Last Updated5 January 2023

First-Time Snowboarders introduces an example progression for teaching first-timers. All first-time lessons should begin on flat terrain, with as much space as possible and minimal traffic. The general goals for any first-timer lesson should include staying safe whilst becoming familiar with the snowboard, learning how to move around on flat ground with one foot strapped in, as well as learning how to stop and change direction on both the heel and toe edge.

The order of the following exercises or activities may change relative to the available terrain and snow conditions, and your students’ physical ability, age and fitness. All of these activities may not be needed in every lesson so make sensible decisions to maximise the student’s learning time.

Toeside Control

What, Why, How

Learn to sideslip down the fall line on the toe edge with the snowboard across the slope, then start moving left and right with a floating leaf motion for direction control.

This will work on the ability to adjust/control speed, direction, and stop when required on the toe edge. It also develops edge awareness on the toe edge.

VIDEO: Toeside Control with Guy McCully

Sideslipping

Stand up in a comfortable and relaxed stance, balancing the hips and knees over the balls of the feet, feeling even pressure from the boots on the shins.

To begin sliding, slowly release a little pressure from the shins against the boots by moving the hips and knees towards the centre of the board. It may help to rise up slightly, this will allow the heels to gently lower and the board to start sliding.

To slow down and stop, relax and flex the ankles and knees a little, and move the hips further over the balls of the feet. Feel an increase of pressure again from the boots against the shins. This will lift the edge and cause it to grip on the snow.

Continue to move further like this to stop. Repeat several times to increase comfort, confidence and the sliding distance.

Floating Leaf

Once confident sideslipping it's time to have a go at moving left and right across the slope.

To start moving to the left, gently rise and start slowly side slipping, then turn the head to look left and gently move the left knee and hip over the board and slightly towards the left foot, at the same time lowering the left heel a small amount. This will lower the left heel edge a little and the board will begin to slide to the left.

Hold this position to drift smoothly to the left. To stop drifting left, flex the left knee and ankle to return even pressure to the shins of both boots. This will lift the edge evenly again. Looking straight ahead, uphill, will help to recentre back to the sideslip.

Drift to the right by making the same movement with the right leg.

Plenty of mileage will help grow confidence.

Example

Most ball sports can be related well to a floating leaf. A rugby player can imagine travelling towards the sidelines to pass the ball to his winger. A racquet sports player can be in their action-ready position ready to receive a serve to the left or to the right. A basketball player can be trying to dribble around a defender to shoot a hoop. An ice hockey player can be ducking to the left or to the right. There are endless variations that require travel to the side to help people visualise their path.

Movements & Board Performance

Lateral & Vertical with Edging

Similar to the heel sideslipping, these movements are used to keep the body in balance over the toe edge. Lateral movement will come from the ankles and knees and result in shifting the hips and COM over the board and back to the toe edge. This will increase and decrease edge angle and allow the board to slide and grip. Vertical movement is subtle and blended with lateral to bring the hips up and over the board and back to the toe edge. The ankle joint should remain relaxed and more flexed than extended. If the ankle joint becomes too extended on the toeside, less of the soles and balls of the feet are available to balance, resulting in quick losses of balance, increase in muscle tension and fatigue. This results in loss of balance, falls and fear of independence.
Changing direction using the floating leaf requires movements that are focused through the side of the body the rider wishes to travel towards. Movement of one knee and hip laterally over one end is used to create twist in the board and decrease edge angle and grip at one end. An even vertical rise through both ankles and knees is ideal. This will initiate movement of the snowboard in that direction. To stop moving sideways, move back to the centred position used to slow down in a sideslip.

Longitudinal & Rotational

A centred and rotationally aligned stance with even pressure on both feet is necessary to help keep the snowboard across the fall line. Small movements longitudinally may help the rider adjust back to the centre of the board as the fall line changes or to aid movement in a particular direction. Very small rotational movements of the lower body may occur when twisting the board and changing direction. A rotation of the head through the neck is needed to aid vision and avoid blind spots.

Terrain & Group Management

Terrain selection for toeside control will be the same as used for heelside control. Snow conditions may be more challenging on icy, powder and slushy spring days. This may lead to a terrain change if their boards are not sliding, or sliding too fast. Hands-on assistance is equally important on toeside and may be needed more for some students as a lot of beginner riders find it difficult to slide backwards due to the lack of vision. If giving hands-on, consider assisting from uphill or downhill as you will be able to manipulate their lateral movement easily to avoid edge catches. Standing uphill allows them to hold your hands and to use natural face-to-face conversation, letting them know exactly what is behind them will help build confidence. Standing downhill on the toeside allows you, with consent, to apply light pressure to the small of your student’s back to maintain an upright stance.

Similar group management techniques to heelside control can be used with toeside control. You could pair students up and have one be the eyes for the other that is sliding backwards, letting them know if there are any obstacles. Ensure that students are checking their blind spots regularly.

Example

Once signs of ownership are appearing, use your environment as an arena to explore. Give your students the chance to explore the learners’ area using and adapting their floating leaf. They now have the skills to change direction, let them travel the width of the run and navigate around obstacles and people when appropriate.

Corrective Teaching

Student experiences fatigue while sideslipping or floating leaf:

Ensure boots and bindings fit well.

Change between toe and heel to rest relevant muscles, and take breaks.

Offer hands-on assistance to apprehensive students to boost confidence and minimise increasing levels of muscle tension.

Student catches downhill edge:

Practise smooth lateral movements with the lower body to develop a more controlled and predictable use of tilt to remain over the uphill edge.

Encourage the use of more vertical movement to help start sliding to ensure that the lateral movement of the COM is not too fast and direct.

Offer hands-on assistance to boost confidence and offer instant instruction and feedback if needed.

Focus on keeping an upright basic stance with the hips laterally over the toe edge with flexed ankles and knees. This will encourage student's COM to remain over the uphill edge.

Student is broken / over-flexed at the waist:

Take students to a flatter slope, if lacking confidence on steeper terrain.

Check for sufficient highback forward lean on bindings.

Encourage students to feel pressure under the balls of their feet to encourage a more stable platform to balance over.

Student’s snowboard pivots very quickly around the nose and tail sequentially creating a swinging motion causing quick loss of balance and loss of control:

Encourage students to move as smoothly as possible when creating twist in their snowboard and remind them that they only have to move a small amount to create a big direction change.

Remind students to keep their upper body stable and quiet when creating twist in their snowboard to aid balance.

Ensure you choose terrain with a single fall line so that terrain changes do not over-challenge students.

Encourage students to start in and come back to a sideslip to help boost their comfort levels before committing to a direction change again.

Self Reflection

“Did I offer hands-on help to everyone in the group?”

“Were my students getting plenty of ride time?”

“Did I assess the snow conditions and how it affected my students?”

“Did I allow for a larger range of rotational movement to help my younger students create twist?”

“Did I encourage independence in my students?”

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