On of most important aspects of nighttime snowboarding is being very familiar with run you are about to ride. Ideally you should know your path so well that you can visualize each corner, time it takes to get from one turn to next and what obstacles are where on trail when you close your eyes. This familiarity will help to offset your lack of vision.

Regardless of how well you know run you are about to attempt, you will be in for a surprise first time you try it at night. In dark everything looks different and feels different. You may not have realized how much you're relied on visual cues for when and where to turn slow down or speed up. You will not longer be able to see stump that marks start of moguls or other trail details and shadows will make things seem to appear or disappear.

When it comes to night riding you have three options to improve your sight. You can use your eyes and no light, ride a mildly lighted trail or use a headlamp to light your way. You will have to try each option to determine which method is best suited for you.

A skidded turn and a linked skidded turn are one of first turns that you should learn. There are several ways to make these turns on slopes but basics of turns are same. A skidded turn is a turn preformed while your snowboard is skidding across slope. This is very useful for slopes that may have hard packed snow or ice.

First lets look at performing a basic skidded turn. Begin practicing your skidded turns on a slope that you are comfortable with. Ride down slope with your knees bent slightly and face your shoulders in direction that you wish to travel. As you ride down slope pick a point where you will execute your turn. When you approach this point simply push your back leg out thus forcing your snowboard to skid along its side down hill. Now shift your weight onto your front foot and you will begin to move in direction that your snowboard is pointing.