Mr. Right

Ok, I have been riding for 3 years, but I can't ride switch very well AT ALL. I have 3 boards. A Burton Bullet 164 (powder), a 161 M3 Dicord (fast as sin, lighter powder), and a 158 Sined Mr. Right (sick directional all mountain board). I am probably right around 5'11" and weigh somewhere around 175-180 lbs right now (haven't weighed myself for a little while). I have only tried switch on the short board but I'm wondering if it would help to switch the bindings around to ride it switch due to the fact it's a directional board. Should I try it that way? I am regular and if I ride switch it feels like I barely know how to snowboard, where as if I ride regular I can keep up with almost anyone I see. I CAN catch some air riding regular and land it pretty decently but I want to start doing spins etc. Any tips on this? Does it make THAT much difference to ride a directional board switch or would it be a good idea to buy a good twin tip board? I almost think it wouldn't be a bad idea because then I could 12 -12 it and ride it either way (Ill get frustrated practicing switch and will probably want to ride a regular run in between practice runs). Tips?

B-166-er

im a total beginner at snowboarding, but the times i have ridden, ive done mildly decent riding and landing switch

but it seemed that the more i did do it, the easier it got

thats all you can do......practice

as for board set-up, i dont really know much about that......but id say make it somewhat difficult to learn it, so once you get it down......its down


but if i were you, id ignore this entire post

Mr. Right

Shit if you can land a jump switch, then you have good advice for me I can ride like a bat out of hell regular, and even smoke a buddy of mine that has been riding for years (No fear of death or dismemberment lol) but switch, I look like that new guy borrowing his buddies gear

B-166-er

i landed wobbly, but the first time i tried it, i just landed

i was going off a really small jump we built in my friends yard

you just gott get that left leg strong and stable, and the easiest way will just be to ride switch

Mr. Right

It's fawking awkward haha. I guess I'll just switch my bindings around on the short board and take both my boards so when I get sick of practicing switch I can grab my other board and fly. I gotta learn this season though, I wish I spent an equal amount of time riding switch/regular when I was learning.

Snowolf

The main issues with riding switch are some people are very directional and it takes a lot of practice to train you body to ride switch (called muscle memmory) Another big fact is that as riders, we learn to ride riding or normal stance and we become pretty good riders. When we get around to trying to ride switch, we inevitably do it on terrain that is far more advanced that what we originaly learned on. Add to this the fact that we just hate felling like a noob again.

A directional board is really only an issue if it`s sidecut is progressive as oposed to radial. A radial sidecut is consistent from end to end whereas a progressive sidecut usually starts out gently then becomes more agressive toward the tail. The idea is that it makes turn initiation gentle and gradual then really powers you out of the turn. When you ride this switch, it is the opposite;turn initiation becomes agressive, then it washes out at the end. With practice this can easily be ridden switch but it is more challenging to learn on. A true twin is going to be a bit easier since it is totally symetrical.

What I recomend when learning switch is to go back to basics. This means you have to swallow your pride a little and go ride the green groomers and go nice and slow to train your body to respond and interpret physical sensations correctly. With practice it gets easier and easier. I can ride switch on almost any terrain, though I do not yet ride switch as fast as I do regular. It really is like learning snowboard over again.

Switching your bindings will make it easier to learn, but at first, strap in your normal stance to ride the lift. You don`t want to have to try to get off a lift one footed riding switch untill you are more comfortable with it.

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PaoloSmythe

i do not think turning your binders so you become goofy is really a good plan. it is a pain in the arse in many respects.

the only advise i would give, is duck your stance and practice! the problem is, it is tuff to ride like a learner when switch, when a quick flick of the board can see you riding like a pro as regular.

you gots to put in the time is all! re-acquaint yourself with the embarrassment and pain of falling on your arse after catching an edge! no easier, better way to do it!

the best thing i found was to find a nice entertaining piste (steep bits, flat bits, jumps and lumps).... ride it regular so you get an idea of the speed you can get, then do it all again switch. if things get hazy, stop and think about what your body does to initiate a heel / toe side turn when regular, and just turn it around to fit the switch direction.

repetition is the mother of learning. metal up and go feel like a spastic! it won't last forever!

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Just coz you don't understand it
Doesn't mean it makes no sense!

Snowjoe

like the rest of the guys said its all practice, last year I just rode switch for a week and that got the job done! Duck your bindings out and its better.

swmike

Switch. If you are riding anything above 0 on your back foot, then you'll need to turn it out. But other than that - you get to learn to snowboard all oer again! And that can be fun - because you now know you can do it and what to do - just getting your body to follow is a challenge, and adventure. Go the the beginner hill and shadow a beginner lesson.

lisevolution

I just started the last 2 times I went up practicing switch and it sucks but I know it's worth it in the end. I'll tell you though I forgot what it feels like to suck at this!