Angles for Beginners - Snowboarding Forum

lovethepow · 07-12-2011, 06:26 PM

I spend a lot of my snow time taking school kids to the snow and teaching them to ride. We (teachers and resort instructors) spend most of our week looking at technique through skill progressions to improve, but their stance angles get very little attention, unless they are particularly crazy. Its usually whatever the hire shop has the board set up as. And as we have used different shops over the years they each send out the boards at different angles. I'd like to set the kids up with the best chance of success. Now I understand angles are a personal thing and the best way to find your own is to play around with them till you find something that feels best, but beginners need to start with something, so is there an industry rule for beginners or what are the opinions out there? Ideally I'd like kids to be trying to ride switch during the week, so a duck stance of around +9, -9 is what I am currently suggesting. If a beginner is really stuggling will moving to a more positive stance help them like +9, 0?
Any thoughts or experiences in this would be appreciated.

ecks · 07-13-2011, 10:21 AM

When I started out I was told by an instructor to start with +12, 0 and adjust to it how I feel. After riding twice a buddy of mine set me up +9, -9 as you stated and it was a huge difference for me. I have since moved to +18, -15 and its my real sweet spot but I am amazed at how few instructors were telling beginners to start duck in the northeast.

I think Snowolf posted on this topic a couple of months ago so he will have some good feedback but I am a true believer in starting in a duck stance.

**HoboMaster** · 07-13-2011, 12:05 PM

I think a duck stance of some sort is ideal - doesn't have to be a true-duck but somewhere between 0 and the front angle. Personally I don't like true-duck for anything except park, I feel like you have more maneuverability with a small difference between the neg and pos. I ride +15, -9 and might try +18, -12

**Donutz** · 07-13-2011, 01:08 PM

The first time I rode, the rental critter set me up in duck. The second time, once I knew my stance, he set me up for 15/-9. I've been using that ever since, and I don't feel any need to change it.

Officer Shred · 07-15-2011, 03:19 AM

We have a stance guide here: Tutorial Snowboard Stance And Setup | Boardworld

Check the section under 'Binding Angles'.

Personally I'd recommend starting with 15, 0 for an absolute beginner. Only time I wouldn't is if the person finds it uncomfortable for some reason (unlikely).

Hope that helps you.

07-12-2011, 06:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
lovethepow Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1	Angles for Beginners I spend a lot of my snow time taking school kids to the snow and teaching them to ride. We (teachers and resort instructors) spend most of our week looking at technique through skill progressions to improve, but their stance angles get very little attention, unless they are particularly crazy. Its usually whatever the hire shop has the board set up as. And as we have used different shops over the years they each send out the boards at different angles. I'd like to set the kids up with the best chance of success. Now I understand angles are a personal thing and the best way to find your own is to play around with them till you find something that feels best, but beginners need to start with something, so is there an industry rule for beginners or what are the opinions out there? Ideally I'd like kids to be trying to ride switch during the week, so a duck stance of around +9, -9 is what I am currently suggesting. If a beginner is really stuggling will moving to a more positive stance help them like +9, 0? Any thoughts or experiences in this would be appreciated.

07-13-2011, 12:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
HoboMaster Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sandpoint / Moscow, ID Posts: 2,301	I think a duck stance of some sort is ideal - doesn't have to be a true-duck but somewhere between 0 and the front angle. Personally I don't like true-duck for anything except park, I feel like you have more maneuverability with a small difference between the neg and pos. I ride +15, -9 and might try +18, -12 __________________ PowderHound and TreeNinja

07-13-2011, 01:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,671 Blog Entries: 176	The first time I rode, the rental critter set me up in duck. The second time, once I knew my stance, he set me up for 15/-9. I've been using that ever since, and I don't feel any need to change it. __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

07-15-2011, 03:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Officer Shred Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 109	We have a stance guide here: Tutorial Snowboard Stance And Setup \| Boardworld Check the section under 'Binding Angles'. Personally I'd recommend starting with 15, 0 for an absolute beginner. Only time I wouldn't is if the person finds it uncomfortable for some reason (unlikely). Hope that helps you. __________________ http://www.boardworld.com.au \| Online snowboard lessons, trick tips, product reviews, contests, and Australian snowboarding forums \| Facebook Fan Page

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07-13-2011, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
ecks -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 413	When I started out I was told by an instructor to start with +12, 0 and adjust to it how I feel. After riding twice a buddy of mine set me up +9, -9 as you stated and it was a huge difference for me. I have since moved to +18, -15 and its my real sweet spot but I am amazed at how few instructors were telling beginners to start duck in the northeast. I think Snowolf posted on this topic a couple of months ago so he will have some good feedback but I am a true believer in starting in a duck stance.