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Table of Contents
Competitive Snowboarding explores the main competitive disciplines and some techniques to help young riders when preparing to take part in their first contests. The sample progressions used in this chapter are less skill based and more tactic focused. They build on the skills established in the previous three chapters: Advanced Freeriding, Advanced Carving and Advanced Freestyle.
Snowboard Cross & Banked Slaloms
What, Why, How
Snowboarder cross (SBX) and banked slaloms are races through undulating courses defined by pre-set gates.
Even though SBX is an Olympic discipline, there are very few events held in NZ. Banked slaloms are more common as they are seen as more participation-orientated. Most banked slalom events also have junior age categories.
General Carving Technique
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Spend time exploring the high performance stance and high performance carving.
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Experiment with carving technique and in changeable terrain and varying snow conditions.
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Build confidence using a flat base to maintain speed over features such rollers and bumps.
Refer to the following topics for further reading on high performance riding: The Stance Scale and High Performance Carving.
Start Gates
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Work on the rider’s reaction time for SBX, helping them to pull out the start gate as it opens.
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Using a practice gate, work on pull technique using active muscles and slightly flexed arms.
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Encourage bringing the hips through as quickly as possible to help build early momentum.
Jumps, Woops and Other Air Features
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Encourage staying in contact with the snow as the fastest option down a course.
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Work on the ability to actively absorb quick transitions and takeoffs using the whole body.
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Pumping techniques can be utilised early in SBX courses to help build speed.
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Pre-ollie skills can be developed to help minimise air time on features that cannot be absorbed.
Line Choice
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Spend time riding berms, exploring line options but encouraging a high entrance and a low exit.
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Encourage a line that allows a flat base as much as possible and maintains carved turns around gates, rather than skidding.
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Time turns so the bottom of the turn is close to the gate rather than the top of the turn (generally speaking).
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Explore options for the fastest line through the course, studying each other’s line in the process and building the understanding that tight turns may not be the fastest.
Movements & Board Performance
Lateral with Edging
Efficient angulation techniques should be focused on here. Keeping the COM as close laterally to the contact edge as possible is absolutely key for all race disciplines. A high performance stance will help to achieve this. Flat base awareness is also important to help maintain and build speed.
Vertical & Longitudinal with Pressuring
Using maximum vertical range is key when riding SBX features; however, the ability to apply these movements powerfully will have a greater impact during an actual race. Quick longitudinal movements can be incorporated to the large and powerful vertical movements to help maintain contact with the snow as much as possible.
Terrain & Group Management
Close proximity riding can be used as a training tool to help increase comfort to ride in a pack, as happens during an SBX race. This, however, can bring a high degree of risk and should only be utilised with very confident riders who are aware of their surroundings. Easy terrain can be used for this initially, such as cat tracks or very flat green runs.
Hot Tip
When practising with gates, “brushes” can be utilised in low traffic areas to help riders learn about line choice. Using park jumps as features to absorb can be beneficial, but ensure the riders do not overshoot the landings. Natural terrain can be utilised to learn about berms and woops.
Corrective Teaching
Rider speed checks before a feature:
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Build up speed slowly but surely.
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Encourage composure and remaining compact in the air.
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Educate the riders that if they land straight and flat base, they have a good base of support under them and can often ride away more easily.
Rider takes gates too low:
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Consider where the rider is looking when passing each gate.
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Encourage them to focus on the next gate as early as possible.
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Pick target points to turn on/directly around when freeriding on banks and in gullies, such as tussock, shadows and snowballs.
Self Reflection
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“Did I choose the right time of day or area on the mountain to practise riding fast?”
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“Did I make the most out of the natural terrain on offer?”