Snowboard Straight Without Catching an Edge
Snowboarding straight across flat areas on the mountain can be a challenge, especially for new riders. If you aren't careful, it's possible to catch your downhill edge and fall. This guide will help you to learn how to get past the flat spots smoothly, safely, and without having to push.
Contents
Steps
- Make sure that you know where all the flat spots are before you go on a particular run.
- Gather some speed before you reach the flat spot so you don't have to push, but be sure not to go faster than you can ride safely.
- Approach the flat spot while riding lightly on either your heel or toe edge, whichever is more comfortable for you. Although it appears that seasoned riders are gliding quickly on the flat surface of their boards, they are always riding on an edge. With a little practice you should be able to go straight while maintaining an edge at all times.
- Do not let the board go completely flat on snow; once you are no longer gliding on your edge, it is very easy to lose control and crash.
- Keep your weight centered over the board as your ride and do not twist your upper body, as this can cause you to turn.
- Switch to the opposite edge (e.g., from heel edge to toe edge) as needed for steering or to relieve fatigue, but be sure to transition quickly and smoothly from edge to edge to avoid losing control.
- Keep your knees bent and ready to correct an unwanted direction change. If there are rough or icy spots, having your knees bent will help absorb them.
- Glide smoothly through the flat spot in this way and continue down the mountain!
Tips
- Be careful to not skid sideways, as you will lose speed.
- Practice these techniques at slower speeds before attempting them at fast speeds.
- Take a lesson from a professional snowboard instructor.
- If you do catch an edge, try not to land on your tailbone. This is most painful. Instead, try to land on a shoulder or on your upper back.
- If you fall, roll to minimize the amount of force on your body, therefore causing the fall to be less painful.
Warnings
- Be sure to control your speed at all times and watch out for slower boarders and skiers in front of you. You are most likely to catch an edge when going faster than you can safely ride or when making a sudden turn to avoid someone else.
- Snowboarding can be dangerous. Always wear a helmet and wrist guards while riding. Even slow speed accidents can cause sprains or broken bones.
