Snowboard trainer method and apparatus

A snowboard assembly which is adapted to be used as a training device to aid a beginner snowboarder, said snowboard assembly comprising:

• a) a snowboard which has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a central portion, two end portions, and first and second longitudinally spaced support locations which are positioned to permit the user's feet to be located thereon, to support the user on the board at a central user location, said apparatus comprising:
• b) a support apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
• i) a mounting section having first and second longitudinally spaced mounting portions located longitudinally between the two end portions of the snowboard on opposite sides of the central user location;
• ii) first and second longitudinally spaced support sections, each having, a lower connecting portion, by which said first and second support sections are connected to the first and second mounting portions, respectively, for rotation about a respective transverse mounting axis for rotational movement toward and away from the central user location;
• an upper handle portion which is positioned and arranged to be gripped by the user when the user is at the central user location;
• an intermediate support portion connected between the connecting portion and the handle portion, the connection portion, support portion and handle portion being arranged and constructed so that each support section is constrained to rotate, relative to the snowboard, substantially in a longitudinally aligned vertical plane perpendicular to the transverse axis;
• c) the handle portions of the first and second support sections having first and second gripping portions being located longitudinally on opposite sides of the user when the user is at the central user location, and said assembly being arranged so that the user at the user location on the snowboard assembly is able to pull or push on either or both of the handle portions.

A method of using a training apparatus for a snowboard, where the snowboard has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a central portion, two end portions, and first and second longitudinally spaced support locations at which the user's feet to be located, to support the user on the board at a central user location, said method comprising:

• a) providing a training apparatus comprising:
• i) a mounting section having first and second mounting portions location;
• ii) first and second longitudinally spaced support sections, each having,
• a lower connecting portion, by which said first and second support sections are connected to the first and second mounting portions, respectively, for rotation about a respective transverse mounting axis for rotational movement toward and away from the central user location;
• an upper handle portion which is positioned and arranged to be gripped by the user, with first and second gripping portions being located longitudinally on opposite sides of the user when the user is at the central user location;
• an intermediate support portion connected between the connecting portion and the handle portion, the connection portion, support portion and handle portion being arranged and constructed so that each support section is constrained to rotate, relative to the snowboard, substantially in longitudinally aligned vertical plane perpendicular to the transverse axis;
• b) mounting the training apparatus to the snowboard so that the mounting portions are located longitudinally between the two end portions of the snowboard and on opposite sides of the central user location;
• c) the user positioning the user's feet on or adjacent to the support location and grasping the handle portions in the user's hands for riding the snowboard over a snow surface;
• d) manipulating the snowboard during travel over a snow surface, and pushing or pulling on either or both of the handles to accomplish one or more of the following:
• i) exerting a vertical force on either or both of said connecting portions;
• ii) exerting a force having both vertical and longitudinal force components either toward or away from the central user location;
• iii) exerting a lateral force on either or both of the handles to exert a lateral rotational force to tilt the snowboard;
• iv) exerting lateral forces in opposite lateral directions to exert a torsional force on the snowboard relative to the longitudinal axis.