I spend a lot of time at ski resorts and lately, I’ve seen a lot of youtube footage of ski resorts. Therefore, I’ve seen a lot of kooks. Based on this empirical evidence, here are some unscientific, but fundamental, truths that I wish to share  (especially if you’re just learning).

The three biggest mistakes people make in snowboarding are:

1. Stance too narrow: Your stance width is incredibly important. Stance is how your feet and legs are oriented on the board. Your feet should be a decent distance apart. That depends on your height, but shoulder width is way, way too narrow. You will never snowboard well if your stance is too narrow because your balance will be screwed.

2. Messed up stance angles: Don’t let someone set up your board with old-school racing angles where both feet are angled in the same forward direction.  Start out a little bit duck-footed (toes pointed outwards at opposite angles). Not crazy duck, but a little bit. It will give you better balance and make you feel more solid on your board.

3. Bend. Your. Knees. It fixes everything. Seriously.

So there you go: You’re already on your way to not looking like a kook.