Snowboarding

Question
Hey there!
I've been snowboarding three times (last year) and I'm looking forward to it this year.  Last year when I ended I was pretty decent at carving, though I was kinda slow, and had gone over a small jump or two and a couple low box rails.
This year I want to be able to carve faster and do a couple small tricks going over jumps.
Could you send me some suggestions and any random pieces of advice that would help me get better at snowboarding?
Thanks!

Answer
Yes Brenda-  obviously it is pretty hard to get to specifics without being on the snow with you to demo concepts. One thing to try is to set the board 45 deegrees from the fall line (where ball rolls down hill) and start with a nice clean line with the track you create, then gradually pivot the board up latterally to engage the side cutt. As you get better at this you then you try running arcs from the fall-line. Try to do these without skidding on green terrain. once you get real dialed then there can be some skid that comes through your carves on stepper terrain, but you are basically having the board side cutt and tutn shape do the work. Remember to start with simple long toe and heel turn (on at a time that get completed and even arc back up hill. the track tells the truth about everything about your turn.  As far  as the trick stuff you really need to keep the board to the fall-line for landings and take off. try getting real low and work on stationary ollies and then build then to sliding on snow. You should be snapping off the tail of board after sliding from front to back foot. The freestyle stuff is much harder to get to detailed about without being out there with you. hope anyu of this helps.  sincerely - Kurt Kalinna
Freshstartsnowboarding.com    also buy my video on-line at amazon.com