Mr. Right

For me if I'm in a high speed hard brake check I think it's easier to absorb bumps etc. heelside, especially in moguls and icy/choppy spots. Plus if you lay into it really hard toe side and loose your footing then you are going to be sliding on your face and not your ass.

Snowolf

Mechanically, it matters not whether you stop heel or toeside. Which ever way is most comfortable and is quickest when needed. Most people will prefer to do an "emergency stop" on their heelside simply because they can see in front of them to avoid problems and take further evassive action if needed.

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xevi89

I prefer stopping/speed checking toe side, just seems easier to me. I can't really help wihout going back out and thinking what I'm doing, but last night I was ripping down a blue and just about max speed when someone came in from of me. I immediately dug in toeside extremely hard and came to a complete stop in about a little over 10 feet. If it had been a little more snow and a little less ice the guy in front of me would have gotten showered on

mister_tu

Went on a black diamond my first time on Wednesday and I can tell you this much, there is no such thing as an "emergency stop" on a steep dip unless you wanna take a ride on your backside.

Now, I've gotta learn on how to effectively speed check on turns. I guess on intermediate trails, it's much easier to edge the board and come to a complete stop, but I'm finding out the hard way that I still have a lot of learning to do.

headinahole

The only emergency stop you have there is digging your board in while you slide on your back head first down the mountain ...


Mike

Snowolf

This is only partially true...

You can still do a good and effective panic stop, but you have to learn good edge control and develope a feel for just how much edge angle you can maintain and still remain in control. Just as in a car, your total stopping distance will change based on the grade and the surface conditions. The "emergency stop" simply requires more space on steep runs and therefore the need to plan even farther ahead for impending disasters such as sideslipping noobs and skiers traversing the entire run. With practice you will get much better at this. One thing that will help is to keep your legs flexed a bit so that if the board begins to chatter, you can quiet it down and reduce the edge angle a bit to regain control.

The brake and turn method is also an effective way to avoid collisions and yell out ...if the person will just stop, it is much easier to steer arond them. As you are riding, do not be too timid to call out to someone when you are overtaking or it looks like you are on a potential collision course. I have prevented countless accidents by simply shouting out a warning.

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junglecat1971

Heelside, sit down really far to get the edge up. Toe side, drop those knees far down again to get that edge up. In both cases, your knees are bending low low low but you get better balance control this way and less chance of sliding out. Like others said though, it'll come with experience.