Building Safety, Confidence, and (Free)Style on the Slopes—Before You Get on the Snowboard
Have you ever been out on your snowboard, hit a small roller, felt like you were losing control mid-air, and struggled to maintain balance? Now, what if we told you one of the best ways to train for those moments on the hill is on the trampoline?
Before donning your ski equipment, training spatial awareness in the gym is one of the best ways to build confidence and promote safety for your next half-pipe. With ski season nearly here, we sat down with Airhouse Kelowna to talk about how kids (and adults) can get the tools to play safely on the slopes.
The importance of air awareness
“Being in the air is completely different from being on the ground,” says manager Craig Calder.
“Air training allows you to feel comfortable and have body awareness when you're in the air, whether you're just jumping one foot off the ground or doing a 60-foot jump.”
Getting mileage in the air in a safe environment like a training facility gives you huge improvements in all aspects of the sport—including the agility and balance that skiers and snowboarders need for those big jumps—before heading outside.
Benefits beyond sending
While the physical benefits of spatial awareness in snowsports are huge, that’s only part of what makes this kind of training so special. For kids struggling with self-esteem, the feeling of landing a backflip for the first time can be monumental.
“For kids who lack self-belief, you coach them through the steps, and then they land their first backflip and immediately you see their self-confidence just explode,” he says. “They're capable.”
Airhouse also does a lot of work with youth in need or the neurodivergent community, but Craig sees the impact of the mental health and confidence benefits of the exercises firsthand for every child who comes through the door.
“It's amazing how fast and how good these kids get with the training,” he says. “They go from not believing they can do something to beyond their imagination of what they can do in the air. It's super cool to see.”
Airhouse History
Airhouse Kelowna was founded after Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke lost her life in a tragic superpipe accident in Utah.
“Sarah always had this idea of a facility that allowed kids to learn these maneuvers safely with progression-based training,” says manager Craig Calder.
Today, Airhouse trains people of all ages and abilities. The air training facility also specialises in mountain biking, parkour, skateboarding, and more, so people can get out and enjoy the fresh air safely.
Quit dreaming, start doing. Our sports stores in Kelowna have everything you need to find your new sport. See what’s in store, then get out and enjoy the Fresh Air!
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