THE SKIDDED HEEL-SIDE TURN WITH SOFT BOOTS
Photo 1 shows the basic toe-side traverse stance using soft boots in a freestyle position. The boots are facing nearly perpendicular to the direction of travel with a shoulder leading, in this case the left shoulder. Initiate the turn by moving the center of mass or body weight in the direction of the turn as shown in Photo 2. Continue to lean in the direction of the turn so that the old free edge of the board engages in the snow. Rotate your whole body as a unit in the direction of the turn as shown in Photo 3.
Photo 1______________Photo 2_______________Photo 3
In Photo 4, the rider is crossing the fall line (the line of steepest descent) with inclination or tilting of the body in the direction of the turn. The rider controls the shape of the turn by the amount of inclination and amount of rotation of the body. Photo 5 shows the completion phase of the turn. Notice that the body rotates as a unit with the board, their relative positions being nearly the same throughout the turn. Figure 6 shows the completed turn which ended with a heel-side traverse.
Photo 4______________Photo 5_______________Photo 6
_____________Photo 7________________________Photo 8___________
Photos 7 and 8 show a simplified drawing of the gas pedal
move which is essentially twisting the board using the feet
along the long axis. In photo 7 pressing down on the toe of the
front foot causes the front toe edge to dip down which aids in
initiating a toe side turn. In Photo 8 the front toe is lifted
upward causing the front of the heel edge to engage the snow
aiding in the heel side turn. This type of board twisting or
torsional movement is very useful in many other snowboard moves.
Video #1 snowboard basic skidded turn lesson with normal speed and slow motion
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