Last Updated7 June 2022

Exploring Freeriding looks at progressions and activities used to help deal with the unpredictable terrain encountered as riders venture into ungroomed terrain. This includes methods of absorbing bumpy and choppy snow, and how we can blend absorption into our turns.

We will also introduce the concept of how we SCOPE the slope. This is a useful tactic snowboarders use to assess their Safety, the Capabilities to ride terrain, understand their Options and all the necessary Preparations needed before the Execution of a run. Students will require good edge awareness, and turn size/shape skills with a degree of adaptability in riding different groomed terrain before venturing off-piste.

Intro to Off-Piste with Passive Absorption

What, Why, How

An introduction to riding off-piste while softly absorbing undulating or bumpy terrain.

Develop some of the basic awareness and skills needed to safely venture off-piste and ride more variable conditions.

VIDEO: Intro to Off-Piste with Guy McCully

Review the size and shape of turns on groomed terrain, focusing on medium to small closed turns with a slightly lower active stance than you would normally ride. Use progressive flexion and steering from the lower body with lower edge angles to promote skidding through the turn.

Next, put a traverse in at the end of each turn and gently move up and down. Flexing in the ankles and knees on the toe edge and knees and hips on the heel edge while maintaining a balanced upper body and without changing the edge angle of the skidded traverse.

Try the same exercise gently moving up and down throughout medium, closed skidded turns. Both legs will flex and extend smoothly at the same time.

Now traverse out into some easy off-trail terrain at the side of the run, then find a suitable place to do a turn that is not too bumpy before traversing back to the groomer. A lower edge angle with relaxed ankles and knees will help to keep speed down, allowing the board to skid smoothly across bumpy terrain. Feel the legs moving up and down with the bumps while the upper body stays stable and aligned. Notice how the legs moved separately as the board went up and over the bumps - first the front leg then the back leg. It should feel like the bump is softly pushing the board towards your body. Repeat this several times to build awareness.

Next, try linking turns down gentle off-piste runs, making sure each turn is finished in a traverse and a balanced position is achieved before making the next turn.

Gradually remove the traverse as confidence grows. Remember to look for easier places to turn and stay a little lower with relaxed ankles and knees.

Example

An effective analogy to use here is: “Imagine that you have just upgraded your old mountain bike that only had front suspension to a new one with much bigger front and rear shocks. Your new bike is a dream to ride and you can hardly feel a bump in the track. Using your legs like your front and rear shocks will make it feel like you have a new board capable of gliding over the toughest terrain.”

Movements & Board Performance

Lateral with Edging

Lateral movement should be appropriate to the snow conditions, keeping the rider’s COM balanced over the edge. Focus on lower body lateral movement to create torsional twist, while keeping the upper body stacked over the hips. A lower edge angle will help the board to slide across the choppy snow.

Vertical & Longitudinal with Pressure

A centred stance is preferable, though there will often be subtle weight shifts and adjustments happening due to the terrain. Too much movement aft will limit steering movements. Vertical position should be a little more flexed than the rider would use on trail. Relaxed and independent flexing and extending movement through the ankles, knees and hip joint are required to allow the board to maintain contact with the snow. Some additional longitudinal movement may be required if the snow is sticky, slushy or powdery.

Rotational with Steering

Smooth and progressive rotation through the lead knee, hip and shoulder is required to steer the board through the variable terrain.

Example

Think of the way we apply edging and steering of the board to a set of scales. Lots of edging and not much steering and the turns become fast and large. Lots of steering and not much edging and the turns become smaller and slower. As we ride new terrain we should aim for equal amounts of both, so our turns feel balanced and controlled and so the scales don’t tip too far either way.

Terrain & Group Management

Before taking any student into the off-piste it is crucial to assess the conditions and their ability to ride it. Develop the necessary skills on green and easy blue groomed terrain. Their first experience off-piste should be a green or easy blue pitch that is not too challenging. Work through S.C.O.P.E (Safety, Capabilities, Options, Preparation, Execution) in your own mind to make sure that you have covered all the essentials before taking students into the off-piste.

Gentle, undulating terrain with good snow conditions is ideal for introducing students to off-trail riding. Look for easy exit points back to groomed runs. Assess students’ confidence levels and offer the option of doing a floating leaf if they lose confidence with their ability to turn. Plenty of mileage with feedback on the same terrain will help with decision making and line choice. Encourage students to look across the slope to aid in steering and completing turns.

Hot Tip

Before heading off-piste look for banks that are a bit choppy at the side of groomers and try traversing or doing steered traverses along them in tall and flexed positions to explore a more balanced position. You could also use a flat area and have your student try standing on their board in a tall position with their eyes closed. Then get down and wiggle their board. Try the same exercise with the student in a flexed position, then ask when they felt more balanced.

Corrective Teaching

Student lacks confidence in off-trail:

Have students follow your line to help them with their line selection.

Review turn size and shape with progressive vertical and lateral movement to promote confidence on-trail first.

Offer students options with line selection that will avoid or deal with snow conditions and obstacles.

Look for less challenging terrain.

Student lacks speed control:

Review skidded traverses with relaxed ankles and knees with a lower edge angle on-trail, then in the off-trail.

Set focal points for the student to look at to help finish turns.

Review turn size and shape, and ensure that the terrain choice is conducive to success and promotes confidence.

Encourage closing both heel and toe turns to control speed.

Student lacks pressure control or the board chatters:

Review smooth progressive vertical flexion through ankles/knees on toeside and ankles/knees/hips on heelside.

On groomed terrain, try a straight run then progressively tilt and pivot the board into a sideslip to slow down on the edge that the student experiences chatter.

Encourage a lower edge angle and look across the hill through the control and completion of the turn in question.

Check longitudinal and rotational alignment of the student through the completion of their turns.

Student has a lack of flexion/extension and struggles absorbing changes in terrain:

Encourage continual, progressive vertical movements in the ankles and knees.

Whilst stationary, have them explore their own personal range of vertical flexion and extension in their legs. By doing so, both the instructor and student will gain an understanding of their natural range and flexibility.

Check how stiff the student’s boots are and see if this is affecting them.

Check that their stance width is not limiting their vertical range. This can happen with stances that are both too narrow and too wide.

Self Reflection

“Were my students able to control their speed in the off-piste?”

“Did they manage to stay balanced in the off-piste?”

“Were the terrain and snow conditions appropriate to their level?”

“Was the terrain bumpy enough for them to feel independent leg movement?”

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