Stance Setback - Snowboarding Forum

Shteff · 06-13-2010, 03:59 PM

I've setup my board so that i have a small amount of setback. The center of my front binding is 52cm from the tip and the center of my back binding is 46cm from the end. I've been working on alot of switch lately and want to get my 180's and 360's sorted. Should i center my bindings for this? I assume it will help when riding both ways, but will this affect my riding normally? Reason i ask is because i'll have to rip off my stomp pad.

Cheers

Pistachio · 06-15-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shteff

I've setup my board so that i have a small amount of setback. The center of my front binding is 52cm from the tip and the center of my back binding is 46cm from the end. I've been working on alot of switch lately and want to get my 180's and 360's sorted. Should i center my bindings for this? I assume it will help when riding both ways, but will this affect my riding normally? Reason i ask is because i'll have to rip off my stomp pad.

Cheers

If that is the only thing stopping you then go for it. When I started, the first time I rented a board without a stomp pad I missed the pad for all of one disembarkation from the chairlift. If you've never tried riding without then try it.

Some people swear by them, some don't, if you haven't tried both ways then do so.

Shteff · 06-15-2010, 03:46 PM

Thanks, so people who ride alot of switch usually have no offset?

bubbachubba340 · 06-15-2010, 05:56 PM

Yes, generally, but also most are riding twin or directional twin boards that are meant to be ridden with a centered stance because they have a centered sidecut, inserts, and equal nose/tail lengths. If your board is a twin then I would recomment a centered stance.

linvillegorge · 06-15-2010, 06:55 PM

For all mountain riding, I like a little bit of setback. The board feels more stable bombing for me with a little setback. For powder, I'll go with substantial setback as it just helps from wearing out my rear leg from keeping the nose up.

The only time I go with a centered stance is when I'm doing pure park.

DC5R · 06-15-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linvillegorge

For all mountain riding, I like a little bit of setback. The board feels more stable bombing for me with a little setback. For powder, I'll go with substantial setback as it just helps from wearing out my rear leg from keeping the nose up.

The only time I go with a centered stance is when I'm doing pure park.

GavinHope · 06-16-2010, 07:14 AM

Is your board twin?

If so, like the person above, I'd recommend a centred stance.

Apart from that, I guess it depends on what kind of riding you like/aim to do. If you're wanting to land 180s and ride switch afterwards, then a more freestyle setup sounds right.

As for it being easier/harder - you'll most certainly find switch easier if your stance is centered, but that doesn't mean you'll struggle with a slight setback. What you will get is a different feeling, depending on how big the setback is. I used to have a 158 Rome Anthem with about a 1" setback, and I could ride it switch ok, but it did feel like I had a rudder trailing behind me

One thing to think about when you're measuring the distance from the binding to the end of the board, remember to measure to the contact points, rather than the tail or tip.

Cheers

Leo · 06-16-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbachubba340

Yes, generally, but also most are riding twin or directional twin boards that are meant to be ridden with a centered stance because they have a centered sidecut, inserts, and equal nose/tail lengths. If your board is a twin then I would recomment a centered stance.

Directional Twin boards aren't ridden centered. They have a slight setback. If you center yourself on any type of directional board, twin or not, it is going to ride differently.

I ride a directional twin and my switch is fine. Is switch easier on a true centered twin? Perhaps. Unless you are riding a pure directional board or a substantial setback stance, then it's not really going to matter all that much.

Hell, I don't even ride a mirrored duck stance and I still do switch fine.

I think you are over thinking it. Try switch the way you have your board now. It's going to be hard no matter what when you are learning. If anything, it will make you a better switch rider when you do move to a centered twin board.

Shteff · 06-16-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Well, here is the deal.....

Switch riding can be done quite well on any board once the rider gets a feel for how the board handles. Now it is true that a true twin makes this easier to master because the board rides exactly the same in either direction. There are directional boards, directional twins and true twins. A free ride or all mountain directional twin usually is built with the inserts already in a setback configuration. Additionally, the shape of the side cut can be directional or twin. This is most often known as a progressive or radial side cut. Manufacturers also incorporate a lot of multi radial side cut patterns to enhance directional performance.

What is important to you as the rider when riding switch is to understand how your board is designed and how it is going to handle. Without getting into binding placement just yet, understand that a progressive side cut is designed to allow the rider easy and gentle turn entry and then it progressively becomes a deeper side cut to really help power you through your turn and shoot you out at turn completion. When ridden switch, this board will tend to be more responsive in the turn entry phase and sometimes surprise the rider. Additionally, it tends to wash out on turn completion.

All of this is subtle, but just enough a difference to make riding switch "feel" really odd. That, on top of everything else that makes learning switch a challenge can make you job a little harder. A radial sidecut on any board will perform identically in either direction. This is why most park boards are true twins so they handle the same way in any direction.

Now for binding placement....

On any board, where your weight is distributed has a huge impact upon board performance. A set back stance is ideal on a free ride board for powder and off piste conditions. It allows the rider to keep the nose up in powder and it also tends to allow for slower turn entry. Remember though that the heavy end of a board tends to want to go down the hill fastest so a set back stance requires just a little more control input from the rider. Newbies always have the problem of leaning too far back when riding and for this reason, a twin tip is often the best board to learn on.

Now riding switch with your bindings set back back is going to perform differently. If you are riding correctly, you are using your front foot to torsionally twist the board to initiate turns (except carving). With you bindings set back and riding it switch, your "new" front foot is much closer to the "new" nose. As such, you have a lot more leverage to twist the board with that front foot. This, combined with a directional side cut will make this board super touchy when it comes to steering. This problem increases with speed too.

So to sum it up, yes, anyone can ride switch on any board in any set up, but when first learning to ride switch, you can make it a little easier on yourself by using a true twin tip.....

Great that helps alot, thanks!

I have this board:

Burton Royale 2007

Trying to figure out if its a twin

Shteff · 06-28-2010, 05:25 PM

Thanks, thats useful to know

I ripped off my stomp pad and centered my bindings (still has the 25mm offset) and found it alot easier to ride switch. Beforehand it felt unnatural and like i was leaning too far over the front of my board, but now it feels alot the same as riding normally and i can land jumps easier switch.

Now i need to get my switch as good as my goofy...

06-13-2010, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shteff Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 11	Stance Setback I've setup my board so that i have a small amount of setback. The center of my front binding is 52cm from the tip and the center of my back binding is 46cm from the end. I've been working on alot of switch lately and want to get my 180's and 360's sorted. Should i center my bindings for this? I assume it will help when riding both ways, but will this affect my riding normally? Reason i ask is because i'll have to rip off my stomp pad. Cheers

06-15-2010, 03:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shteff Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 11	Thanks, so people who ride alot of switch usually have no offset? Last edited by Shteff; 06-15-2010 at 03:48 PM.

06-16-2010, 07:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
GavinHope Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England, North East Posts: 91	Is your board twin? If so, like the person above, I'd recommend a centred stance. Apart from that, I guess it depends on what kind of riding you like/aim to do. If you're wanting to land 180s and ride switch afterwards, then a more freestyle setup sounds right. As for it being easier/harder - you'll most certainly find switch easier if your stance is centered, but that doesn't mean you'll struggle with a slight setback. What you will get is a different feeling, depending on how big the setback is. I used to have a 158 Rome Anthem with about a 1" setback, and I could ride it switch ok, but it did feel like I had a rudder trailing behind me One thing to think about when you're measuring the distance from the binding to the end of the board, remember to measure to the contact points, rather than the tail or tip. Cheers __________________ Afterbang Snowboard Blog: keeping the snowboard stoke all year 'round. You might find these useful: Learn to Snowboard Guide and A Guide to Snowboard Tricks

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06-15-2010, 05:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
bubbachubba340 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tigard, OR Posts: 580	Yes, generally, but also most are riding twin or directional twin boards that are meant to be ridden with a centered stance because they have a centered sidecut, inserts, and equal nose/tail lengths. If your board is a twin then I would recomment a centered stance.

06-15-2010, 06:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
linvillegorge Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 4,491	For all mountain riding, I like a little bit of setback. The board feels more stable bombing for me with a little setback. For powder, I'll go with substantial setback as it just helps from wearing out my rear leg from keeping the nose up. The only time I go with a centered stance is when I'm doing pure park.

06-28-2010, 05:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shteff Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 11	Thanks, thats useful to know I ripped off my stomp pad and centered my bindings (still has the 25mm offset) and found it alot easier to ride switch. Beforehand it felt unnatural and like i was leaning too far over the front of my board, but now it feels alot the same as riding normally and i can land jumps easier switch. Now i need to get my switch as good as my goofy...