How to handle steeper blues? - Snowboarding Forum

**Donutz** · 03-24-2012, 03:08 PM

I can handle most terrain, although not the fastest or steadiest by any stretch. But the one type of terrain that just gives me fits is moderate to steep blue runs when the snow is chopped up. I know that for real diagnostics you'd need a vid, and I don't have one. But is there perhaps a video someone can point to of a not-totally-professional snowboarder going down that type of terrain properly? If I can review how it should be done, maybe I can figure out what's giving me problems.

KIRKRIDER · 03-24-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donutz

I can handle most terrain, although not the fastest or steadiest by any stretch. But the one type of terrain that just gives me fits is moderate to steep blue runs when the snow is chopped up. I know that for real diagnostics you'd need a vid, and I don't have one. But is there perhaps a video someone can point to of a not-totally-professional snowboarder going down that type of terrain properly? If I can review how it should be done, maybe I can figure out what's giving me problems.

Don...When the snow is chopped up..and transformed....frozen or chunked up it sucks for everybody...not just for you. I try to avoid leg eating snow like that, horrid frozen moguls, very deep traced pow...when going trough someone else's trace is like stepping down 2 feet...deadly for the knees. It's just fatiguing. I try to stay on top of the snow heaps and surf it like a wave if I Can ..avoiding the step up-down movement. A stiff board might help plow trough it.

atr3yu · 03-24-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRKRIDER

Don...When the snow is chopped up..and transformed....frozen or chunked up it sucks for everybody...not just for you. I try to avoid leg eating snow like that, horrid frozen moguls, very deep traced pow...when going trough someone else's trace is like stepping down 2 feet...deadly for the knees. It's just fatiguing. I try to stay on top of the snow heaps and surf it like a wave if I Can ..avoiding the step up-down movement. A stiff board might help plow trough it.

Omg, nice to hear your description of that. Lots of my hill was like that today. Left over powder chopped up to hell and slightly frozen. It just beats the crap out of me. I also experience random 1 - 2 foot drops when turn toe side in this terrain. Glad to know its not entirely me.

KIRKRIDER · 03-24-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atr3yu

Omg, nice to hear your description of that. Lots of my hill was like that today. Left over powder chopped up to hell and slightly frozen. It just beats the crap out of me. I also experience random 1 - 2 foot drops when turn toe side in this terrain. Glad to know its not entirely me.

Nope. I too prefer untouched immaculate slopes with a foot and a half of fresh and no crowds

Last time pow was knee deep. But wet. Pretty slow and fatiguing to ride.

wrathfuldeity · 03-24-2012, 04:19 PM

idk, but slow it down and approach it like moguls...keep legs/knees loose and independent, pick/weave your line and billygoat.

Casual · 03-24-2012, 04:26 PM

Stay to the sides of the run it might be better off. Mainly just stay really loose and absorb the bumps and ride dynamic. Make sure your looking far enough ahead to pick your line too and avoid the real shitty stuff. Honestly I find it much less wearing to stay loose and plow over it fast then fight and ride though it. Obviously it takes a bit more skill to do that but the only way to obtain that skill is to charge it

if it's not icy and hard the risk factor is not that high.

KIRKRIDER · 03-24-2012, 04:30 PM

Or plan your day around shitty snow...if you can. I get there super early to get first chair, ride the good stuff easy to reach, then move away from the obvious terrain as I keep looking for fresh lines. When the snow is reduced to moguls, ice chunks or just frozen pack head to the park if you still have legs left or for a beer. To me that';s not worth riding anymore...But you can still use that time to ride a green run switch..or learn new stuff...It's all so subjective...

atr3yu · 03-24-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRKRIDER

Or plan your day around shitty snow...if you can. I get there super early to get first chair, ride the good stuff easy to reach, then move away from the obvious terrain as I keep looking for fresh lines. When the snow is reduced to moguls, ice chunks or just frozen pack head to the park if you still have legs left or for a beer. To me that';s not worth riding anymore...But you can still use that time to ride a green run switch..or learn new stuff...It's all so subjective...

I am almost considering getting two new boards next season just so I have a park board for shitty days. The only issue with that is our park sux shit =(

Casual · 03-24-2012, 04:32 PM

I guess another thing to mention if the above is not an option is to load up your front foot like 75% of your weigh and pivot on it rather than fighting the heavy snow with your back foot. This works in moguls as well and mega steep terrain.

KIRKRIDER · 03-24-2012, 04:36 PM

Sure...But I can tell when I spend more energy reacting to the terrain than actually riding on it...it's time to go. Frankly I carefully plan my days around that. I don't do park at all (I'm 46) I just drive up after a storm and ride the powder for the day. If I go on a groomer day is because the kids or my wife asked for it. No pow...no riding for me

03-24-2012, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,664 Blog Entries: 176	How to handle steeper blues? I can handle most terrain, although not the fastest or steadiest by any stretch. But the one type of terrain that just gives me fits is moderate to steep blue runs when the snow is chopped up. I know that for real diagnostics you'd need a vid, and I don't have one. But is there perhaps a video someone can point to of a not-totally-professional snowboarder going down that type of terrain properly? If I can review how it should be done, maybe I can figure out what's giving me problems. __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

03-24-2012, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,699	idk, but slow it down and approach it like moguls...keep legs/knees loose and independent, pick/weave your line and billygoat. __________________

03-24-2012, 04:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
KIRKRIDER Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 2,212	Or plan your day around shitty snow...if you can. I get there super early to get first chair, ride the good stuff easy to reach, then move away from the obvious terrain as I keep looking for fresh lines. When the snow is reduced to moguls, ice chunks or just frozen pack head to the park if you still have legs left or for a beer. To me that';s not worth riding anymore...But you can still use that time to ride a green run switch..or learn new stuff...It's all so subjective... __________________ 2012/13 -12- Kirkwood days Arbor A-Frame 158 2009-10 Jeremy Jones Hovercraft 156, 2011/12 Burton Driver-X K2-Cinch-CTX Subaru WRX 06

03-24-2012, 04:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
KIRKRIDER Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 2,212	Sure...But I can tell when I spend more energy reacting to the terrain than actually riding on it...it's time to go. Frankly I carefully plan my days around that. I don't do park at all (I'm 46) I just drive up after a storm and ride the powder for the day. If I go on a groomer day is because the kids or my wife asked for it. No pow...no riding for me __________________ 2012/13 -12- Kirkwood days Arbor A-Frame 158 2009-10 Jeremy Jones Hovercraft 156, 2011/12 Burton Driver-X K2-Cinch-CTX Subaru WRX 06

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03-24-2012, 04:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Casual Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Edmonton Posts: 457	Stay to the sides of the run it might be better off. Mainly just stay really loose and absorb the bumps and ride dynamic. Make sure your looking far enough ahead to pick your line too and avoid the real shitty stuff. Honestly I find it much less wearing to stay loose and plow over it fast then fight and ride though it. Obviously it takes a bit more skill to do that but the only way to obtain that skill is to charge it if it's not icy and hard the risk factor is not that high.

03-24-2012, 04:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Casual Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Edmonton Posts: 457	I guess another thing to mention if the above is not an option is to load up your front foot like 75% of your weigh and pivot on it rather than fighting the heavy snow with your back foot. This works in moguls as well and mega steep terrain.