The Official Michigan Winter Thread

[Leo]

Hips are found between transitions into other runs. You know, you go down one run and it has a section that connects to another? They're just little ridges essentially that you can pop off of. Those are great to start practicing your 180's before you take it to a kicker. I'm still too chicken to try it on a kicker. Heck, I'm basically back to square one when it comes to kickers. I got a mild concussion hitting a jump a few seasons back and I finally got back some courage to try them again.

A 180 is a half rotation spin. Backside means that is the direction of your rotation. So if you're a regular footed rider, a backside spin is a clockwise rotation. When you do a 180, you'll land switch. If you do a 180 while already in switch stance, you'll land it in regular stance... or fall on your ass lol.

[sabatoa]

oh, cool! I was working on those (front and backside) in the back yard the other day. Obviously I was stationary but I figured at least getting used to being in the air in some way was better than nothing.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

oh, cool! I was working on those (front and backside) in the back yard the other day. Obviously I was stationary but I figured at least getting used to being in the air in some way was better than nothing.

That's actually a great way to get used to rotation. I still can't do a 360 stationary. That's also how I learned methods. I got used to bending my knees back for it by jumping stationary.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

Kickers are little ramps?

Yea, kickers are the takeoff ramps that you see on jumps. Booters are the huge jumps that you see the pros hitting.

Cliff drops are pretty self explanatory lol.

Gaps are similar to cliff drops in that you start from a higher level and jump down to a lower one. The difference being that there is something to clear like a grass gap. Sometimes you see the more daring riders clearing a road gap in those videos. Then you have the famous gaper gap which is the gap found between a skier's/rider's hat/helmet and goggles. If a gap like grass becomes covered with snow, you just call it a drop.

[sabatoa]

I've not seen any gaps or cliff drops in person yet. But the only part of those kinds of runs that I've seen anyway has been from the chair lifts so I'm sure I miss most of the features. hah.

I dunno what happened recently but all I can think about is getting on my board and trying shiz. I was fine all summer until I started thinking about a new board and boom. Hooked again.

My goal this year; Switch riding, ground tricks like nose and tail lifts into 180's, maybe a box here and there and small kickers.


oh! The number 1 goal: heel side stops. haha, yeah. I can spray toeside and feel comfy on blue runs but I can't spray (or stop really) on my heel side. So retarded.

My first stop this winter will be with an instructor to fix this.

[Leo]

Yea, cliff drop are non-existent around here. There's a place in the UP that supposedly has a ton of them. But I hear that whole mountain is ungroomed.

You can find some good gaps early or late season at places like Crystal Mountain.

The snowboarding itch does bite you suddenly doesn't it? After my first day on a board, I swore off snowboarding. Then I saw the winter olympics and bam! Got myself back on a board and never looked back. All I can think of is snowboarding now.

[david_z]

FYI everyone our friends at Grand Rapids-based Marhar Snowboards are giving away a snowboard. Enter here: Woobox Offer

[sabatoa]

It'd be sweet if one of us got it.

[Leo]

Not Dave, he already has that one lol. Though he bought his then promptly got it super dirty.

[sabatoa]

haha, okay then I hope I win. LOL