Search Snowboard Manual
Table of Contents
The Movements of Snowboarding explores how snowboarders balance and move on their equipment, the different movement options, and the methods in which these movements can be applied. As an instructor it is important to understand how to balance and move efficiently in order to achieve specific outcomes.
Active Stance
Once a rider has started to develop a little confidence making turns on a green slope, they will be ready to begin exploring more of the mountain and develop as a rider. As they explore this new terrain, go faster or learn their first tricks, they will have less time to react and gain balance and will need to use larger movements. This is due to the increased forces they are dealing with and how rapidly they occur.
Reactive Balance
To be able to maintain a balanced position intermediate riders will need to become more reactive with their stance and movements. Essentially, they will have to make faster and more precise adjustments to remain balanced and stay in control.
Reactive balance is the term used for this. It is an automatic response that creates movement to keep the rider’s COM stable and stop the rider from falling over. Reactive balance only improves with practice and experience.
An active stance includes:
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More flex throughout all joints and a slightly lower COM than with a basic stance.
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Depending on the physical capabilities of the rider, a slight opening of the upper-body rotationally may be beneficial here.
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Stronger use of muscles, yet staying loose in the joints.
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Similar positional differences between the toe and heel edge.
Time is needed to explore and develop effective positions from which to start and finish turns. The most effective position can change slightly depending on the task or terrain, but having an efficient stance to move from and come back to is key. It is, however, the movements a rider makes from this position that dictate what the snowboard does.
Being strong, yet remaining relaxed, will help the rider move more quickly to maintain balance and deal with the increase in forces.