Analysing Stance

Standing on the board in an efficient stance is a baseline from which to make all movements in snowboarding. Identify the difference between a stance that will result in efficient movements versus a stance that will cause students to make inefficient movements.

To do this, it can be as simple as having a mental image or picture of a rider standing in an efficient, relaxed stance and comparing that picture to how the student is riding. Then decide how they differ and what would need to change to make the student’s stance and riding more efficient. To make this more precise, focus on specific body parts and joints when comparing those pictures.

Considerations

Be aware that a student may be standing in a certain position as a result of temporary or permanent injury, inadequate equipment or even as a misunderstanding of how to ride.

Consider the limitations of each student and make an allowance for this when analysing.
It’s sometimes helpful to simply ask: “Is their stance stopping them doing this?” or; “Is their stance making them do something they don’t want to do?”

Questions like this help to consider how good a student’s stance really needs to be to have fun snowboarding. Good enough for their intended goal is perhaps more appropriate and will allow them to keep riding and enjoying their time on snow.

Just remember that a strong stance is the foundation of efficient riding, so an efficient stance maintained throughout their riding is beneficial. Does their stance look efficient consistently throughout their riding or is there somewhere more obvious in their riding that their stance becomes inefficient? Ideally, they are in an efficient stance before they begin to make movements for a new turn. From this efficient starting position, begin to look for signs of stance inefficiencies that occur after they’ve initiated a turn as this is an indicator to start looking at their movements.