Last Updated25 October 2024

Advanced Freeriding explores options and tactics for riding advanced freeride terrain and snow conditions including turn sizes, shapes and types that are appropriate to the terrain and snow conditions, with movement options quantified through range, timing and power. It is by no means every consideration for creating developmental and corrective activities and progressions but merely a guide to get you started. A more in-depth use of SCOPE is also necessary to develop decision making abilities in these situations.

Riding Bumps

What, Why, How

Introduce an efficient way to ride bumps.

Bumps are often encountered off trail. The ability to ride them will create a more versatile snowboarder whilst providing access to more terrain.

Review small, closed, skidded, flexed-edge-change and retraction turns on a similar pitch groomer to the bumpy terrain you intend to ride. Focus on a lower, centred position restricting the amount the board is edged. Introduce terrain unweighted turns.

Try timing the edge change to the bump. Allow the ankles and knees to passively absorb the bump to aid in unweighting the board as it changes edges on top of the bump.

Gentle movement of the hips across the board will help to keep the edge angle lower.

Focus on having soft, supple ankles and knees that move independently to keep the board in contact with the snow.

Strong and progressive steering movements in the front knee and hip are needed to guide the board through the turn. Introduce longitudinal movement to help with absorption and create rebound where possible.

Explore options with line choice, using the troughs, shoulders and tops of the bumps, and changing the width of the traverse to suit confidence and skill base.

Example

Find a similar pitch to the bumps that you are intending to take your students. Introduce a dolphin turn encouraging the movements needed to change edges on the top of the bump. Then make a series of snowballs spaced approximately where you think the students should be initiating turns over the bumps. Now try dolphin turns over the snowballs.

Movements & Board Performance

Vertical with Pressuring

Vertical movements should be smooth and continuous, and from a lower position. A combination of turn types is often needed, though the focus should be on terrain unweighted turns. Independent absorption, flexing and extending through the legs as the board moves over the bumps, is required.

VIDEO: Terrain Unweighted Turns with Richie Johnston

Longitudinal with Pressuring

Fore-aft movements will increase in the bumps and will need to be timed with the independent vertical movements. Movements should not be excessive but rather be used to help balance and strengthen other movements.

Rotational with Steering

Progressive rotational movement focused in the lower body is needed to steer the board. This should be timed with vertical and lateral movements. Anticipation can be used to time initiations and aid power when steering in larger and steeper bumps.

Lateral with Edging

Smooth movements through the ankles, knees and hips are required to stay in balance. More independent lateral movement through the front ankle and knee will be required to twist the board through the initiation. A lower edge angle will help to reduce speed and allow for more effective steering.

Terrain & Group Management

A good assessment of the snow conditions and the size and shape of the bumps is needed before taking students into this situation. Consideration should also be given to the pitch of the slope and exit points. Focus on line choice and point out the options of riding the troughs and the peaks or the shoulders of each bump. Make sure that students are warmed up and avoid bumpy terrain if students are fatigued.

Corrective Teaching

Student is being bucked by the terrain changes and loses balance:

Review terrain selection to ensure that the student is able to develop their riding skills and build their confidence.

Encourage students to focus on reducing muscle and joint tension so that their legs flex and extend freely when required. A simple analogy can help such as ‘jelly legs’.

Use mileage with traverses in bumpy terrain to develop the sequential use of flexion and extension (independent absorption). Focus on keeping the snowboard in contact with the snow. On the toe edge, purely focusing on soft ankles and feeling pressure under the balls of the feet will promote stability.

On the heel edge, focus more on a balanced blend of flexion in the knees and hips to keep the upper body more on top of the snowboard to promote stability.

Student struggles with line choice and loses their way in the bumps:

Spend more time at the top and bottom of bumpy sections considering line choice, and avoiding the biggest troughs and bumps on the face.

Give the option to traverse more at the start, so they can feel out the shape of each bump and become accustomed to the transitions.

Work on rhythmical riding and predicting the terrain changes before they happen.

Self Reflection

“Was the snow condition helping or hindering my students’ ability to develop skills in the bumps?”

“Did I give a demonstration of terrain unweighted turns whilst riding towards the students to allow for a different perspective?”