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Switch Riding

5K views 35 replies 16 participants last post by  andrewdod 
#1 ·
Does anyone have tips for learning to ride switch?
The problem for me is that I feel very comfortable riding goofy in snowboarding and skateboarding(I love carving bowls goofy). However, when going off of jumps on my snowboard, I feel more comfortable going off regular :icon_scratch: . I want to get used to riding switch(regular) so I can perform tricks in both stance with ease.

Any tips for learning to ride switch over summer?
 
#7 ·
The thing about learning to ride switch is to remember to step your terrain back a notch or two. When progressing on anything in riding, you have two factors to consider; terrain and task. Try not to step up task and terrain at the same time. If learning a new task, drop the terrain level. If stepping up the terrain, drop your task level. To improve your switch riding, do it more and on easier terrain then revert back to your standard stance when the terrain gets more challenging. Eventually if you do this, you will find that you can ride switch well on ever more challenging terrain and with more speed.
 
#16 ·
Eh, can't say I 100% agree with your parents. There may not be an immediate future in snowboarding (going 'pro' is one of the worst career paths possible for anyone who loves snowboarding), but some of the most fulfilling (and well paying) careers in the world come from being passionate about something, developing your skill in that area and finding a way where your passion and skills acquired along the way can be applied to earn money.

It may not even be in snowboarding, but in something related that came as a result of your time spent snowboarding.

For example, a friend of mine is a gym trainer and he's doing quite well for himself now as a result of the path he followed with his passion for snowboarding. Gym trainers don't typically earn much, but they do earn a good income when you happen to be one of the top trainers in an area with a lot of high income earners such as a ski resort. My friend would never have found that path if not for snowboarding and developing that passion in his life.

There's no reason you can't continue to follow that passion for snowboarding while also getting good grades etc. Never stop doing the things you're passionate about, you never know where they may lead you.

Anyhow that's off topic...

For your original question, in the off season your best bet is skateboarding switch since I assume you don't have access to any riding over the spring/summer months.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Thanks for the advice Jed(BTW I love your blog :)). How I becoming pro a horrible career? Especially at a young age, you could earn some good income from contests. Ayumu Hirano for instance. He still has his skills in the sport so he can earn some money for contests and he has his parents to support him since he's still in highschool. Also, can't you create your own brand name in snowboarding? I'm no business man but I have had some experience in creating small little websites. :p I'm only 13 anyway.
Anyway, I've been riding the small hills nearby switch on my skateboard. I'm kind of getting the hang of it... kind of. :icon_scratch:
 
#24 ·
I agree, however, I'm just not able to reach the slopes frequently enough(1-2 days a year), let alone a halfpipe. You live near Whistler so I assume you go to the slope much more frequently.
Well you're young now, but once you're a little older you can move wherever you want. There's no reason why where you live now has to be where you live when you're older, especially if you happen to end up in one of those careers that lets you work from home.

I live in Whistler because I moved here at 18. I actually grew up in places that never even see snow or flurries and until I moved in Whistler I had 2 days of snowboarding under my belt, so anything is possible.
 
#25 ·
I guess you can practice switch on a skateboard but skating and snowboarding are different... Your gunna have to practice it on a snowboard. I learned to ride switch not too long ago and basically i dedicated a whole day to it, then after that I would go on a couple switch runs everyday. It's very uncomfortable at first and you tend to automatically turn to your comfortable stance. Another thing I had trouble with was looking in the right direction
 
#27 ·
It's true. Just get a good job and you can snowboard frequently. I've been with my company 5 years and have enough vacation that I've taken every single Monday off to snowboard since February... and I'll continue doing that through the end of this month. Then I'll follow it up with a trip to Vegas. You just need a good job with adequite vacation time.
 
#29 ·
As it's been said, time. But we do a little game which improved my switch riding alot. While riding in a group at any time one person can call 'switch it up' everyone starts riding switch and first person to eat shit buys a jug of beer.
I love free beer, so it's a great incentive.
 
#32 ·
This is true, but I can't say my decision to come to school here wasn't influenced heavily by the fact that snowboarding almost everyday was a possibility. I could have gone to much better schools. And I can't say that after I graduate I won't be a snowboard bum for a winter or two.
 
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