Ima hop turner :( is that bad? - Snowboarding Forum

Sincraft · 02-13-2011, 10:08 PM

Watched videos, posted in here looking for answers, watched and read some more...

just something not translating through my thick skull

so after reading and watching people, I realized, I hop when I turn. Toe side, a little less. If I crash hard after trying to turn 'properly', I hop even more going to my heelside turns.

I try to slide turn and I catch an edge.

My biggest problem is, when I start my turn Im not facing downhill I think, board still at a 30 deg angle (or less) from pointing down the fall line. I get too flat and catch a back edge. (board goes in one direction, my body desperating hopes the board will make its way around.

I THINK my weigh balance is alot of the issue... dunno.

Is this bad? Will I eventually work my way out of this or am I ingraining this into my brain?

I'm still very new, haven't had a full season under my belt and had to miss a couple weeks because of being sick and for work..

Technine Icon · 02-13-2011, 10:19 PM

Since you haven't been riding for very long, I would say that you will eventually build up enough confidence to make the transition between turns without hopping. Watch more videos of proper technique and use those as visual models when you go riding next.

DC5R · 02-13-2011, 10:57 PM

Yes, hop turning is bad. Have you thought about taking a lesson?

Sincraft · 02-14-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Basically, it sounds like you are hesitating too long to commit to the edge change. This hesitation is allowing your board to side slip down the hill too much and then you flatten it out completely front and back foot and wham.

Remember, you initiate these basic skidded turns using board twist and the front foot is used first in any turn initiation. With your board across the fall line in a traverse, shift your body weight toward your front foot. This is done with the legs, not breaking at the waist. Relax only the front foot while maintaining uphill edge pressure with the back foot. The nose of the board begins to slip down the hill and as it does this, you slowly let off of the uphill pressure with the back foot. The ideal timing is that as the board points down the fall line in the turn, you are totally flat based for a half of a second.

You then increase edge pressure with the front foot only onto the new edge to control the board through your turn. As the the board continues to turn up out of the fall line, you should be gradually increasing uphill edge pressure (same edge as the front foot) to follow through and complete your turn.

Thanks Sno, I'll try to remember this verbatim when I go out next. Alas, our weather is turning VERY unfavorable this year. 50's this week and one day may hit a high of 65! I'm hoping we get a cold snap, a bunch of snow to replace what was lost and to cover the garbage that will be left over to get some more weeks in.

I think my issue is that I'm not weighting properly. I tried the front foot twist and IMMEDIATELY caught my back edge and fell on my butt , on the bunny slope! lol. I have been able to toss my weight forward and back over and in front of the board to ride on either the toe or heel edge, which gives me a slight turn while traversing straight down the slope, but it only works with packed power and at a very medium speed, so I knew something was wrong there too. I had a couple turns that were rather effortless, but I never was able to remember what I did.

If I had a medium hill I think I could learn alot more. The bunny slope is too slow and the blue hills are always very packed and slick. you FLY and time is very limited.

Hopefully I'll get it, if I don't the next couple times out I'm going to try to find a certified instructor... my initial search turned up nothing for my area tho

02-13-2011, 10:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sincraft Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 294	Ima hop turner :( is that bad? Watched videos, posted in here looking for answers, watched and read some more... just something not translating through my thick skull so after reading and watching people, I realized, I hop when I turn. Toe side, a little less. If I crash hard after trying to turn 'properly', I hop even more going to my heelside turns. I try to slide turn and I catch an edge. My biggest problem is, when I start my turn Im not facing downhill I think, board still at a 30 deg angle (or less) from pointing down the fall line. I get too flat and catch a back edge. (board goes in one direction, my body desperating hopes the board will make its way around. I THINK my weigh balance is alot of the issue... dunno. Is this bad? Will I eventually work my way out of this or am I ingraining this into my brain? I'm still very new, haven't had a full season under my belt and had to miss a couple weeks because of being sick and for work..

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02-13-2011, 10:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Technine Icon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CT Posts: 1,252	Since you haven't been riding for very long, I would say that you will eventually build up enough confidence to make the transition between turns without hopping. Watch more videos of proper technique and use those as visual models when you go riding next.

02-13-2011, 10:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
DC5R Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,610	Yes, hop turning is bad. Have you thought about taking a lesson?