Last Updated2 May 2023

Mastering Advanced Turns explores progressions and methods for teaching a variety of advanced turn types used within advanced freeriding, carving and freestyle. We will also look at where and when to use these types of turns on the varying terrain that advanced riders will encounter as they begin or continue to challenge themselves.

Retraction Turns

What, Why, How

This is when the snowboard is retracted back towards the body to aid flattening of the board at the edge change.

Retraction turns are a variation on flexed-edge-change turns, where the rider is in their most flexed position at the edge change. Adding the retraction movement to this turn can help balance in rough terrain and a very quick change of direction.

VIDEO: Retraction Turns with Jamie Middleton

Encourage a slightly more high performance body position, with the hips and shoulders a little more open to the direction of travel. With the board on or off (depending on terrain and abilities), use a stationary retraction exercise. From a taller position, rapidly retract the legs to lift the feet or board off the ground momentarily.

Using edge rolls, have the student practise rolling from edge to edge whilst riding in the fall line on a gentle pitch. The focus should be on keeping the upper body still, while changing edges using the hips, knees and ankles. The track in the snow should be created by the natural path of the side-cut, with no pivot or skid.

With more speed and a progressively lower body position, begin to extend the legs and guide the board further away from the COM to increase edge angle and build pressure. To change edges, rapidly pull the legs back under the body.

Apply this turn type to other terrain using varying sizes and shapes. With mileage, encourage agility through the ankle joint when retracting and a regulated extension to avoid loss of edge grip.

Movements & Board Performance

Lateral & Vertical with Edging & Pressuring

The board is physically drawn back towards the body to help with the rapid edge change. This movement is very fast allowing quick release of pressure. Laterally, the board is moved away from the COM to build edge angle and then retracted back at edge change. Higher edge angles can be created by extending the snowboard further away from the COM.

Rotational

Movement here is focused in the knees and hips. The upper body remains relatively stable. A separated relationship between the upper and lower body is likely to occur, especially in smaller turns.

Longitudinal

Focus initially on a centred position, but fore and aft movements can be introduced to adapt turns to variable conditions such as bumps or powder.

Terrain & Group Management

As these tasks involve performing open, edged/carved turns, use a run with a shallower pitch (green or easy blue, that ideally changes pitch to become flatter down the run) as speed will constantly increase throughout. If the terrain you have chosen doesn’t have a flatter run out, make sure that you give them the option to pull out of the task before they risk losing control.

Hot Tip

In retraction turns the height of the rider’s COM relative to the snow should stay the same. Have your students imagine they are riding with their heads touching a low ceiling, aiming to keep their head at the same height throughout.

Corrective Teaching

Student’s board skids too much when extending, pivoting with back leg:

Encourage an even extension with both legs simultaneously.

Have them work on extending gently and remaining low, only moving the board slightly away from their COM. Progressively extend the board further away until they feel any form of skid, then pull it back in again.

Student’s hips/COM move upwards away from the snow during the edge change from heel to toe:

Whilst stationary, review how the ankle, knee and hip must soften and flex to allow the hips to remain at the same height from the snow.

Encourage your student to start in a vertically more extended stance whilst becoming familiar with allowing the board to pass underneath them from heel to toe edge. As the movement becomes more familiar, have your student start in an increasingly vertically flexed position. This will result in the edge change being in a more stable position.

Self Reflection

“Can my student already roll from edge to edge in an extended position?"

“Do they have the ability to hold an edge in an open turn, with speed?”

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