NWBoarder

It can be done. Look at Travis Rice. And since snowboarding is always compared to skating, look at Bob Burnquist as well. I'm pretty sure he rides switch better than he rides regular these days.

__________________
Oh yeah!? Well, my mom says I'm cool!

CheeseForSteeze

I think JP Walker set the gold standard for switch riding. The blueprint is simple: do everything switch. Skate switch. Load the lift switch. Get off the lift switch. Ride switch. Walk up stairs with your switch foot first. etc.

Chopfuey

Have been working on my switch here and there for the past 3 seasons. Definitely not where I want to be, but I believe it's definitely possible to be at the same level as your regular stance. If you dedicate some time it should be relatively quick and easy to learn switch with the prior experience riding regular.

__________________
it's gotta be snowing somewhere in the world...

davidj

Almost from the start, when I learned to link turns, I started working on switch riding. Now I ride 50-60% switch (goofy is my normal stance) on any given day. Some days on the slopes, I end up the day feeling more comfortable riding switch than regular. But I definitely have to work more on switch to be equally comfortable both ways.

I'd say I'm 90% when riding switch, compared to regular. Note that I'm no expert, just an intermediate. The only times I've found that I favor goofy is if there are narrow, icy and steep cat tracks. Then I'm not as confident that I can make as quick turns as I need, to control/scrub off speed.

__________________
Equal opportunity offender.

jlm1976

I am pretty much identical switch and regular everywhere but the park. Freeriding/freestyle outside of the park I don't really pay attention to which way I am riding anymore. The way I got there was lots and lots of work. As soon as I learn something regular, I apply it switch.

ELCO5280

I switch the beer from my left to right hand effortlessly.

As far as bording I can definitely use some improvement riding switch. I can carve and land jumps switched but for some reason get real sketchy trying to hit jumps switch or riding steeps/bumps switch.

I like the idea of setting up my bindings for and ride everything goofy for a day.

S4Shredr

Can it be done? Yea, its possible.

That being said, there will more than likely be certain things that you feel more comfortable doing one way or the other so being 100% the same either way, I would say, is next to impossible.

Toecutter

Corollary question: How hard is it to learn switch with a directional board?

Last season I worked on riding switch but never quite got comfortable. I only have directional freeride, all mountain, and pow boards and don't plan to buy a twin tip just to learn this one skill on.

ThunderChunky

QFT The best way to try to get as close as possible to both regular and goofy riding is to learn both as soon as you start to learn to snowboard. I have a friend that didn't know if he was goofy or regular when he was learning so he just learned both parallel to each other and now he literally doesn't have a dominant stance. It's actually kind of annoying riding with him because each lift ride up you could be sitting on either side of him.

__________________

dreampow

As Snowwolf says this makes it inherently harder to learn switch. Both my boards are also directional freeride.
I can center the bindings but the flex and side cut are not twin so it is much harder to control at speed.
I would say up to 70% of top speed its fine, but then you really start to notice the tail is softer (because its the nose) and its easy to wash out.

I am also not really wanting to buy a twin so I spend one day of a 3 day trip in switch (I am goofy so regular).
I set up my bindings that way so if I ride goofy I am at a disadvantage and can maximize my ability and thus speed of learning switch.

Guess if I really want to get as good both ways I should be spending 2 days switch and 1 goofy.

I just enjoy riding both ways and really find it uses my whole body better. It also gives you the freedom to freestyle the the whole mountain in more ways.

I also agree with others that the best way to get good with switch is as soon as you have something down in your regular stance to start doing it in switch. I was riding switch from the beginning as soon as I had basic linked turns in goofy I started trying it the other way.

Do teachers recommend this?
I know its not for everyone, but it does seem a god idea to me. Again in football (soccer) we do just that. Get it down on the dominant foot and as soon as that is fairly OK its time to learn how to do it with your other foot.
People who don't do that early on often have a huge difference in skill level on one side.