By Carina Frey

For many older people, even seasoned skiers and winter sports fans, the idea of standing sideways on a snowboard and aiming for the bottom of the piste is an alien one, perhaps best left to the youngsters.

Others who have mastered the apparently black art, however, hold snowboarding in the highest esteem, deeming it the most fun to be had on the mountain.

With snowboarding, as with many things, often how much enjoyment is to be gained from it is proportional to the amount of ability and skill the rider has.

For newbies to the sport, the best way to quickly gain the necessary skills is of course to take some lessons.

"When newcomers have carved their first curve, then at the very least they have a big fat grin on their face," says Robert Zint, snowboard instructor at a German ski resort close to the Bavarian capital Munich.

While courses were previously dominated by learners in the 20 to 40 age bracket, nowadays more and more children and teens are picking up their first tips at the feet of instructors.

But this shouldn't put off any adult would-be learner fearful of humiliation in front of a gang of snickering adolescents - all learners have the same hill to climb.

"The problems at the start are the same for everyone," Zint explains.

"Anyone can learn snowboarding as long as they are fit enough," agrees Daniela Hinterhoelz-Widi, another ski instructor this time located in the famous Austrian resort of Innsbruck.

"Mountain sports are especially strenuous, because the oxygen content of the air is lower than at sea level," she explains.

Total beginners may nonetheless bring their experiences of other sports to the learner table.

Experienced skiers however have less of an advantage than skateboarders and surfers, who are already familiar with many of the balance requirements and body movements involved, as well as with the sideways stance.

The most important thing, says Zint, is for new boarders to conquer their fear. Fear, according to the experts, makes newcomers naturally shift their weight to the back of the board, thus hampering steering.

To get over initial fears, many hours are spent on easy slopes in the early stages of lessons learning how to fall correctly.

Experts estimate two hours' pre-lunch instruction and two hours of afternoon lesson to be the daily optimum. Frequent breaks should be taken, instructors insist.

"The biggest risk of injury is when people are tired," Daniela reveals.

"Either just before midday or in the late evening."

Whoever passes their endurance limits risks sore muscles and tired legs for the following days' lessons.

Those who wish to learn alone can book private, one-on-one lessons - at a price. The advantage of private instruction is that the teacher can focus the exercises solely on the needs of the individual student.

However learning in a group also has it advantages.

"When somebody out of a group is the first one to get something new right, it's a real spur for the others," says Zint.

"Their motivation to learn is much improved."

Total beginners should book at least two full days of lessons, which according to Zint constitutes a single foundation block of instruction and should be enough to allow newcomers negotiate easy slopes and turns.

However, says Zint, twice as much instruction is optimum. Once virgin boarders have four days of lessons under their belts, they should be ready to tackle even mid- to challenging slopes. - Sapa-dpa