chomps1211

In my limited time/experience snowboarding, I have noticed quite a lot of riders who "seem" to be able to shred quite well, but do so using form that appears to be completely contrary to the accepted teachings and advice I've read and viewed.

To be specific, they bomb down the slope, fast and in control (...appear to be anyway), and seem to have the skills to easily stick various tricks. I.E. jumps, spins, butters & switch,.. but they do so with what I have been taught is totally "Bad" form & technique. They ride while having their upper bodies & shoulders completely open and facing forward. Lots of these riders look as if they're completely counter rotated for all of their turns & even when their bombing flat straight down the hill!!! (...remember now, I'm in the midwest & these are "bunny hill" resorts not big mnt.) More than a few even manage to "killit" while rockin' the whole "Mystery Date" look!!!

I bring this up because I am still struggling somewhat with balance on the board and the edges feeling "catchy"! For me, ANY lapse in technique or letting my shoulders get open, results in the board doing things that scare the shit outta me!

Don't mistake what I'm asking here, I'm not asking if it's ok for me to start riding with bad form,.. Just wondering how so many seem to get away with it! while riding with WAY more skill & confidence than I can!!!

[edit]
...is it one of those, "once you learn the "Rules" THEN you can start to break them kinda things??

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GreyDragon

Gotta say I'm also curious on this question.

I can ride pretty much any marked run, small hills or big mountain, but I'm going for my Level 2 instructor cert. here in Canada next weekend and I'm nervous about maintaining "proper" form during the course.
And yes, I too see guys riding with "technically" improper form, yet flying around the slopes.

I'm sure many on here don't necessarily respect the standards from AASI or CASI, but they are the ones who certify people to teach.

Any thoughts?

Lamps

Is say avoid developing bad habits, you may have to unlearn them later. No doubt there are guys with unusual riding stances that are very good but good form makes for the easiest riding and fastest progression. Might be no difference to bring the mystery date on the blues but maybe that stance won't work so good on steeper terrain.

mitch19

I see a lot of people go pretty much straight - wash of speed - straight wash off speed etc whilst riding and it looks horrible. On bunny hills/Green and even blue runs most people will get away with it as being able to 'ride' but as soon as you try to ride anything that requires more technique, they have no chance.

I know when I get tired/bored/run out I tend to get lazy and will do it as well and have to slap myself so I don't pick up bad habits

Donutz

This isn't just a snowboarding problem, it's a general sports problem. People can become quite good at whatever while doing everthing wrong. But if they had done it right, they'd be farther ahead with less effort.

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Illegitimi non carborundum

I hate the parts between winter...

slyder

Chomps great observation and so true here at our resorts in WI as well.

What I personally noticed when I went to Granite Peak and was riding the double blacks. I had to VERY much concentrate on good form and I was able to ride them and have fun. That was where, (excuse wrong terminology) Snowolf taught me about dynamic movements??? and to really keep my weight on the front of the board to be able to control my turns.
I was not bombing these runs but very meticulously getting down, what to me was very steep runs, and GP does have them.
My whole point is if I wouldn't have been practicing this at our home hill on green/blue/blacks I wouldn't have been able to try these runs at the better resorts.

Also when I taught myself to ride switch is when I noticed bad habits in my normal riding. Starting over you really must emphasize the correct riding form.

Follow good form and I use all those people to teach/reinforce form to myself and my kids, especially me. My kids sometimes just say "I knoooow dad...." yet they open their shoulders anyway....

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-Slyder

BurtonAvenger

Personal Style > Robot Teaching Techniques!

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Toecutter

I'm not quite sure what this means but I'm chuckling anyway.

ShredLife

not AASI certified:

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get the hell off my lawn.

slyder

You don't know what the mystery date is??

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-Slyder