cadencesdad

Ok, going on my third year snowboarding and had a few questions.

First, I am REALLY comfortable going off jumps (Not sure what the term is) where the bottom just falls out. Like at the top of a steep hill.
I tend to time the takeoff right, feel really stable and usually catch pretty good air.

the second jump, where the top of the jump tends to aim the board upwards, throws everything off balance for me.

Is this just mental? would a grab, like say an indy help level the board? It just feels like I am launching myself upwards and I freak. Funny thing is I usually catch more air doing the first kind of jump, so I don't think its the fear of heights or crashing, just the feel of the jump.

I there a term for the first kind of jump. I think the second is called a kicker???

Thanks guys.

anti-bling

I call jumps like the ones you describe 'step-downs'. There are also 'step-ups', where the landing is higher than the take-off.

Step downs are generally easier because your weight is centered over the board on take-off, you don't have to adjust much.

On regular kickers (because the 'kick' you up) are different, you have to change the your body position from and upwards angle to a downwards angle.

Most people don't really think about it, it just comes with practice. A good way to get comfortable with it, and the most basic form of jumping is the ollie.

Practice your ollies, popping off the tail and landing with both feet at the same time. Just practicing that means that you have to shift your weight in the air (from popping off the tail where you have to weight your back foot, to landing centered over the board with both feet means you have to shift the weight from back to front), almost the exact same as on a kicker.

So get your ollie on, practice it off of small bumps, over small children, and lava puddles.
Then take it back to a kicker, with out actually popping off the tail (you can if you want way more air, but its not neccessary).

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King Shit of Turdville

justdust

How can a pilot be afraid of heights?

Muki

Trying to picture a step-up.

The first jump in this video..is that it?

YouTube - Drowning Pool - Step Up (snowboard)

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November needs to hurry up and come

rainboarding

Haha that is funny, but explains it pretty well. I can't say I've seen one before IRL, but that's probably because I've only been to the park at snocrummy 45 mins from Seattle. Do you ever see people scrub off too much speed and not make it up? I'd think that would be a very awkward situation

RaD RaBauT

If you find yourself losing your balance backwards it's prolly because your not lifting up your back foot. when you hit a jump that has a steep incline you need to lift both your legs up or pop in order to stay level in the air