snowboarders help meh

[matas]

I went out snowboarding for the first time this season. I think it is my 5th or 6th time snowboarding in total. Boy it is harder than I remember. Anyway, I need advice on something. First of all I ride my snowboard goofy in a duck stance but not sure if that is appropriate for me. I am little bit reluctant to pick up speed because I don't know exactly how to "carve" if that's the right term. So lets say I go down the mountain. When I pick up a lot of speed, at least for me, the only way I can stop effectively is by heel side but after a while my front quads really become tense. When I go a little slower, I try switching between heel side and toe side sliding and it works, but not all of the time. Sometimes when I have to switch from toe side to heel side my back leg "lags" and I fail to make a turn fast, and that leads to a wide turn or a fall. Same thing sometimes happens when I try to do the opposite.

 

[BeauJangles]

What advice do you want?

 

[Mrvile]

Is your weight on your front foot? This is important.

 

[BeauJangles]

Is your weight on your front foot? This is important.

Yeah, to not be terse (regarding my first post), it sounds like you aren't leaning down the mountain. Your ability to manuever is dependent on keeping your weight over your front foot. If you sit back, or lean away from the mountain, you are unable to control yourself anymore. This has nothing to do with your binding angle -- right now you are configured for more of a freestyle ride -- it has everything to do with forcing yourself to lean forward (down the hill). Don't be afraid to dig your edges in when you go to turn.

 

[Mrvile]

Point is that if your weight is on your rear foot (which is the foot you turn with) it will be a lot more difficult moving it around, which probably explains why your back leg gets so tired. Weight on the front foot frees up your back leg for smooth, easier turning. You just need to develop the confidence to really take the slope going forward.

 

[slightlyhuman]

take a half day lesson..

i'll be in angel fire, nm in 2 weeks!

 

[Ika]

If I recall correctly, keeping your arms straight out and pointing towards the 180º direction of where you want to go (i.e. point up the hill opposite the direction you want to go down) helps a lot for steering.

 

[isekii]

change your stance first~ I would first try 0 in the backleg and 12-13 on the front.
And learn the leaf all over again.

 

[PCTC2]

Is your weight on your front foot? This is important.

This and an advanced 1/2 day lesson (not that beginner crap where you learn dick squat).

As for your stance, it is what you feel comfortable with. If you don't hit the terrain park much, you can go for a more forward stance like 18/-8 for a more all-mountain type or just keep your duck stance.

 

[cheezy321]

When I first started snowboarding, my stance was 15 front, 15 back.

Ive slowly moved it to 15 front, 0 back. Ive moved more towards park than big mountain.

When I first started, I was the same way as you. I only went heelside and had a hard time even trying to carve or go toeside. The first thing I would do is loosen yourself up a bit. It sounds like you are riding really tense. Your knees should be slightly bent, but not too much. Just enough to absorb the shock and react quickly to changing conditions. Like everyone else said, keep a lot of your weight on the front foot. This allows you to make quick turns (carves) with your back foot.
I would also make a hard cut to your heelside, then let off and use the momentum to push your body to toeside. The transition should happen naturally eventually, but sometimes you just have to make that leap of faith and force it. Its all about taking that leap of faith. You gotta learn to carve sometime, and just getting over that hump a couple times will help a lot with your confidence.

/Obligatory picture of me at big bear this year. The snow is NICE.

 

[matas]

good advice. I think I was keeping my weight more on the back. I will change the binding angle to 15 front, 0 back.

 

[darkxshade]

It's a great season for snowboarding. :thumbsup:

 

[StrangeRanger]

Don't worry so much about what the angles actually are, loosen the bindings and stand on the board and position them to what is comfortable. Literally, do it in your living room. There are insane forces at work on your feet, ankles, knees etc and if you're not comfortable you'll never relax on your board. And being relaxed is key.
Shift your hip downhill to aide in learning to put your weight over your front foot. And until you get use to carving/turning exaggerate your turns if you have to by rotating on your front foot and literally kicking your rear foot where you want it to go. Don't pussy around, if you're gonna turn, turn.
As for carving, as someone said, it's a small leap of faith. You have to learn and trust that your edges will hold you. Once you get that idea, you'll be amazed at what a rush riding a hard, fast edge is like.
Regarding speed, while picking up some speed may be a bit sketchy at first you'll soon learn that building up some speed makes everything actually a lot easier to do. Not to mention more fun.
j

 

[burntfish]

When I first started snowboarding, my stance was 15 front, 15 back.

Ive slowly moved it to 15 front, 0 back. Ive moved more towards park than big mountain.

When I first started, I was the same way as you. I only went heelside and had a hard time even trying to carve or go toeside. The first thing I would do is loosen yourself up a bit. It sounds like you are riding really tense. Your knees should be slightly bent, but not too much. Just enough to absorb the shock and react quickly to changing conditions. Like everyone else said, keep a lot of your weight on the front foot. This allows you to make quick turns (carves) with your back foot.
I would also make a hard cut to your heelside, then let off and use the momentum to push your body to toeside. The transition should happen naturally eventually, but sometimes you just have to make that leap of faith and force it. Its all about taking that leap of faith. You gotta learn to carve sometime, and just getting over that hump a couple times will help a lot with your confidence.

/Obligatory picture of me at big bear this year. The snow is NICE.

looks like you're riding an arbor. how do you like it?

 

[darkxshade]

Not to thread hijack but I have a snowboarding trip planned for Park City, UT in Jan... The coldest I've ever snowboarded was about 30F here in NY. Current forecasts place Jan around the single digits. I'm curious if anyone may provide some advice on the amount of layering I need to stay warm in this type of weather.

Here's what I had planned earlier for mid Teens-20's, think I need to add more layers?

Body:
Under Armour Coldgear compression(w/T-shirt over that)
Arc'teryx Griffon(Polartec Powershield O2) fleece
Arc'teryx Alpha SL(superlight = Goretex Paclite) Shell

Legs:
Either Under Armour Coldgear compression leggings or PJs whatever I feel comfortable in the day of.
Snowpants(eVent shell)

Face:
Under Armour Hood
Beanie as needed

I'm only actually worried about my body not getting enough layering. I suppose getting cold is a function of staying still for too long. I'm sure I'll be fairly warm while riding but on long lift rides, it might get a bit too chilly? Comments?

 

[cheezy321]

looks like you're riding an arbor. how do you like it?

The arbor element is by far, the best snowboard I have ever ridden on.

Actually, the reason I was in big bear was to demo the 2011 line of arbor boards. Their new ones are pretty damn sick. I tried out their mid-range one, which the guy said is going to retail at $299 (about half of what my arbor element cost). The board was solid and responsive, and the control was amazing. I rode a 151 but I usually ride a 157. It didnt feel smaller and I felt like I had complete control. The new arbor boards are slightly convex, so basically the only place where you have edge control is right under your feet. Its pretty cool, and it almost feels skateboard like in the amount of control you have. I didnt get to try out any big mountain on it, since Big bear is all park, but i still liked it a lot.

Anyways, back to my arbor board. The thing is sooo light. Before the arbor I had a gnu & before that I ran a K2. I would say my arbor with the flow bindings is about half the weight. Its got a lot of flex to it, and the edges are very responsive. I feel like my snowboarding skills have been taken to another level with this board. I know most boarders like to stay away from the moguls, but I can almost keep up with my skiing friends when I am on this board. It just responds really well to everything I throw at it. Its the first board Ive had where people actually compliment me on it. A lot of people like the natural wood top. Its a head turner, and its by far the best board I have ever ridden on.

 

[cheezy321]

Not to thread hijack but I have a snowboarding trip planned for Park City, UT in Jan... The coldest I've ever snowboarded was about 30F here in NY. Current forecasts place Jan around the single digits. I'm curious if anyone may provide some advice on the amount of layering I need to stay warm in this type of weather.

Here's what I had planned earlier for mid Teens-20's, think I need to add more layers?

Body:
Under Armour Coldgear compression(w/T-shirt over that)
Arc'teryx Griffon(Polartec Powershield O2) fleece
Arc'teryx Alpha SL(superlight = Goretex Paclite) Shell

Legs:
Either Under Armour Coldgear compression leggings or PJs whatever I feel comfortable in the day of.
Snowpants(eVent shell)

Face:
Under Armour Hood
Beanie as needed

I'm only actually worried about my body not getting enough layering. I suppose getting cold is a function of staying still for too long. I'm sure I'll be fairly warm while riding but on long lift rides, it might get a bit too chilly? Comments?

I went to Park City last year right after the new years. Most days were nice, but one day it was -10 degrees. Pretty damn cold. I still wore what I always wear.

Top:
Thermal base layer
T-shirt
Jacket
Bottom:
Long John underwear
Pants
Head:
Beanie

I added a balaclava to my outfit and put foot warmers in my boots for the -10 day (We were at the Canyons that day).

Heres a picture of what I wore on the -10 day:

You *HAVE* to check out the canyons while you are in park city. That place blew my mind. It was the best mountain I have ever been on. You gotta check out the natural halfpipes, they are insane

 

[darkxshade]

snip...

Defininately hitting Canyons for a day. The current plan is Park City x2 and Canyon x1. Thanks for the tip:thumbsup:, seems like I'm going to be wearing more than you as it is so I guess I'll stick with it. Feet warmers sounds like a good idea but will that affect your maneuverability?

 

[iversonyin]

http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/learn-snowboarding/

This helped me tremdmously. Doing the falling leaves and what not

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yeah, to not be terse (regarding my first post), it sounds like you aren't leaning down the mountain. Your ability to manuever is dependent on keeping your weight over your front foot. If you sit back, or lean away from the mountain, you are unable to control yourself anymore. This has nothing to do with your binding angle -- right now you are configured for more of a freestyle ride -- it has everything to do with forcing yourself to lean forward (down the hill). Don't be afraid to dig your edges in when you go to turn.

we're supposed to get 2 feet of snow, and i've been snowboarding twice in my life, so I am going to go again...THIS might help me out, since i've had the same issue as the OP.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Don't worry so much about what the angles actually are, loosen the bindings and stand on the board and position them to what is comfortable. Literally, do it in your living room. There are insane forces at work on your feet, ankles, knees etc and if you're not comfortable you'll never relax on your board. And being relaxed is key.
Shift your hip downhill to aide in learning to put your weight over your front foot. And until you get use to carving/turning exaggerate your turns if you have to by rotating on your front foot and literally kicking your rear foot where you want it to go. Don't pussy around, if you're gonna turn, turn.
As for carving, as someone said, it's a small leap of faith. You have to learn and trust that your edges will hold you. Once you get that idea, you'll be amazed at what a rush riding a hard, fast edge is like.
Regarding speed, while picking up some speed may be a bit sketchy at first you'll soon learn that building up some speed makes everything actually a lot easier to do. Not to mention more fun.
j

What do you mean 'riding an edge' ? Literally the edge of the board?

 

[BeauJangles]

we're supposed to get 2 feet of snow, and i've been snowboarding twice in my life, so I am going to go again...THIS might help me out, since i've had the same issue as the OP.

Good luck!

The best advice I can give to a new snowboarder is to enjoy yourself. Yeah, you're gonna fall and some of those falls are going to hurt, but if you keep getting up and keep trying, you will get much better.

I like the leaf drill or whatever it's called. You traverse the mountain on one edge (almost always your toe edge). When you get towards the side of the trail, angle the board uphill and you'll start going the other way. It's a great way to get down and it teaches you how to set an edge.

Once you get comfortable with that, start working on going from heelside edge to to toeside. Then work on the toe edge to the heel edge.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I only feel comfortable riding with my face, facing towards the heal, doing a criss cross pattern, haha...oy, I suck!

It's fun, but I can not ride with my face, facing down the hill, I don't know how to carve out of that yet.

 

[Attrox]

Your duck stance is a no no for a beginner, you will have a hard time to maneuver your board. Change to Duck stance once you are comfortable riding Goofy so that you can learn to ride switch (alternating from Goofy stance to normal and vice versa). Just use 0 angle at the back and 15 at the front. You will have a better time "aiming" your board.

You just need to progress little by little, start from falling leaf and then linking the turn first. Avoid pushing/kicking the back foot when you are trying to switch from heel to toe though. It'll become a bad habit that is hard to lose later on. Just remember, you steer the board with your front foot not the back.

1. Lean forward (put some weight on the front foot). Never lean and put weight on the back foot.
2. Look at the direction you want to go
3. What you do is say you start by going to the right (on the Goofy stance) and you want to go left (toe edge). Press your front toe (don't press the back toe yet) and look to your left (body weight are on the front foot, lean slightly forward). Once your board is straight down the hill (this is the scary part for most beginners), put more weight (press your front toe a little deeper) follow by your back toe. There's no need to kick back your back foot if you do this right. Just remember to always follow with your back foot once you have established a turn (going pass the fall line/straight down the hill) not before that otherwise you might catch an edge and wiped out.

Develop a rythm with your both foot, press your front toe then your back toe, press your front heel then your back heel. Just keep repeating that when you are switching when riding on the toe edge and the heel edge.

 

[ViviTheMage]

good advice attrox, i'll also ahve to consider some of that.

I always thought you turned with your back foot? It makes sense why you would not though, maybe I need to change my stance around, and ride goofy.