411vm : 1st Step

Review:
While a "learn to snowboard" video series is a good idea, 1st Step's "Getting Started" falls short. The video seems like it could almost be good. It has a great crew of pros, and the concept is dead on, but the content, filming, and editing are all pretty abysmal.

First of all, the running time is close to 15 minutes, short for a $17 'feature' film. Fifteen minutes isn't enough time to go through everything (how to dress, turn, choose equipment, get on and off the lift, ollie, and fall), and as a result, each section is too brief and lacking detail. Joe Curtes does a pretty good job explaining how to turn, and Jeff Brushie's ollie section is definitely decent, but I don't feel that either can really be expected to teach new riders how to ride. I like Kurt Wastell, and his "choosing equipment" feature was semi interesting, but what the heck did he keep looking at on the ceiling?

The camera work is all pretty poor. Watching the video I get the feeling that I could have done just as well with a standard camcorder. Plus, half of the footage was shot with a wide-angle lens on; why would you shoot interviews with a wide angle attachment? (Unless you like making people's heads look funny). Also, the camera moves around enough during the interviews that I suspect they didn't even use a tripod.

The one thing that somewhat redeems this video is seeing how a snowboard is made at Unity's factory. If someone had never seen a board being built, then this feature would be pretty interesting.

Review:
As I am just a few years past being a beginner myself, it is easy to think back to the learning days. Snowboarding always looks easier than it is. The first few times are not fun- you eat more snow than you ride over, always look like an idiot, and are constantly bruised and in pain.

The video takes you through learning how to carve, ollie and get off a lift. However, I would not recommend buying it. It moves very fast and merely introduces the different concepts. It shows nothing you wouldn't see from going and watching other riders. It is one thing to watch snowboarding, it is another thing to be TAUGHT. I believe that including more detail about each aspect covered would have been helpful.

A lot of unnessary time is devoted to finding the proper attire. Learning how to dress appropriately is a something to consider, especially if you're from a snow-free part of the world. However, the amount of time devoted to dress was a lot longer in proportion to the actual teaching component of the video. It also takes you through buying equipment. Honestly, you could probably get a better speal through a local shop.

The one and only worthwhile part to this video is the section devoted to watching a snowboard be made at Unity Snowboards. Something I had never seen before, I like that it was included on a beginners video to help give a more complete picture of the sport.