Australia - Falls Creek in Australia has teamed up with Burton Snowboards to offer a snowboarding program for budding boarders. The Learn to Ride (LTR) program started at Stratton, Vermont in 1997 and is now offered at about 200 Alpine resorts world-wide.
Burton-trained instructors will offer tips and guidance during a day-long session with participants using learner-friendly Burton equipment. The well-known snowboard manufacturer has committed significant resources to producing an entry level board.
Burton’s philosophy is if you enhance their (a first time boarder) first day on the snow with the correct equipment and a more experienced boarding instructor they will come back again (and again).
Riders begin with a day on suitable snow-covered terrain, under the guidance of the specially trained member of Falls Creek Snowsport team, on a tailor-made board for beginners. The soft edge-free deck is designed to make it easy to keep you on your feet. As you gradually move to more challenging slopes you’ll progress to an all-mountain Burton board.
Burton discovered the retention rate was low amongst budding freeriders who encountered poor quality or unsuitable rental gear and classes with about 20 people.
If they are offered smaller classes and are ‘schooled’ on how to ride an appropriate board - hence the introduction of the Burton Learn to Ride (LTR) Program @ Falls Creek in 2006 - the retention rate is expected to dramatically improve.
For more info visit fallscreek.com.au