con3593

Ok, after reading here alot, I feel like a total idiot because my form is not good. When I turn, my back foot is kind of used as a rudder, and my turns are real erratic and not so smooth. My arms flail alot. On all of the back country I do, since my board sucks, I get thrown in the air A LOT, so thats how i turn, I do like a third of a spin in the direction I want to turn and land in that way. What do I do to fix these?

buffalo

Haha, I do this very same thing. Like, say if you are turning left (I'm goofy footed) I'll slam my front toe edge foot down and then quickly follow that with my back foot hoping to not catch an edge. Vice versa for turning right and then in switch and I use my back as a rudder also most often.

Snowolf

Check out the "how to" section sticky`d at the top for starters. You might want to watch the lesson video as well to pick up a top or two. What you need to start getting the hang of is "torsional steering" using the flex of the board to twist it in the direction you want to go by using your ankles, knees and hips. The rear foot is along for the ride most of the time. In steep terrain or riding muguls, you will push and pull the rear foot more than on a groomer, but the turn is still initiated with the front foot.

For edging, going from heel to toe, use the hips to shift over your edge more and not leaning you entire upper body. This keeps most of your weight centered over the top of the board in all phases of the turn.

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con3593

well outta no where this whole deal just clicked. I don't twist the board, i twist my body. so i gotta start bending the board. I kinda liked my style, it's fun but exhausting. It sucks learning things like this in the summer...im gonna forget by the next time I go out

Snowolf

Yep, basic (very basic) rule of thumb for free riding is if your upper body is sore and tire from a day of riding, you need to improve your technique. In freestyle and in more dynamic types of riding such as moguls, you will use a lot of upper body deliberately.

Another rule of thumb is that you control your board from below the belt line and you control balance from above the belt line.

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