Some secrets to learning snowboarding that I wish I knew when I was a beginner - Page 3 - Snowboarding Forum

tylerkat89 · 09-05-2012, 10:46 AM

Thought I'd chime in with a beginner's view point:

I only started a season ago. When I started, I unfortunately only had my gf to go with and learn from, and she didn't know much at all (still doesn't

) First day I was doing the falling leaf technique on accident. I knew immediately that getting used to this would make it harder to link turns so I forced myself to control my direction better into what I think Snowolf has been defining as Garlands? Either way, I noticed I progressed MUUUCH faster once I eliminated it. Needless to say, I progressed "scary fast" as my friend put it, but my gf STILL to this day has a hard time linking her turns and getting out of the falling leaf habit.

Over the summer I've been trying to do online research and such to learn and practice for next season. In the process I found that the "falling leaf technique" was an actual move, not me being some n00b that can't link a turn...and all I could think was how detrimental this would be to actually teach someone. Personally, I think it helps more with getting comfortable transitioning from switch to normal / vice verse, or to slow down on a slope your not comfortable with. They remind me of toe/heel slides when bombing down hills on my longboard, except those require skill to do haha

Edit: Thought I'd also throw in with Snowolf's last point. Learning steeps on the black diamonds, I agree, being able to accept the speed and nose dive to initiate the turn is essential. I kept washing out with leaf like symptoms because I was too scared to gain too much speed (though I also realized I need to detune my edges), but once I was able to accept the speed and nose dive for a second, my game of control was brought up to a whole new level. I, being in my first season, was now bombing and racing my experienced friend down black diamonds.

**Donutz** · 09-05-2012, 11:17 AM

Possibly one of the scariest images on the mountain is some idjit "bombing" a run in falling-leaf position, and I mean fast, like sprint speed or better. All it takes is for the edge to drop just a bit...

SnowMotion · 09-05-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donutz

Possibly one of the scariest images on the mountain is some idjit "bombing" a run in falling-leaf position, and I mean fast, like sprint speed or better. All it takes is for the edge to drop just a bit...

We call this the turbo leaf!

Solitaire · 09-05-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkzach

Falling leaf only teaches you to fear going fast. I learned to snowboard that way my first lesson but quickly was like wtf am I doing so I set goals to go faster and faster " mainly to beat my friends at races" but eventually carving just came naturally. The best way to teach someone for real is just throw them straight into carving and not giving them the option to only ride heel side.

My brother rides like that and it pisses me off so much... And it also make him not want to snowboard because he is petrified of going on his toe side and is slower than everyone else. He is 11 and has boarded since he was 7 but does the same stupid heel side rotation between regular and goofy. And you guys are right he can't deside if he is regular or goofy Iv seen him skate board regular one day and goofy the next " he's not very good" anyone have any tips on teaching him to carve he is a really stobern kid... I feel at times there's no hope for him....

And we tryed putting him in private lessons but now he feels exculed from the fam and refuses to have lessons. And when we try teaching him he just gets really frustrated.

This is kinda crazy. Last season a new rider joined my snowboarding group, and since all of us had been taught the falling leaf as our first lesson, that's what we started him off doing as well. He only boarded with us for 2 days, but by the end of the second day he still couldn't decide which way he wanted to ride down the hill, and kinda got stuck on his heelside.

I figured he would just get better over time - kinda surprised that it might be partially attributed to how he started off.

LuckyRVA · 09-05-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donutz

Possibly one of the scariest images on the mountain is some idjit "bombing" a run in falling-leaf position, and I mean fast, like sprint speed or better. All it takes is for the edge to drop just a bit...

I did exactly this my first season riding. That was until I caught my toe side edge "leafing" on my heelside edge at speed. I performed the scorpion all scorpions look up to. My heelside edge actually touched the back of my helmet. Wish I had video of it.

skip11 · 09-07-2012, 02:59 AM

I don't know, according to CASI, you need to teach the falling leaf. I guess my take is that you teach them that, but don't let them stay leafing for long. Work up to learning toeside and heelside turns as soon as possible. Sometimes with unathletic people, falling leaf can teach them how to be balanced on a board, while also allowing them to learn how to stop and change direction easily.

cm4short · 09-07-2012, 07:16 AM

I'm new to boarding. Went for my first time in Dec '11 and several times afterwards. I've never taken a class but, but instead learned from my novice and intermediate friends. This was my first and only leasson given.

This technique worked to slowly get me down the hill initially (wiith multiple falls of course). But, it wasn't until some random person on the lift gave me a the most valuable lesson about how you control your with your edges and not by leaning(as i thought because I've skate boarded before).

I soon found myself having ALOT more fun gaining higher speeds and betterturns and control. By the end of the day, me and my intermediate friend were racing down the mountain... While was laughing at my novice but more experienced friend because he was still riding toeside down the hill.

I was a natural ride with a desire to be agressive and take chances. My other firends weren't so, they never even risked pointing ther boards downhill.

I say all this to say, This tequnique was valuable. But from my experience, it seems its all up to a persons own desire and ability to progress and advance themselves.

tylerkat89 · 09-07-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cm4short

I'm new to boarding. Went for my first time in Dec '11 and several times afterwards. I've never taken a class but, but instead learned from my novice and intermediate friends. This was my first and only leasson given.

This technique worked to slowly get me down the hill initially (wiith multiple falls of course). But, it wasn't until some random person on the lift gave me a the most valuable lesson about how you control your with your edges and not by leaning(as i thought because I've skate boarded before).

I soon found myself having ALOT more fun gaining higher speeds and betterturns and control. By the end of the day, me and my intermediate friend were racing down the mountain... While was laughing at my novice but more experienced friend because he was still riding toeside down the hill.

I was a natural ride with a desire to be agressive and take chances. My other firends weren't so, they never even risked pointing ther boards downhill.

I say all this to say, This tequnique was valuable. But from my experience, it seems its all up to a persons own desire and ability to progress and advance themselves.

Meh, personally sounds like you have more natural ability than what was learned. Kinda how it was for me since I love to bomb hills on longboards.

cm4short · 09-14-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerkat89

Meh, personally sounds like you have more natural ability than what was learned. Kinda how it was for me since I love to bomb hills on longboards.

I haven't had the courage to bomb hills yet. My current board gets shaky at high speeds from what I noticed. But, I'm looking forward to trying once I upgrade tho.

**Donutz** · 09-14-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cm4short

I haven't had the courage to bomb hills yet. My current board gets shaky at high speeds from what I noticed. But, I'm looking forward to trying once I upgrade tho.

Ooooooooh yeah! I went from a junker to a Heritage, and wow did it make a difference with the chattering! This is one of those places where your hardware DOES affect your riding.

09-05-2012, 10:46 AM	#21 (permalink)
tylerkat89 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bear Mountain - Days Ridden: 20 Posts: 425	Thought I'd chime in with a beginner's view point: I only started a season ago. When I started, I unfortunately only had my gf to go with and learn from, and she didn't know much at all (still doesn't) First day I was doing the falling leaf technique on accident. I knew immediately that getting used to this would make it harder to link turns so I forced myself to control my direction better into what I think Snowolf has been defining as Garlands? Either way, I noticed I progressed MUUUCH faster once I eliminated it. Needless to say, I progressed "scary fast" as my friend put it, but my gf STILL to this day has a hard time linking her turns and getting out of the falling leaf habit. Over the summer I've been trying to do online research and such to learn and practice for next season. In the process I found that the "falling leaf technique" was an actual move, not me being some n00b that can't link a turn...and all I could think was how detrimental this would be to actually teach someone. Personally, I think it helps more with getting comfortable transitioning from switch to normal / vice verse, or to slow down on a slope your not comfortable with. They remind me of toe/heel slides when bombing down hills on my longboard, except those require skill to do haha Edit: Thought I'd also throw in with Snowolf's last point. Learning steeps on the black diamonds, I agree, being able to accept the speed and nose dive to initiate the turn is essential. I kept washing out with leaf like symptoms because I was too scared to gain too much speed (though I also realized I need to detune my edges), but once I was able to accept the speed and nose dive for a second, my game of control was brought up to a whole new level. I, being in my first season, was now bombing and racing my experienced friend down black diamonds. Last edited by tylerkat89; 09-05-2012 at 11:01 AM.

09-05-2012, 11:17 AM	#22 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,662 Blog Entries: 176	Possibly one of the scariest images on the mountain is some idjit "bombing" a run in falling-leaf position, and I mean fast, like sprint speed or better. All it takes is for the edge to drop just a bit... __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

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09-07-2012, 02:59 AM	#26 (permalink)
skip11 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 378	I don't know, according to CASI, you need to teach the falling leaf. I guess my take is that you teach them that, but don't let them stay leafing for long. Work up to learning toeside and heelside turns as soon as possible. Sometimes with unathletic people, falling leaf can teach them how to be balanced on a board, while also allowing them to learn how to stop and change direction easily.

09-07-2012, 07:16 AM	#27 (permalink)
cm4short Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 35	I'm new to boarding. Went for my first time in Dec '11 and several times afterwards. I've never taken a class but, but instead learned from my novice and intermediate friends. This was my first and only leasson given. This technique worked to slowly get me down the hill initially (wiith multiple falls of course). But, it wasn't until some random person on the lift gave me a the most valuable lesson about how you control your with your edges and not by leaning(as i thought because I've skate boarded before). I soon found myself having ALOT more fun gaining higher speeds and betterturns and control. By the end of the day, me and my intermediate friend were racing down the mountain... While was laughing at my novice but more experienced friend because he was still riding toeside down the hill. I was a natural ride with a desire to be agressive and take chances. My other firends weren't so, they never even risked pointing ther boards downhill. I say all this to say, This tequnique was valuable. But from my experience, it seems its all up to a persons own desire and ability to progress and advance themselves.