In the ski industry, a well-known statistic indicates that after a first outing on a snowboard or ski, 80% of beginners never return to the mountains in their life, reveals Stéphanie Grenier, director of marketing at Ski Saint -Bruno. To overturn these data, the resort offers courses at the bottom of the mountain where everyone can learn the sport alone and at their own pace. The Press tried the experiment.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
It must have been fifteen years since we last set foot (or boot) at Mont-Saint-Bruno. At the end of high school, some friends had enthusiastically dragged us to the top of the mountain to teach us this sport that they loved so much. It was clear that we did not have the same talent as them. Between the high-speed straight descents and the crashes that followed each braking attempt, we had learned little skill and accumulated bruises.
When we were offered to go and test the new self-taught SnoGo course at Ski Saint-Bruno, we saw it as an opportunity to start off on a better footing.
Before leaving for the mountain, we carefully watched the explanatory video capsules offered in the SnoGo section of the Ski Saint-Bruno website. The first presents the appropriate equipment and explains how to put on the boots and the snowboard. The following show in detail the movements to practice. “We try to prepare people before their visit,” explains Stéphanie Grenier, who believes that this alleviates the fears of some.
The morning of our report, we were also very nervous. What had possessed us to say yes?
Alright, we repeat the movements!
Once in the SnoGo, the first exercises are seemingly quite simple. With only one foot attached, the board must be lifted. You then spin it around yourself. Finally, we practice the sliding step, which consists of applying pressure on the front leg to propel yourself with the board.
We try these three exercises explained in the videos, but also on posters on the edge of the mountain. We quickly realize that we are more comfortable on one side than the other.
Valuable advice
Present for the need of the photos, the director of the school on snow, Penny Paris, gives us some advice. For example, she tells us that turning the toes inwards helps us lift the board.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Penny Paris, director of the snow school
She also takes the opportunity to show us how to fall, but above all, how to get up. Without this precious information, we would have found our morning spent alone very long. For the moment, no capsule explains these two elements, but it will not be long, reassures us the director of marketing, Stéphanie Grenier. “It’s still evolving,” she says.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
It’s not always easy to get up when you fall.
Next step ? We attach our two feet to the board and attempt the straight line in the small halfpipe of the SnoGo. This exercise will lead to our first fall a few minutes later, but whatever, we now know how to fall without hurting ourselves.
We go up the small slope practicing the stair step, one foot attached, the other free. Then follow the skid on the heels… then the one on the toes.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
We go up the slope with the step technique.
We admit it, we cheated: Penny Paris stayed with us to familiarize ourselves with this movement that scared us. Never in our life had we managed to brake on our toes. The presence of the director of the school on snow greatly reassured us… and allowed us to avoid falling.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Penny Paris saved us from falling a few times.
During peak periods, such as weekends, volunteer ambassadors are present in the SnoGo and SkiGo. Dressed in green coats decorated with a question mark, they give advice to people who need it. One of these nice ambassadors named Borassy gave us some tips and encouraged us to try a second track at the bottom of the mountain, with a slightly higher drop.
On the other hand, some people will find it more pleasant to try this sport on a weekday, when there are fewer skiers on the slopes. “With ticket control, despite very high traffic this year, we didn’t have any problems with the tracks being too full,” Stéphanie Grenier assures us.
Who are SkiGo and SnoGo routes for? “Really everyone,” replies the marketing director, who advises children under 8 to take a standard course.
“The objective of the course is to make people like skiing or snowboarding”, summarizes Stéphanie Grenier.
SkiGo and SnoGo will also be improved next year to continue at the top of the mountain.
Is a lesson worth it?
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
We practice skidding on the heels with Penny Paris.
After our morning in the SnoGo course, we had a one hour lesson with Penny Paris, director of the snow school. With her we saw the half J turns, the pivot and started our first turns. Would we have reached this stage alone in one day? Surely not. Personally, the presence of the instructor gave us the necessary dose of confidence to execute more difficult movements. We also liked being able to ask our questions as we went along. In our eyes, self-learning is very good for learning about sport, but after a few hours (or a few outings), spending time with an instructor seems preferable to us since he can correct certain gestures and guide us in the next steps. .
To know
The vaccination passport is required in all ski resorts. The chalets are open for warming up, going to the bathroom or buying food. However, it is forbidden to eat inside.