend the whole day riding without doubling back on yourself. A rarity for summer shredding.
https://www.stubaier-gletscher.com/
Dates: until mid-June, 8:30am to 4pm
Prices: One day €40, six days €190.40
Hintertux, Austria
Hintertux has an extensive ski area for your summer shred, and for those of you looking for some serious air-time, there’s even a 120m superpipe.
https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/en/home/
Dates: May 12 to October 12, 8.15am to 4.30pm
Prices: One day €45, six days €215
Tignes, France
There’s good reason we take our Summer Camp to Tignes every year, with a well-shaped snow park and plenty of piste for progressive coaching, you’re hard pressed to find better snow in the summer.
https://www.tignes.net/
Dates: June 23 to August 5, 7.15am to 1.00pm
Prices: One day €25, six days €150
Les Deux Alpes, France
Served by 17 lifts, the Les Deux Alpes glacier offers 11 runs and a monster freestyle zone with two pipes (super and half), hips, rails, boxes, big air kickers, and a beginner area.
https://www.les2alpes.com/en/
Dates: June 23 to August 26, 7:15am to 12.30pm
Prices: One day €40.10, six days €200.50
Saas Fee, Switzerland
High up in the swiss alps is the Saas Fee Allalin glacier, with a double line of kickers in the snow park and enough features to keep even the keenest freestyle rider entertained.
https://www.saas-fee.ch/
Dates: July 14 to October 31, 7/8am to 12/3pm, depending on the date
Prices: One day 84CHF, six days 505CHF
REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp
Sound like fun? Keen for your summer fix? Why not join the REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp, and let us organise it all for you?
We takeover Tignes for the entire month of July to bring you snowboard addicts an awesome week of riding progression. It’s truly one of the highlights of our year.
We run one week for kids, one week for adults, and technical training weeks for specialist coaching.
We get up in the morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading up to the glacier with the crew to throw down in the snow park, with your dedicated REAL Snowboarding instructors delivering world class freestyle coaching.
Then, in the lazy heat of the afternoon, enjoy a range of outdoor activities like mountain biking, skating, and trampoline training, or just send it into the (very) refreshing lake off the big air slide.
The entire week is built around bettering your snowboarding, with accommodation and tasty food included.
For more information, and to see exactly what goes on, head over here.
Book your place on the REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp now, and learn to ride the REAL way this summer.
Simple instruction. Stylish snowboarding.
Book your place on the REAL Summer Camp today: hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
Photo credit: @samuelmcahon
Spring is the perfect time to progress your park laps. Warmer weather, forgiving snow conditions – it’s ideal. Learning freestyle though is something you can do throughout the winter. It’s also a great idea when there’s not been new snow for a while or you just want a new challenge. Give yourself the best chance at nailing your tricks safely, and stylishly with a freestyle snowboard lesson from REAL Snowboarding.
What can you learn in a freestyle lesson?
Freestyle snowboard lessons can teach you how to ride rails, kickers, flatland tricks, side-hits…the possibilities are endless!
Many people are surprised to find that freestyle lessons don’t always involve the park. You can learn the basic movements and skills needed for freestyle tricks on the slopes, away from the features you’re trying to hit.
This gets you prepped and confident so that when you approach a feature you’re confident in your ability and are able to just focus on nailing the trick.
Freestyle doesn’t always have to be about the park either. Once you start looking you’ll notice there are plenty of side hits on the pistes that you can play around on. A lesson can help you perfect the moves and then identify hits around the mountain.
It’s all about giving you the right tools to approach the trick, then building your confidence until you stomp it.
There’s still a lot to learn, regardless of your level
From learning the best way to take off on a kicker, to how to prep for a boardslide, it’s rarely as simple as just ‘giving it a go’.
YouTube and IGTV videos might break tricks down but nothing is as valuable as getting feedback and input from a qualified freestyle coach.
They can spot exactly what is holding you back and give you honest feedback. Sometimes what you think you’re doing doesn’t match the reality so using tools like video analysis can really help with your progression.
Why REAL Snowboarding?
One of REAL Snowboarding’s founding principles is to teach stylish snowboarding and help snowboarders to express themselves creatively. Freestyle plays a huge part in achieving creative snowboarding and we pride ourselves on delivering the most fun, and progressive freestyle snowboard lessons in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.
The REAL Snowboarding team have over 40 years combined instructing experience and have coached current GB Freestyle Team athletes. Dave and Barry both currently coach the RAF and British Army freestyle teams respectively, so you’re in good hands.
Whether it’s your first foray into the kicker line, or you’re looking for some professional help to stomp your spins some REAL freestyle snowboarding lessons will get you there.
Simple instruction. Stylish snowboarding.
Book your freestyle lessons today: hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
Photo credit: @samuelmcahon
It’s a question many of our friends have asked over the years, and it’s something we answer again and again every season so, what, exactly, is a snowboard camp?
It’s everything you’ve come to expect from your favourite winter holidays
Relax, we’ll organise everything. From luxury accommodation, and smooth transfers, to wholesome breakfasts, tasty dinners and outstanding coaching, you just need to turn up.
It’s riding with people stoked on snowboarding
The wonderful folk who choose snowboard camps usually do so for one main reason – they’re completely hooked on snowboarding, and want to get better and better at it.
You’ll be supported to stomp your next trick, you’ll chat with people who know what they’re talking about, just like you, and you’ll share a drink at the end of the day with a shred crew to call your own.
It’s not just park laps
Whilst freestyle riding is a big part of a REAL Snowboarding camp progression takes place all-over the mountain! We spend all season hunting for good side-hits and spots to try new and creative things so you can be sure that you’ll be hitting plenty of fun, varied terrain.
It’s becoming the snowboarder you always dreamed of being
We all remember watching our first snowboard video, and dreaming of the day we’d catch that first floaty grab or charge through an untouched powder field with style. But how many of us actually got there? How many of us stopped ‘learning’ once we could happily cruise around the mountain with our friends?
Joining a snowboard camp is about progression. It’s about taking your snowboarding to the next level and learning to express yourself creatively on your snowboard. Most of all, it’s about having fun.
A REAL Snowboarding camp will establish confidence, progress your riding, and develop your style – guaranteed.
It’s damn good value
We understand that snowboarding is expensive. That’s why we work with selected partners to secure the best deals in resort and deliver an unforgettable week.
Join us for a REAL Snowboarding Camp this winter:
Early Season Camp with Hideout Hostel 12/12/19 – 15/12/19 FULLY BOOKED
Trifecta Camp: REAL x Nidecker x Absolute-Snow 12/01/20 – 19/01/20 ONE SPACE LEFT
REAL Winter Camp 15/03/20 – 22/03/20 FULLY BOOKED
There are few things sweeter than a quick snack on your favourite chairlift. We’re all fond of oat bars for the essential shred energy, but sometimes, we just want a warm, pocket squashed pain au chocolat.
What kind of chairlift snacker are you?
The sweet tooth
Everyone’s best friend on the chairlift, you’ve always got a bag of Haribo stashed somewhere in your jacket to dish out. Smurfs one day, Star Mix the next.
The cereal survivalist
You never leave the house without a cereal bar. Just in case. For you it’s somewhere between a healthy snack and a chocolate bar, the substance you crave to keep hunger at bay between shreds. These’ll last for weeks, so no worry of overstocking your pockets.
The chalet sneak-thief
What’s in your pocket today? Whatever was for breakfast at the chalet, obvs. For most of you, this just means a croissant wrapped in cling-film, but for truly ambitious snackers this can be anything from salopette-scrambled eggs to last night’s tartiflette in a baguette.
The hasty pastry
Danish, croissant, pain au chocolat, apple turnover. It’s all good. Scoffing down a tasty pastry from the boulangerie on the chairlift is your favourite, and best of all, you can quickly brush off the evidence before you get to the top. So why not have two?
The protein pro
SKI. LIFT. SNACK. GYM. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT. Ever conscious of the delicate balance of protein your body craves, you always make sure to top up with your favourite protein bar on the hill.
The bag-o-baguettes
Overzealous snowboard shop assistants will bore you with technical jargon and the latest trendy
Whatever you munch on the mountain, book your beginner, improver, intermediate, or private lessons with REAL Snowboarding on your next winter holiday to Morzine, Avoriaz, and Les Gets, and learn to ride (and snack) the REAL way.
Simple instruction. Stylish snowboarding.
Book your snowboarding lessons today: hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
