|
This is the first of two snowboarding technique articles that take you from standing on a
snowboard to gliding down a gentle slope.
The Basic Moves
So how does snowboarding work? Put simply, snowboarders balance over their front foot and
steer with their rear foot. Three basic skills, edging, pivoting, and pressure control are
the foundation of snowboarding technique.
- Edging is the skill of rolling the board on and off its edge. Putting a board
on edge while sliding along has the effect of making the board turn. If the angle of the
edge in the snow is increased, a sharper turn results.
- Pivoting the board beneath your torso changes the board’s direction and is the
principal force during low-speed turns. You steer the board by pivoting it with the front
foot and by kicking the rear foot forward or backward.
- Pressure control is the skill of weighting and unweighting the board. For
example, turns are initiated by rising (standing taller) to reduce pressure, momentarily
unweighting the board for easy pivoting. Completing a turn calls for lowering the body
position to increase pressure on the board’s edge. Increasing pressure (weight) on a
board’s edge makes it dig into the snow, creating lateral resistance for a sharper turn.
A Safe Place to Start
The ideal terrain for beginning snowboarders is a gentle slope with a complete flat and
obstacle-free runout. Look for an area of slope away from crowds and congested traffic.
Although lifts will not be a primary consideration on your first day, a chair lift serving
a gentle slope is your best option once your progress calls for an increase in altitude.
Another factor to keep in mind if you are a beginner is the quality of snow. You can make
life easier for yourself if you can learn on snow that’s soft and well groomed. Although
it is not always possible to find perfect conditions, cruddy, frozen, or very heavy snow
can make learning tougher. If conditions are particularly hard or frozen in the morning,
consider waiting an extra hour to see if the snow softens up.
Stand Up
To stand, follow these steps:
- Secure your bindings and attach the leash to your front foot.
- From the sitting position with your board below you (downhill) and across the slope,
roll over onto your knees. To do this, lie on your back in the snow and kick the board up
onto its tail with your front foot, then continue rolling onto your hands and knees.
- Kneeling with the board across the slope and below you, dig in your toe edge and walk
your hands toward the board.
- Now push up with your lead hand, and rise.
The laws of gravity dictate that the most weighted end of a snowboard will travel down a
slope first. Therefore, the basic stance calls for most of your weight (center of mass) to
balance over your front (leading) leg. Keep your arms and head facing forward in the
direction of travel. Ankles, knees, and hip joints should all be slightly flexed. Your
weight should be distributed evenly over both feet only when finishing a turn or in deep
snow. At all other times, keep your weight forward over your front foot.
Getting Around with Your Board
To turn around, use the walking pivot. Your rear foot must be out of its binding to
perform this maneuver. Lift your board with your front foot and place it down in front of
and perpendicular to your rear foot, then pivot on your rear foot. Repeat this move one
more time and you should have turned 180 degrees.
Skating is the best method for getting around on the flats. This action is similar to
pushing a skateboard, and is done with the front binding attached. Balance on your front
foot and push with your rear foot on the toe-side (the side of the board your front foot
is pointing to) of the board. Place your rear foot on the traction pad between your
bindings while gliding, and look ahead to help maintain balance.
For short climbs up a gentle slope, sidestepping is the way to go. With your front foot
clipped into its binding, face the slope and turn your board so that it is across the fall
line. Take small steps, making sure to keep the board across the fall line and kicking the
uphill edge into the snow with each step as you climb.
Gliding is a Confidence Builder
Find a gentle slope ending in an open flat area, away from traffic. Start near the bottom
and gradually go higher as you get more comfortable. The most important point to remember
when first gliding is to stay balanced over your front foot. Try to avoid the common
beginner’s mistake of leaning back with anxiety, a surefire way to accelerate and lose
control—and the quickest way to the ground!
Try some short glides first with your front binding attached and your rear foot held just
above the board.
Next, practice gliding with both feet on your board. Begin with the board perpendicular to
the slope while you place your back foot on its pad (but don’t attach it to the binding).
To pivot the board down the slope, first point down the hill with your lead arm. Then move
your hips forward and your weight over your front foot to pivot the nose downhill and begin
to glide. When gliding, concentrate on feeling pressure under the arch of your front foot
and keeping the board flat on the snow. Finally, repeat the glide with both bindings
attached. Remember to keep your weight forward. If the board is taking off from under you
and leaving you in the snow, chances are that you’re leaning back.
|
