Last Updated23 February 2023

Basic Biomechanics provides a brief overview of the biomechanics utilised when snowboarding, including the main joints that are used, plus how the muscles, tendons and ligaments interact with these joints. This will help to create a deeper understanding of why certain movements work in the way they do. In turn, it will help to present the most efficient movement options when teaching and to really pinpoint the origin of movements when analysing snowboarders.

Joints

There are three main types of joints, but many different variations of these…

Ball-and-socket joints have the ability to flex and extend as well as rotate. Examples of these are the hips and shoulders.

Hinge joints can only flex and extend in a single direction. An example of this is the elbow joint. The knee is also a type of hinge joint, referred to as a modified hinge joint. It flexes and extends, glides and has a minimal amount of rotation.

Gliding joints are where the bones slide along their smooth surfaces with a limited amount of motion. This joint allows for movements in a rolling fashion as well as gliding. The foot and wrist are examples of these.

The Ankle Joint

This is the key to the success of a snowboarder and their ability to create lateral movements on their snowboard. It can also aid in vertical movement, when used with other joints. These movements are known as dorsi and plantar-flexion, which can produce lateral movements of the body over the board.

Plantar refers to the opening of the ankle joint, when the toes are pushed down or away from the shin. Dorsiflexion is the opposite, when the toes are lifted and move closer to the shin. The ankle is a complex joint and can make other movements such as inversion and eversion. These movements can aid a rider’s ability to move longitudinally on their board. Inversion is when the ankle is rolled to the outside of the foot pointing the soles towards each other. Eversion is the opposite, when the ankle is rolled to the inside of the foot pointing the soles outward or away from one another.

The Knee Joint

The knee is a modified hinge joint and the most commonly mentioned joint in snowboarding. It has a large impact on riding as it manages two of the larger levers, controlling the femur (the large bone in the thigh) and tibia/fibula (the two main bones in the lower leg). The knees help snowboarders create lateral, longitudinal, and vertical movements. Due to the large range of movement in the knee, a rider can utilise this joint to create powerful movements.

The Hip Joint

As a ball-and-socket joint, snowboarders benefit from being able to create both flexion extension, as well as rotation, through their hip joints. The width and flexibility of hips will greatly change the riding style of each individual snowboarder.

Generally speaking, women tend to have slightly wider hips. This can be measured by the difference in males’ versus females’ Q-angle. Another typical difference in hip structure between males and females is what is known as Anterior Pelvic Tilt. This is where the pelvis is actually tilted forward on the top and the bottom is tilted back. This generally shifts the centre of mass more over the heel edge, making it more challenging to create pop. More on the differences between male and females can be read here.

The Spine

This complex set of joints consists of 33 vertebrae. There is very limited movement between each of the vertebrae; however, when they all work together the result is a much larger range of movement, allowing flex in all directions, as well as rotation. There are many muscles that surround and protect the spine. This is why we get a more powerful, yet slower result when we make larger movements through the upper body. That said, the spine can be quite useful when we choose to create these more powerful movements, especially when acting upon larger forces.

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