Freeride progression - Page 3 - Snowboarding Forum

skip11 · 04-14-2012, 12:53 AM

I don't know, but watch guys like Terje, Dirksen, Nico, or Blauvelt. Terje for example you can see his backhand is most of the time in front of their body especially during heelside turns. And Blauvelt ride with a kind hunched back and crouched really low if you compare him to other riders and he still has one of the nicest turns in snowboarding.

dreampow · 04-20-2012, 08:37 PM

Makes sense about keeping the upper body quieter and having it compliment the lower body movements rather than go against it. Interesting comment someone made that pros form is not always textbook but looks great still.

Anyone have any video footage of themselves freeriding aggressively with a quieter upper body?

I learn better when I can visualize.

CoreLimey · 04-21-2012, 03:56 AM

Hello 1st post, nice site...from the u.k and have been to the PNW and rode Mt Hood. Seems like a lot of people on here from that neck of the woods. Fckin love that place, would move there in a heart beat

Back to post, as an improving rider I'm now looking into upper and lower body seperation and will try and get some coaching through the summer on this.

Just wondering if any one had some tips or drills to practice/use!

I'm riding a bit like a robot now (BASI) and need to get more relaxed with my arms and getting a natural style (if pos).

Trying to understand/get the difference of the invisible girlfriend arm and then say the arm movement of a Nicolas Muller in full flow!

skip11 · 04-21-2012, 01:49 PM

@corelimey: Yes, that was what I was talking about in the above post. You see lots of rider with their back arm in front of them or just moving a lot in general. You cannot watch clips of Terje, Josh Dirksen, and Nicolas Muller and tell me that their back arm is not in front of the body. Snowolf any comments?

JeffreyCH · 04-21-2012, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

You are obviously an advanced ruder and your riding us very effective so these ideas are just to make it look a little sexier overall....

Aint no ruder riding me bro...don't care how advanced or effective

chub11 · 04-21-2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

One of my favorite "drills" for learning extreme upper lower body separation is Pivot Slips.

Start out on a medium blue pitch or even a black if you are comfortable with it. Begin in a heel side side slip facing down the mountain. Hold both hands out in front of you clasped together like you are shooting a pistol and point straight down the run.

As you start picking up a little speed in your side slip, use just your a twisting of the hips and spine to pivot your board back and forth. Try to see if you can twist all the way around to side slip it toe side while facing down hill. Most of us cant twist that much, but explore your range of motion and see just how far you can pivot your board while remaining facing down hill. Generally, I can go through the fall line to about 45 degrees each side.

This will look and feel a little dorky, but it is an extreme example of total upper and lower body separation and getting used to the feel of it will make doing it in your regular riding feel more natural and controlled.

Once you take this concept back to normal riding, pick the steepest run you are comfortable riding and start down it, but this time keep your front shoulder generally pointed straight down the run. Now, using all of your normal skidded turn movements of twist and tilt to initiate short radius skidded turns (to control speed as your goal is to ride down a steep pitch at slow to moderate speed), throw in this pivoting movement you played with on these drills. Remember to stay nice and flexed with loose legs too.

Like anything new in snowboarding, at first this will feel like WTF, but play with it and you will slowly get a feel for the effect it is having on your board for steep terrain. Then, in your more relaxed cruising riding, using it but dialed back, will give you a little of the looseness and fluidity you are talking about.....

I'm a little confused. This drill will make you use the upper body less. So what is the point of all the arm movements pro riders make? Is there a way to practice making correct or meaningful arm movements? Or should the arms be loosely held at the sides and not used at all?

MistahTaki · 04-22-2012, 01:14 AM

your guratori is so weak sauce.

dreampow · 04-22-2012, 05:30 AM

As always very useful, clear and informative posts from Snowolf

.

I agree with others you should collect your posts like these and put them into different categories on your website and on here.

They are genuinely helpful for me and I'm sure for many others.

I am determined to get my arms quieter and get the back arm in closer. I will spend some time with this each day out next season.

I won't forget to switch off and just have fun either, but after reading your posts and watching my video again I can see quite a few places where my arm movement (hanging toeside) is getting in the way of smooth turning.

I can also see one or two places where my arms seem to be moving back and forth more in sink with my lower body movements.

Although there is still snow here the powder season is over and with it my season too. Already swimming in the sea and hiking more though. Will crack out the surfboard soon. Also thinking of getting a skateboard.

dreampow · 04-22-2012, 06:01 AM

Sweet, maybe in a few years when my son is a little older (he is 7 months) I will get more into split boarding and try to prolong my season in Hokkaido. For now its on to other activities.

Looking forward to those videos.

Slash some powder for me.

04-22-2012, 05:30 AM	#28 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,056	As always very useful, clear and informative posts from Snowolf. I agree with others you should collect your posts like these and put them into different categories on your website and on here. They are genuinely helpful for me and I'm sure for many others. I am determined to get my arms quieter and get the back arm in closer. I will spend some time with this each day out next season. I won't forget to switch off and just have fun either, but after reading your posts and watching my video again I can see quite a few places where my arm movement (hanging toeside) is getting in the way of smooth turning. I can also see one or two places where my arms seem to be moving back and forth more in sink with my lower body movements. Although there is still snow here the powder season is over and with it my season too. Already swimming in the sea and hiking more though. Will crack out the surfboard soon. Also thinking of getting a skateboard.

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04-14-2012, 12:53 AM	#21 (permalink)
skip11 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 378	I don't know, but watch guys like Terje, Dirksen, Nico, or Blauvelt. Terje for example you can see his backhand is most of the time in front of their body especially during heelside turns. And Blauvelt ride with a kind hunched back and crouched really low if you compare him to other riders and he still has one of the nicest turns in snowboarding.

04-20-2012, 08:37 PM	#22 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,056	Makes sense about keeping the upper body quieter and having it compliment the lower body movements rather than go against it. Interesting comment someone made that pros form is not always textbook but looks great still. Anyone have any video footage of themselves freeriding aggressively with a quieter upper body? I learn better when I can visualize.

04-21-2012, 03:56 AM	#23 (permalink)
CoreLimey Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2	Hello 1st post, nice site...from the u.k and have been to the PNW and rode Mt Hood. Seems like a lot of people on here from that neck of the woods. Fckin love that place, would move there in a heart beat Back to post, as an improving rider I'm now looking into upper and lower body seperation and will try and get some coaching through the summer on this. Just wondering if any one had some tips or drills to practice/use! I'm riding a bit like a robot now (BASI) and need to get more relaxed with my arms and getting a natural style (if pos). Trying to understand/get the difference of the invisible girlfriend arm and then say the arm movement of a Nicolas Muller in full flow!

04-21-2012, 01:49 PM	#24 (permalink)
skip11 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 378	@corelimey: Yes, that was what I was talking about in the above post. You see lots of rider with their back arm in front of them or just moving a lot in general. You cannot watch clips of Terje, Josh Dirksen, and Nicolas Muller and tell me that their back arm is not in front of the body. Snowolf any comments?

04-22-2012, 01:14 AM	#27 (permalink)
MistahTaki Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,362	your guratori is so weak sauce.

04-22-2012, 06:01 AM	#29 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,056	Sweet, maybe in a few years when my son is a little older (he is 7 months) I will get more into split boarding and try to prolong my season in Hokkaido. For now its on to other activities. Looking forward to those videos. Slash some powder for me.