SSX: How Not To Snowboard

That's right, kids, it hurts. There is a reason why all properly-built jumps have angled landings. It helps dissipate some of the momentum by converting it into speed. If you miss the lip of the landing and stomp down on flat ground, your knees won't thank you. That's the best case scenario, anyway. Worst case? Broken bones, broken skis, you get the idea. When you hit a jump, make sure that your speed is good enough to land properly.    

That huge jump you nailed in SSX probably booted you at least 300 feet into the air. Think about how many stories that is, and then imagine falling out of a building that high and hitting the ground. Ouch! "Sure," those of you who ski will say, "but the snow provides cushioning." Well, yes, but not enough cushioning to land the kinds of jumps you land in these video games. Even the most hardcore skiers, if they do go off a cliff that big, make sure to bring along a parachute.

Remember that jump we talked about? The one that threw you 300 feet into the air? Good luck ever getting that high up in real life. Want a reference? The world's highest jump on a snowboard, currently held by Terje Haakonson, is 9.8 meters - that's a little over 32 feet. So forget your high-flying fantasies, they ain't gonna happen.    

This is another thing I've seen a lot. Some noob snowboarder talking tough about how he's "gonna grind the shit out of that rail," then wiping out less than a second after he's on it. Yes, SSX certainly makes rails look easy, doesn't it? Just hop on and hold... wait, there are no buttons in real life? What the %^$& am I supposed to be holding? The answer is: your balance. The longest grind on a rail (y'know, in real life) is just a little bit over 66 meters. So no, you are not going to grind down a rail that runs the whole length of the mountain, and no, you are definitely not going to grind the lift line. Don't ever do that. It's dangerous and incredibly stupid.