tboooe

I was curious what sensation people have when they properly carve. I am not talking about how you feel (i.e. stoked, pumped, etc.). For example, when I do carve I feel the board actually accelerate as it arcs through the turn. With this acceleration I also feel more pressure being applied through the edge to the snow. I can feel the board flexing more as it digs deeper into the snow. Finally, when I transition to another edge, there is distinctive "pop" as I unweight the board. All the energy stored in the board as the flexed through the turn is released and almost forces me to make a little hop as I go to the other edge.

Any way, I was just curious.

Snowolf

What you are feeling and describing is what is known as "rebound". What is happening is in the accelerated carved turn, there is a lot of centrifugal force which tends to bend your board. When you release the edge, the natural spring of the board`s core releases this energy and that is the pop you feel. This is why a stiffer board is desirable for free riding and true carving. The stiffer board will resist this loading in the turn and thus has more rebound. A soft noodle of a park board washes out quickly and without that pop or rebound, it is harder to switch edges in an accelerated carved turn.

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Suburban Blend

I think of squats. You compress into the apex of each turn getting low. Rising up and releasing all that pressure toward to new turn is what happens next. With a stiffer board, as Snowolf said, feels like a rebound or pop.

Note: Once you know how to board, this is what you have to work on. The "range" of vertical motion comes from strength and conditioning. You have to get low to get high.

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Suburban Blend

FryS@uce

Anyone know how this works on a Banana? I'm lookin to get one for next season, so I'll post something if it's weird. Just curious if anyone on here has tried it already. i hear good things so far.

tboooe

I am not sure I understand what you mean here?

alf

That completely makes sense. But, I've been wondering: Sometimes the manufacturers rate (usually more expensive) flexible/freestyle type boards as having more "pop" than other, (usually less expensive) boards. How is it possible to get more rebound without making the board stiffer? Is it only through the powers of marketing?

Snowolf

A lot depends on both materials and construction. Many boards now have variable stiffness throughout the board`s length. For example, a board may be constructed so that overall it is fairly soft between the bindings, but will have carbon rails or plates embedded in the core at tip and tail to make the ends stiffer, thus giving the flexible board pop like an overall stiffer board.

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Suburban Blend

get low or squat in order to have the ability to rise up and extend toward your next turn. The saying mostly applies to halfpipe. Get low before the wall so that you can pop higher. Squatting in a carve is more like bending your knees than breaking at the waist. DON"T ever break at the waist. Always keep the upper body tall and poised in the direction of travel.

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Suburban Blend

tboooe

thanks for the input. Quick question. Lets say I am carving heel side, wont I have to lean forward at the waist in order to keep my body over the edge? The same can be said of the toe side. Won't I have to arch my back?

Suburban Blend

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Knees and hips only.

Toeside is similar to you kneeling with your shins parallel to the snow.
Healside is you projecting your leading hip like you're sitting in a chair.

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Suburban Blend