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The second of two snowboarding technique articles, part two takes you from gliding on a
gentle slope to continuous motion using a series of turns.
Expect to Fall
As you advance to more difficult maneuvers at greater speeds, you can anticipate ending up
on some part of your body other than your feet with some frequency. Remember that falling
is part of the learning process, and that there are ways to fall without getting hurt. As
you fall, try to roll with it rather than bracing yourself. Break your fall with your knees
or butt, not your hands. If you do put out a hand, keep your arms flexed and your hands in
a fist to avoid injury. If you keep sliding once you fall, don’t panic. Lift both feet off
the snow to prevent your board catching an edge, then gradually place your board back on
the snow and slow yourself to a stop.
Sideslipping
Sideslipping is a controlled sideways slide down a slope with your board across the
slope. A very useful maneuver, sideslipping enables you to descend even steep slopes safely.
Essentially a braking action, sideslipping is a great way to develop the edge control
skills necessary for turning and stopping.
Keep the board across the slope; control the sideways slide by rolling the board off and
onto its edges. It’s a balancing act. Rolling the board on edge stops or slows the board’s
slide. Flattening the board releases the edge and allows the sideways slide to continue.
Practice sideslipping until you are able to accelerate and slow your slide at will on both
your toe and heel edge.
Traversing
Gliding across the slope is called traversing. Traverses connect one turn with the next.
Practicing the traverse exercises is a great way to further your edge control skills and
enhance your balance. Here’s how to do it.
- Start sideslipping to gain momentum
- Initiate the traverse by moving your weight over your front leg.
- Roll your board back on edge to slide across, not down, the slope.
- To stop, use your back foot to skid the tail of the board downhill, just far enough
to effect a stop.
Turning
An easy way to begin learning complete turns is to practice single turns in each direction
(toeside and heelside). Begin by gliding straight down a gentle slope and using a turn to
slow down and stop. Most beginners find toeside turns slightly easier to execute than
their heelside counterparts.
Begin gliding in a low position and rise to reduce pressure on the board. Point your front
shoulder in the direction of your intended turn; kick your back foot to the outside of the
turn to pivot the board around your front foot. Flex your knees as your begin to turn and
gradually roll onto your toes, causing the uphill edge to dig in and hold the turn.
Balance your weight over both feet and hold this flexed stance, steering the tip of the
board slightly uphill to stop.
Heelside turns are done in the same way except that as you point your shoulder the way you
want to turn, you kick your back foot forward, as if kicking a ball, to pivot the
board around your front foot.
Continue to practice smooth, large-radius turns on the beginner’s slope until you can
confidently turn in both directions and stop.
Putting it Together
Linking turns is what snowboarding is all about. Catch a lift up the hill, where you’ll
have the space to put it all together.
At the completion of each turn, you’ll be in the same low position (balanced on both feet)
that you held to complete each toeside and heelside turn. But this time, don’t stop; just
keep sliding. Rise (to release pressure on the edges), point your lead shoulder in the
direction of your intended turn, and shift your weight forward, allowing the tip of your
board to drift downhill. Now roll your board onto the inside edge of the new turn and flex
your knees to weight that edge. Continue turning until you’re heading across the slope
again. Stay relaxed, and allow time for the board to come around. You’ll soon discover the
rhythm that’s innate to snowboarding and the reason why people are turning in their two
skis for one board.
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