Riding Switch - Snowboarding Forum

hunterxaz · 11-24-2011, 07:51 PM

What's up people?

I'm having difficulty learning switch. Does anyone have any tips on how I can focus on it and practice it better? It feels so unbalanced. Should I stick to the bunny hill and just relearn to ride switch, or should I just try it while out on the mountain? How did you practice switch?

Thanks

ThunderChunky · 11-24-2011, 08:01 PM

Just ride switch. It's just like learning to ride all over again. Just a little easier.

WasatchMan · 11-24-2011, 08:03 PM

If you refused to ride switch when you first learned to snowboard, it's a little more difficult, like me.

I'm sure people have better advice, but me, I just forced myself. After a couple days it all comes to you.

dreampow · 11-24-2011, 08:08 PM

just do it, you might want to actively make sure your shoulders are properly aligned with the new direction,
I see lots of people who are so used to one way riding when they go switch they still have their shoulders lined up for their regular stance.

Jr@BlueKnob · 11-24-2011, 08:42 PM

Exactly the same as riding your regular stance. A lit if people have the pro lem of centering their weight on their back foot especially when riding switch. Have someone knowledgeable check your form.

snowklinger · 11-24-2011, 08:56 PM

there are actually several good tips for riding switch. i have surfed and skated forever, but in surfing nobody rides switch ever (except for short extremely rare circumstances like 180 airs and shit like that, and thats not really switch, your board is backwards) and i never did very well switch skating either as i was not a pipe or park, but street and downhill rider.

point being never really practiced switch even on the snow, but since becoming obsessed last year, it has become important to me as well.

this video helped me alot: Snowboard Basics: Switch Riding - YouTube

everything he says is really important, he is not wasting words. watch it like 20x. its hard to remember everything on the mountain, but everything he says HELPS.

you can just practice and learn the hard way, like the guys say, but there are definitely some really solid tips here:

1. concentrate on a new foot forward, instead of imagining that you are riding backwards.
2. rotate your back knee out as you keep square and centered on your board, but turning your shoulders and head to the direction you are heading, driving the board where you want it to go.
3. focus on the independant movements of your lower legs to control your board to link turns

extra from me
4. if you already are beyond beginner riding regular, then teaching yourself to ride switch should remind you alot of your first few days on a board. you have to be a little more mindful of your edges so you dont look like a somersaulting scorpion all day. turns are not initially natural, but something you have to focus on as you transition from heel and toe throughout the turn.

learning switch was important to me for a long time but i could never find any tips. i've watched this video like a hundred times and rode a bunch of switch this preseason...its working! you CAN teach an old dog...

i like doug's videos, have pulled a couple super bogus 270ish 360's barely even trying but focusing on the stuff he teaches in that video as well.

que · 11-24-2011, 08:58 PM

It is easier, but admittedly scarier when you have a little bit of speed. Get over your fear of going fast and it will be easier.

the_nev · 11-24-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowklinger

1. concentrate on a new foot forward, instead of imagining that you are riding backwards.
2. rotate your back knee out as you keep square and centered on your board, but turning your shoulders and head to the direction you are heading, driving the board where you want it to go.
3. focus on the independant movements of your lower legs to control your board to link turns

Perfect advice, I'd also add to remember to keep your weight forward.

I tend to not like riding switch the first few days of the season, but you warm to it quickly again once you get a couple of linked turns.
Once I got comfortable riding switch around the flatter parts first then forced myself to do more difficult runs switch.

Most of my mates don't slow down so riding switch around the mountain was a bit scary at times but it forced me to pick it up quickly.

ThunderChunky · 11-24-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by que

It is easier, but admittedly scarier when you have a little bit of speed. Get over your fear of going fast and it will be easier.

QFT............................................... ...........

bcasey · 11-24-2011, 09:28 PM

Wearing your gear backwards and pump some Kris Kross in your headphones is the key to success.

.. but seriously, just ride your snowboard backwards doing the same things as you would natural.

11-24-2011, 07:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
hunterxaz Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 32	Riding Switch What's up people? I'm having difficulty learning switch. Does anyone have any tips on how I can focus on it and practice it better? It feels so unbalanced. Should I stick to the bunny hill and just relearn to ride switch, or should I just try it while out on the mountain? How did you practice switch? Thanks

11-24-2011, 08:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
snowklinger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: fuck boulder Posts: 2,806	there are actually several good tips for riding switch. i have surfed and skated forever, but in surfing nobody rides switch ever (except for short extremely rare circumstances like 180 airs and shit like that, and thats not really switch, your board is backwards) and i never did very well switch skating either as i was not a pipe or park, but street and downhill rider. point being never really practiced switch even on the snow, but since becoming obsessed last year, it has become important to me as well. this video helped me alot: Snowboard Basics: Switch Riding - YouTube everything he says is really important, he is not wasting words. watch it like 20x. its hard to remember everything on the mountain, but everything he says HELPS. you can just practice and learn the hard way, like the guys say, but there are definitely some really solid tips here: 1. concentrate on a new foot forward, instead of imagining that you are riding backwards. 2. rotate your back knee out as you keep square and centered on your board, but turning your shoulders and head to the direction you are heading, driving the board where you want it to go. 3. focus on the independant movements of your lower legs to control your board to link turns extra from me 4. if you already are beyond beginner riding regular, then teaching yourself to ride switch should remind you alot of your first few days on a board. you have to be a little more mindful of your edges so you dont look like a somersaulting scorpion all day. turns are not initially natural, but something you have to focus on as you transition from heel and toe throughout the turn. learning switch was important to me for a long time but i could never find any tips. i've watched this video like a hundred times and rode a bunch of switch this preseason...its working! you CAN teach an old dog... i like doug's videos, have pulled a couple super bogus 270ish 360's barely even trying but focusing on the stuff he teaches in that video as well. __________________ is it late october yet?

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11-24-2011, 08:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
WasatchMan Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,023	If you refused to ride switch when you first learned to snowboard, it's a little more difficult, like me. I'm sure people have better advice, but me, I just forced myself. After a couple days it all comes to you.

11-24-2011, 08:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,055	just do it, you might want to actively make sure your shoulders are properly aligned with the new direction, I see lots of people who are so used to one way riding when they go switch they still have their shoulders lined up for their regular stance.

11-24-2011, 08:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jr@BlueKnob Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pa Posts: 48	Exactly the same as riding your regular stance. A lit if people have the pro lem of centering their weight on their back foot especially when riding switch. Have someone knowledgeable check your form.

11-24-2011, 08:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
que Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Greensburg, Pa Posts: 57	It is easier, but admittedly scarier when you have a little bit of speed. Get over your fear of going fast and it will be easier.

11-24-2011, 09:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
bcasey Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 94	Wearing your gear backwards and pump some Kris Kross in your headphones is the key to success. .. but seriously, just ride your snowboard backwards doing the same things as you would natural.