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.:Tips and Tricks
This page is to provide some general information on learning
to snowboard. It was compiled and edited by a professional
snowboard instructor to help with learning, east coast snow
conditions, etc. However, NOTHING will beat taking a
personal lesson from a professional snowboard instructor.
Conditioning
>>
Getting Started >>
Regular or Goofy >>
Board Setup >>
Stance >>
Balance >>
Weight Distribution
>>
Stopping >>
Turning >>
Heel to Toe Edge Riding >>
Catching an Edge
>>
Falling >>
Safety Equipment >>
Improving >>
Carving >>
Riding Steep
Terrain >> |
Riding Steep Terrain
After you have some experience, you find yourself
longing to try those slopes you've heard all your
friends rave about - you know them...Tom Terrific,
Boulderdash, White Lightning, Top Gun, and my
favorite, Whoop-de-do (among others in the High
Country). The only two obstacles between you and
being able to ride the really steep stuff is
technique, fear, and sometimes snow conditions.
I feel that being able to make quick edge to edge
transitions is very important. Use turning across
the slope of the hill to control your speed rather
than sliding sideways down the whole thing. If you
do this, you will be "that guy" who scrapes the snow
off and makes the run icy. I like to choose my line
before I get down the slope. I pick a spot where a
turn can be made at speed relatively easily. It is
tough to make a good turn on bumps, so I pick a clear
spot or the face of a bump to counteract the
pressure of my edge.
Generally I feel that if there is crust or ice, the
less turns made, the better because it creates less
chances for sliding out. If you can ride at speed
and absorb the shocks with your lower body this is
the way to ride a steep icy slope. For example, on Whoop-de-do, I usually make 3 evenly spaced
turns, rather than trying to go side to side all the
way down. The side to side thing is a good way to
begin a steep slope but this usually creates a
tendency to use the front of the board as a pivot
point and swing the back of the board around to
turn. This is sloppy and if you keep doing this it
will lead to poor technique. Instead, try to
carve.
If you crash and find yourself speeding down the
slope on your back, head first, try to hit the snow
surface with the edge of your board to dig the edge
in and slow yourself. Or drag one side of the board
and shift your upper body weight towards that side
in order to slide around and get your feet in front
of you, so you don't hit your head.
Fear is the worst obstacle. It can make you freeze
up. Once you've freaked out, you will find yourself
stiffening up and and leaning backwards. The board
will not turn as well because the front part of your
edge will lose pressure.
Attack the hill, initiate all your turns with your
front foot and follow the end of the turn with your
back foot's pressure while preparing to transition
to the opposite edge, and begin the next turn with
your front foot. The steeper the terrain, the more
aggressive you need to be with your stance. Get your
front knee over your front foot, I like to have my
knee further forward than my foot to begin a tough
turn at speed. This lays down a solid edge early in
the turn. |
If
you have any tips or tricks you would like to share, please
feel free to email us, and we will test them out. If they
work, you could get your tip or trick posted on this site! |
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