Last Updated7 June 2022

Exploring Intermediate Turns looks at different activities and progressions that will help to guide a student’s understanding and skills while exploring a more active stance and blending of their movements, early edging and increased performance and the benefits of switch riding. We will also look at where and when to use these skills on the different terrain that students will encounter as they progress.

This begins with learning how a more active position on the board will allow greater movement options to develop as a rider. Students will start to explore more challenging groomed terrain, develop earlier edging skills and the confidence to ride with more performance. In addition to this, introducing switch riding will help the student to become more versatile, enabling more options as they begin to explore freestyle and freeride skills. As students progress it is important to analyse and adapt the content and pathways to best suit their development and outcomes.

Active Stance & Blending Movements

What, Why, How

Develop a slightly lower and more flexed stance, and explore greater movement in all directions that is smooth and blended.

This will help with balance and being able to react with movement when riding more challenging groomed terrain.

Active Stance

Review medium/large closed turns. Start by standing in the basic stance while strapped in and stationary, gently flex and extend through the ankles, knees and hips, then settle into a position that is comfortable but lower than the basic stance. This position should feel like movement could be made easily in any direction.

Next make a series of small turns, on a green run, with a traverse in between. Keeping the edge angle the same, move up and down during the traverse, through the ankles and knees on the toe side, and the knees and hips on the heel side. Notice the different position on each edge and what it feels like to balance in a lower, more active position.

Example

The way a goalkeeper in soccer adapts the way they stand when preparing to try and save a penalty is also an active stance as it allows them to react and move in any direction instantly.

Blending Movements

Now with an active stance, try making some medium closed turns using a larger extending movement as the hips move over the board, and a lower flexing movement as the hips move over the new edge. There should be a smooth and progressive movement up and over, then down and across as the board is progressively edged. It may help to start breathing in at the start of the turn and begin to exhale as the board changes edge at the most extended position.

Now try to be aware of how the knee and hip are progressively turning at the same time as they are flexing or extending.

Next, try varying the size and shape of the turn and notice how the blend of movement becomes faster or slower, increases or decreases. Blending movement should feel like riding a smooth wavy line. There are no flat spots or jagged edges. Movement in any or all directions becomes one smooth combined movement.

Example

Imagine having a large swiss ball on the nose of the board and gently rolling it from side to side with the front hand. This will turn, flex/extend and lean the body from side to side with smooth blended movement.

Movements & Board Performance

Vertical

Vertical movement through the ankles, knees and hips is used to lower the body a little into a more active stance. It is also the key to blending other movements efficiently in most cases.

Lateral

An active stance requires a little more flexion in the ankles and knees on the toe edge, and the knees and hips on the heel edge. Focus should be placed on the flexing and extending movement used to increase and decrease lateral movement and edging.

Rotational

Small progressive rotation of the whole body, but focused on the leading knee and hip, should be blended with the vertical flex and extension.

Longitudinal

Longitudinal movement in these tasks is minimal. Though time can be spent adapting and exploring how longitudinal and vertical movement blend together through separate tasks like nose and tail manuals, or making turns with more weight towards the nose or tail.

Terrain & Group Management

Similar green terrain to the turn size and shape exercises is appropriate. Seek out safe flat areas to introduce the active stance and blending of movement with stationary activities. Mileage experimenting with the new active stance position and blending movement is essential. Utilising guided discovery and reciprocal teaching can be useful to challenge students to come to their own conclusions and work collectively toward common goals and outcomes.

Hot Tip

Have students pair up and stand with the nose of their board pointing at the others. Now using the same swiss ball exercise above have them discuss what they see their partner doing. Are they blending movements or are they making separate movements? Do the hips come up and over or straight across? Next, allow time to practise while making turns, then discuss the different outcomes as a group.

Corrective Teaching

Student’s stance is over-flexed at the waist:

Check the forward lean on bindings.

Toeside, flex ankles and knees more and hips less.

Heelside, aim for equal flex in the knees and hips.

Student has difficulty blending movements:

Reinforce with stationary exercises.

Try focusing on smooth vertical movement only, coming up, over and down. Then start to blend in other movements.

Self Reflection

“Do the students understand how an active stance will benefit their riding?”

“Have I given enough practice time?”

“Did I analyse and adapt my lesson at any point?”

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