How to turn on a snowboard? The beginners technique.
Making S turns on a snowboard is not as easy as explaining it. Unfortunately, there are three levels of the turn that you must master before you can ride the mountain with style and grace.
Learning how to make turns on a snowboard can be a challenge, especially in the beginner stage. Once you move past this stage and progress to the intermediate level, things start to change rapidly, and you'll be speeding down the mountain in no time. By the way if you are ready to purchase your first beginner snowboard, check this comprehensive buying guide, where I picked the 7 Best Snowboards For Beginners In 2023.
In the intermediate progression, you'll encounter many challenges that require you to fully understand the phases of the turn. Beginner turns on green terrain will not be enough to meet these challenges.
After mastering the intermediate stages of snowboarding, you'll need to learn how to turn on steeps and black diamond trails. At this point, your extra effort in mastering intermediate turns will lead to a relatively smooth transition to advanced snowboarding.
You'll learn stronger pivot turns and better anticipation with a broader range of movement throughout your body at this stage.
With that in mind, let's start at the beginning and establish a solid foundation for you to build upon.
To make a successful S turn on a snowboard:
It's important to understand the three distinct phases of the turn. While these phases are clearly visible in slow, low-level turns, they can be more difficult to distinguish at higher speeds. However, understanding these phases is crucial to executing a smooth and controlled turn.
These phases are:
Initiation phase:
At the start of the turn, the snowboarder releases the uphill edge and shifts their weight to the new direction. Movements in this phase can include extending or flexing to help un-weight, stopping the rotation from the previous turn, releasing tension in the hips and torso, and gently steering the body into the new direction.
Control Phase:
This is the main part of the turn where the snowboarder guides the board down the hill and through the fall-line towards the finish of the turn. Movements in this phase consist of progressive edging, pressuring, and steering to counter the increasing forces.
Completion Phase:
This phase involves completing the current turn while preparing for the next one. Completion movements can include rotating to finish more closed turns, while increasing the edge angle as the board moves across the fall-line. At some point, these movements will cease to resist the forces pulling the rider out of the turn, leading to slower rotation and a decrease in edge angle to prepare for the next turn. Preparation movements may include looking down the hill at the upcoming terrain, rotating the upper body in the new direction, and building tension in the torso and hips. It's particularly important to prepare the upper body rotationally when transitioning into heel-side turns, to maintain balance and visibility throughout the turn.
To execute proper heel and toe edge snowboard s turns, consider the following body movements:
Head
Many snowboarders overlook the importance of using their head when turning, which can lead to issues on steeper trails. Always keep your head up and looking in the direction of travel, rather than down at your feet or the snow. Before beginning your turn, survey the anticipated line.
Shoulders
Your shoulders and snowboard should work together as a unit to reduce tension during turns. Ensure your shoulders are aligned with the snowboard and anticipate the new turn by repositioning your upper and lower body parts.
Remember, the majority of turning ability comes from lower body movements, while the upper body should complement these movements.
Hips
Keep your hips aligned with your snowboard to avoid counter rotation and help with torsional twisting for quick edge changes. Focus on smooth, rotational hip movements over the centre of the snowboard.
Knees
Maintain soft knees at all times, which allows for flexion and extension and better absorption of different snow conditions. Avoid riding with stiff legs, and always keep your knees slightly flexed even at the highest point of leg extension. To get your knees turning, focus on heel-side edge movements and expect a smaller range of movement on your toe-side edge.
Feet
Your foot movements can significantly impact your riding as they are directly connected to the snowboard. Practice paddling your feet in a stationary position while turning, and initiate turns with pressure on the front foot. Keep your weight forward when learning how to turn and progress to manipulating the snowboard through different longitudinal movements as you advance.
Good luck
