Advancing boarding skills

Question
Hi there. Firstly, thanks for giving up your time to answer my question. I am an intermediate boarder - I have done black runs and back country but only have 3-4 weeks experience. I am heading to Verbier, Switzerland for a week and I am keen to continue my advancement. Other then the obvious option of getting lessons (particularly expensive at this resort) how would you suggest I improve on my skills (a broad question I know). Are you able to summarise the different techniques for turning for example such that I would be able to try it out?

Thanks again,
Leroy

Answer
Hi Leroy,

Sounds like a great trip you have planned.

Here are some tips on turning that may help you out. You can initiate your turns by leading with your front hand and arm. Hold your front arm out over the front of your board as though there was a string from your wrist to the nose of your board. When you sweep your arm towards the direction you are going to turn (whether it be toeside or heelside), this twists your shoulders slightly, which in turn twists the hips and helps to pull the board in the direction you want to turn.

The next step (actually at the same time as you start your arm sweep) is to roll your knees towards the direction of the turn. When your shoulders, hips, and knees all work together, your turns will become nice carves.

The best tip I can offer along with the above is to BEND THE KNEES. We tend to not think about bending the knees as much as we need to in order to make the board carve the turn and maintain control. So the best thing to think about to make the knees bend is SQUAT THE HIPS. When you squat down, your knees automatically bend. The deeper the squat, the more it lifts the board on edge and the better control you have during the turn.

You may have heard about weighting and unweighting during turns. It is a common terminology in skiing. It is also very useful on a board. If you are turning shoulders, hips, & knees, and working on squating the hips, then you are very close to the weighting/unweighting method of helping your turns. When you are traversing and about to initiate a turn, lower your hips and then raise them just as you start your turn (this unweights the board to make it easier to turn). Then as you are crossing the fall line, start lowering the hips (weighting) to make the edge dig in hard. As you come out of the turn, raise the hips and make your next turn. You should develop a rythym of weighting/unweighting that coincides with your turns.

The last bit of advice I will give is very simple. Make as many turns as you can on each and every run you make. I know that most snowboarders like long turns and high speeds. That is great for those that want that. But, if you want to be a better rider with great control in all conditions, work on those turns. You should be able to make figure 8's with a good skier once you have your turns dialed in.

If you have the chance to take a private lesson at your local area before you go, it may help you quite a bit. Be sure to ask for an advanced instructor and be specific about what you want to learn. On my third day of snowboarding and my third lesson I had an instructor that also raced slalom courses. He had me ripping carved turns in less than an hour.

Hope this will help you out. Have a great trip.
Keep on riding,
Windlover