i cant tell if i ride goofy or regular? - Snowboarding Forum

arctyler · 12-23-2012, 01:08 PM

i went snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and i cant tell what i ride, goofy or regular, i cant do heelside turns yet, i can only do toeside but when i ride straight and make toeside turns on both goofy and regular, they both feel natural, and people say have someone push you when u arent paying attention and whatever foot you stick out to catch yourself is in the back, which would be my right, but also ive heard when u slide across a floor in socks, whatever foot is up front is the one you should have upfront on a snowboard, which would be my right, so both are opposite, so how can i tell? and they both feel natural, im right handed, and most of the day yesterday i rode regular because thats the way my board was set up

cozmo · 12-23-2012, 01:24 PM

Next time u rent a board ask for a goofy setup, right foot in front.
See at the end of the day wether u like regular or goofy best.
In any case you'll be great at riding switch (wrong foot in front).

**Donutz** · 12-23-2012, 02:28 PM

First, those push tricks don't always work. They probably will be right a lot of the time, but you can't depend on them.

As far as snowboarding, it isn't necessarily obvious when you're first starting out. I wasn't really strongly one way or the other either. But what happens is that you'll start to learn things (like heelside turns) and you'll find yourself doing them easier one way than the other. In my case, when riding what turned out to be switch, I didn't always get the board turning in time so I'd end up just butt-planting. Didn't have the problem riding regular. Eventually it just became easier to stick to regular.

DesireeM81 · 12-23-2012, 02:30 PM

I am natural switch because I have horrendously bad knees. So when one knee starts to hurt when riding goofy, (the stance I start off on) I switch to regular and back. I think it can be very natural to ride switch. Try riding both, switching up your settings too. I started out at 15,-15, then I went to 9,-9, I am going to try 12,-12 next time and see which I like best.

slyder · 12-23-2012, 02:35 PM

Lots of times it's your dominant foot. If you kick a ball right footed that foot goes in back. Push a Razor scooter with right foot, right goes in back. Both making you a regular rider.

ME I do both these right footed but I slide on ice/floor right foot in front. I snowboard right foot in front IE goofy.

So the old tests dont' always work but I am that rare odd ball statistic for those tests. Give it a try goofy sometimes it just clicks for you.

Good Luck

tdn · 12-23-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctyler

i went snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and i cant tell what i ride, goofy or regular, i cant do heelside turns yet, i can only do toeside but when i ride straight and make toeside turns on both goofy and regular, they both feel natural, and people say have someone push you when u arent paying attention and whatever foot you stick out to catch yourself is in the back, which would be my right, but also ive heard when u slide across a floor in socks, whatever foot is up front is the one you should have upfront on a snowboard, which would be my right, so both are opposite, so how can i tell? and they both feel natural, im right handed, and most of the day yesterday i rode regular because thats the way my board was set up

Actually, with both tests it's your right foot. The push test is whatever foot you catch yourself with is your lead foot, same as the slide test. As Donutz said, it's not a full proof test, but in my experience it's right the vast majority of times and it's a good place to start. I'd recommend sticking with a goofy set up for at least a whole day, or two and gauging your progression from there. Also, take lessons if you can.

slyder · 12-23-2012, 02:42 PM

The "very" limited times I've done the push test it was spot on...

Slush Puppie · 12-23-2012, 02:42 PM

Dont sweat it, you are lucky. I also had very little preference when I started. After a week on the snow, the only way I could find any difference was that I could hold a straight-line slightly longer regular than switch. Turns etc felt equally natural both ways.

Just be sure to repeat whatever you learn in both directions and you'll never have to 'learn' switch.

Backcountry · 12-23-2012, 03:15 PM

Sounds like goofy but try it out. I found out I was goofy just because when I first stepped on a skateboard I had my right foot forward and that's what I've done ever since. Also I bat left handed (right foot forward) while playing baseball or any other sport like that.

EatRideSleep · 12-23-2012, 04:09 PM

I've noticed that when walking downstairs, I always lead with my right foot. I ride goofy. When walking downstairs sideways (as you would in a pair of heels), I always lead with my right side/right foot.

Lately I've been trying to switch it up for symmetry. I have to consciously think about leading with the left.

Anyone else notice the stairs thing in relation to their stance?

12-23-2012, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
arctyler Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 28	i cant tell if i ride goofy or regular? i went snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and i cant tell what i ride, goofy or regular, i cant do heelside turns yet, i can only do toeside but when i ride straight and make toeside turns on both goofy and regular, they both feel natural, and people say have someone push you when u arent paying attention and whatever foot you stick out to catch yourself is in the back, which would be my right, but also ive heard when u slide across a floor in socks, whatever foot is up front is the one you should have upfront on a snowboard, which would be my right, so both are opposite, so how can i tell? and they both feel natural, im right handed, and most of the day yesterday i rode regular because thats the way my board was set up

12-23-2012, 02:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,669 Blog Entries: 176	First, those push tricks don't always work. They probably will be right a lot of the time, but you can't depend on them. As far as snowboarding, it isn't necessarily obvious when you're first starting out. I wasn't really strongly one way or the other either. But what happens is that you'll start to learn things (like heelside turns) and you'll find yourself doing them easier one way than the other. In my case, when riding what turned out to be switch, I didn't always get the board turning in time so I'd end up just butt-planting. Didn't have the problem riding regular. Eventually it just became easier to stick to regular. __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

12-23-2012, 02:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,927	Lots of times it's your dominant foot. If you kick a ball right footed that foot goes in back. Push a Razor scooter with right foot, right goes in back. Both making you a regular rider. ME I do both these right footed but I slide on ice/floor right foot in front. I snowboard right foot in front IE goofy. So the old tests dont' always work but I am that rare odd ball statistic for those tests. Give it a try goofy sometimes it just clicks for you. Good Luck __________________ Thanks -Slyder

12-23-2012, 02:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,927	The "very" limited times I've done the push test it was spot on... __________________ Thanks -Slyder

12-23-2012, 02:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Slush Puppie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: looking west over the Atlantic Posts: 283	Dont sweat it, you are lucky. I also had very little preference when I started. After a week on the snow, the only way I could find any difference was that I could hold a straight-line slightly longer regular than switch. Turns etc felt equally natural both ways. Just be sure to repeat whatever you learn in both directions and you'll never have to 'learn' switch. __________________ We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further. Richard Dawkins

12-23-2012, 01:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
cozmo Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Holland Posts: 47	Next time u rent a board ask for a goofy setup, right foot in front. See at the end of the day wether u like regular or goofy best. In any case you'll be great at riding switch (wrong foot in front).

12-23-2012, 02:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
DesireeM81 Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 59	I am natural switch because I have horrendously bad knees. So when one knee starts to hurt when riding goofy, (the stance I start off on) I switch to regular and back. I think it can be very natural to ride switch. Try riding both, switching up your settings too. I started out at 15,-15, then I went to 9,-9, I am going to try 12,-12 next time and see which I like best.

12-23-2012, 03:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Backcountry -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Montana Posts: 265	Sounds like goofy but try it out. I found out I was goofy just because when I first stepped on a skateboard I had my right foot forward and that's what I've done ever since. Also I bat left handed (right foot forward) while playing baseball or any other sport like that.

12-23-2012, 04:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
EatRideSleep Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 673	I've noticed that when walking downstairs, I always lead with my right foot. I ride goofy. When walking downstairs sideways (as you would in a pair of heels), I always lead with my right side/right foot. Lately I've been trying to switch it up for symmetry. I have to consciously think about leading with the left. Anyone else notice the stairs thing in relation to their stance?

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