grafta

The Vancouver local hills all provide perfect learning slopes. You don't need to go travelling around...

You've just gotta push past the initial learning curve to be able to confidently link turns safely.

Ok, and it's linking turns... not carving

The others are right, try go on days that aren't so busy if you can.

You'll get there

smat

grafta: Thanks! Ah, good to know. Carving then would be the step after I have learned to link steps. Thanks for the encouragement!

gjsnowboarder

http://www.snowboardingforum.com/tip...t-linking.html

The above link might help you out as it details through one riders difficulties and the suggestions to help understand and improve. Two things I would suggest first off before trying to jump straight to turns is: ONE: when you are just sliding straight down the hill with the board horizontal Think about standing up taller, with knees slightly bent and back straighter with your butt tucked in a little. Try to control your speed by pressing your uphill edge into the snow harder and to move faster not pressing as hard. DO this until you can come to a complete stop and keep standing. This should be for both edges( ie. looking up is toe-side, looking down is heel-side). TWO, Get traversing down next. Now let your nose point slightly diagonal down the run to either your left or right. Try to ride to the sides of the run. TO slow down use the pressing motion from above and turn up the hill by point the outside of your front foot, knee, hip, and shoulder up the run. Do this both way (toe/heel) until you can stop while still standing and not fall most of the time. Once this is accomplished then use the advice from the link to link turns. Sometimes not mastering an earlier skill of riding can make a later skill that mush harder. Hopefully, I didn't break it back to far.

Honestly though a lesson with someone watching you will do more amazing things for you then us on this site. Sometimes posting video of your riding can clarify your success and difficulties so that the feedback you can get here is more dialed in.

unxetas

It's very important that you practice riding on your toe edge. Even at the bunny hill in Cypress, force yourself to ride down the whole run on your toes. You have to be comfortable on your toes before you start making turns.. Just do it, go up on a weekday and spend an hour lapping the bunny hill on your toe edge. Turns will become a lot easier!

When you're starting out (like I am, really..) it's tempting to get stuck doing something you're comfortable with rather than frustrating yourself learning things you don't particularly like. But you really have to put in the effort to learn the basics and it'll reward you in the end

smat

gjsnowboarder: Thanks so much! That is VERY thorough and helpful. I'll definitely get that down first. The other website I was referring to calls those "J-turns" and I will be practicing those right after the "sliding practice". I'll try linking turns after.

unxetas: You're right. It's all coming back to me now - since I was getting so frustrated my first couple of times just staying on the bunny hill, and because I knew enough to make my way down a green run without falling, I just abandoned the practice and just kept doing the runs in my ad-hock way.

Thanks guys - you've been super helpful! If need more specific help, I'll post a video of me trying. If anything, it'll provide comic relief

Thanks again!!

unxetas

And always remember to keep your weight balanced! Focus on the leading foot, don't lean back!