Last Updated25 October 2024

The Snowboard Turn explores how snowboarders can alter their path down the mountain by making turns of different shapes, sizes and performance. Alongside this, we will look at the different turn phases which are particularly useful when communicating the sequence of events to students. We will also explain the variety of turn types that can be used and consider the forces that impact the turn.

Advanced Turns

Advanced riders will have developed a range of skills using intermediate turns and will be utilising and adapting them in a variety of challenging on- and off-piste situations and snow conditions. Advanced turns draw on the rider’s ability to fluidly blend and adapt movement and performance with varied turn types. This enables them to create and regulate more power, make fast reactive and proactive adjustments, and blend or separate movement in all directions to achieve this.

When making advanced turns there are two general ways to release pressure as we move towards an edge change: we can either extend vertically and move laterally or flex vertically and move laterally.

The first way a rider can release edge pressure is by extending, meaning the rider will be at their most extended, tallest at edge change. This is known as an extended-edge-change movement pattern. The second way a rider can release edge pressure is by flexing, meaning the rider will be at their most flexed, smallest at the edge change. This is known as a flexed-edge-change movement pattern but can also be in the form of retraction or terrain unweighted turns. Both movement patterns, either extending or flexing, require controlled, smooth movements and are effective depending on the terrain, snow and the rider’s goals.

VIDEO: Advanced Turns with Greg Samson

Extended-Edge-Change

This is where the rider extends to release edge grip at the initiation of the turn. It can be used in a variety of turn sizes and shapes. The rider is at their most extended as the edge change occurs. This turn type is commonly used to introduce turning to first-timer snowboarders as extending or opening joints through the lower body allows the hips to move easily across the board laterally. Extended-edge-change turns can produce and manage large amounts of pressure at high speeds and place the rider’s centre of mass (COM) low and stable at the control and completion phase of the turn. For these reasons, extended-edge-change turns are not only used by beginners but are also a valuable tool in advanced turns and high performance riding.

Flexed-Edge-Change Turns

This is where the COM is lowered towards the board to decrease edge grip. With a flexed-edge-change the rider becomes lower and more stable through the initiation phase of the turn. These turns are often used in steep or rough terrain that threatens the rider’s balance. By moving from a flexed and stable position after the edge change riders can physically apply and manage pressure as they extend through the control and completion.

The sequence image below shows a flexed-edge-change…

Advanced Turn Characteristics

The characteristics of advanced turns include:

Extended OR flexed at edge change - This is the essence of the advanced turn and gives riders the options to best ride any situation, often utilising several different turn types in one run to achieve this. Both flexed-edge-changes and extended-edge-changes are utilised in advanced turns.

Increasing range and power - More powerful movements and a further increase in range are both required regularly with advanced turns. High performance carving and retraction turns are examples of this. There are also times when less power is more beneficial. Mastery of advanced turns relies on the ability to make appropriate adjustments continuously.

High performance stance - Being able to constantly adjust stance, utilising the stance scale, is key to maintaining balance and placing the body in the most effective position to move from.

Separation and anticipation - Are rotational timing skills used to complement different turn types in some situations. For example; create a position to maximise rotational power in the lower body to steer in steep terrain or make a rapid speed check to decrease speed or avoid an obstacle.

Fore/aft movement - This is utilised in advanced turns to apply, regulate and release pressure when riding many situations and snow conditions at higher speeds and performance.

There are variations on the flexed-edge-change turn, which can be useful for specific turn sizes/shapes and terrain variables…

Retraction Turns

These turns are very similar in that the rider is flexed at edge change; however, as the name implies, the board is physically retracted towards the COM by pulling the legs in, as opposed to moving the COM down to the board. This turn provides a very quick and stable initiation and edge change; it is typically useful for smaller open turns, riding powder and other terrain and situations where quick direction and/or edge changes are required.

VIDEO: Retraction Turns with Jamie Middleton

Terrain Unweighted Turns

This is a variation on flexed-edge-change turns where the legs are softened as terrain features are ridden (e.g. a bump), causing the legs to flex or extend under the COM. Terrain is used to decrease edge grip, enabling the edge change to take place. Terrain unweighted turns are most commonly used in the bumps, gullies and undulating off-piste, but are also necessary when managing any changing terrain to maintain flow down the slope like a banked slalom or boardercross course. By definition, a terrain unweighting movement can be performed with an extended edge change as terrain is dropping away; however, this is rarely used in a sequence of turns.