[menacekop]

I have a few more questions for riding switch.

As a quick back ground I'm riding a Burton supermodel, so it has a 10mm taper and it is center off-set by 1in. For my last run I centered my bindings on the board tried a few turns switch and instantly bit it every time. Now I was with other people and didn't want to hold them up so I didn't focus in on practicing but my next time out I want to make some real progress.

Question is should I strap in regular and just practice switch or should I completely change it up, strap in goofy and start as if from square one?

 

[Peaceryder]

I have a few more questions for riding switch.

As a quick back ground I'm riding a Burton supermodel, so it has a 10mm taper and it is center off-set by 1in. For my last run I centered my bindings on the board tried a few turns switch and instantly bit it every time. Now I was with other people and didn't want to hold them up so I didn't focus in on practicing but my next time out I want to make some real progress.

Question is should I strap in regular and just practice switch or should I completely change it up, strap in goofy and start as if from square one?

Maybe I'm in lala land, but wouldn't doing either of those two things end up with you riding the exact same way?

(Could always ride the chairlift up in a switch manner, then hop on your board and begin your runs switch. I've started a few runs switch, but never actually took the steps to ride up the chairlift that way. The reason I mention this is for the benefit of psychological comfort. Maybe by going up the lift left foot first(in my case) u trick your mind into thinking it's your natural foot. When I first began snowboarding, it was the ability to get off the chairlift at the top and not crash that gave me the confidence to really get into carving down the mtn. So, if I do this with my other foot, maybe that comfort level will arrive for my less blessed foot
Every snowboarder who knows how to ride and has been through beginner phase can ride switch, just a matter of being comfortable and confident. Not too mention easing lift pains! I'm gonna try it.
Haha, that's my psycho babble for the day.

 

[lonerider]

I have a few more questions for riding switch.

As a quick back ground I'm riding a Burton supermodel, so it has a 10mm taper and it is center off-set by 1in. For my last run I centered my bindings on the board tried a few turns switch and instantly bit it every time. Now I was with other people and didn't want to hold them up so I didn't focus in on practicing but my next time out I want to make some real progress.

Question is should I strap in regular and just practice switch or should I completely change it up, strap in goofy and start as if from square one?

Hmm... I would do either of the following

1. Just keep you bindings in the regular positions and ride switch... the taper and setback are not ideal, but it's not going to make it impossible to ride switch, so just practice. If you ever ride a board more centered and twinish you will find you will remember everything you did riding your old board will immediately become easier... kind of like learning to ride on the icy slopes of the East coast, and then going on the groomed powder out here in the West (I grew up in New England).

2. If you really want to dedicate a whole/half day to riding switch, you can switch you board up so your bindings are setup goofy footed (right foot first) like you mentioned. I would recommend strapping in your left foot and going on the chairlift that way. Learning to ride one-footed switch is really hard starting out and I would recommend leaving that for another day. Basic kicking around and riding off the lift with a tapered/setup board "reversed" isn't that hard.

 

[menacekop]

haha, sorry to confuse you guys. By "strapping in" i didn't mean anything about the chair lift, I just meant should I change up my bindings to be goofy footed.

1. Just keep you bindings in the regular positions and ride switch... the taper and setback are not ideal, but it's not going to make it impossible to ride switch, so just practice. If you ever ride a board more centered and twinish you will find you will remember everything you did riding your old board will immediately become easier... kind of like learning to ride on the icy slopes of the East coast, and then going on the groomed powder out here in the West (I grew up in New England).

I'll take this to heart, just gonna bite the bullet keep my stance regular and ride switch style as you say the extra difficulty in doing so may help my overall riding skills and it will be all that more easy to ride switch when i get a twin board.

BTW the ice slopes in North Central WV and South West PA are all I know, powder is but a myth to those of us here in the east.

 

[Deviant]

Maybe I'm in lala land, but wouldn't doing either of those two things end up with you riding the exact same way?

(Could always ride the chairlift up in a switch manner, then hop on your board and begin your runs switch. I've started a few runs switch, but never actually took the steps to ride up the chairlift that way. The reason I mention this is for the benefit of psychological comfort. Maybe by going up the lift left foot first(in my case) u trick your mind into thinking it's your natural foot.

I do this from time to time, and if you're going to take the chair switch, ride just 2 people on a chair if possible. It's going to feel really weird holding your board with the opposite foot and (in my case at least) very uncomfortable having the board on that foot, even when you support it with your other foot. If you can link turns switch, getting off the chair really isn't too strange, but you'll feel a little out of whack right at first when you strap in the other foot for your run.

 

[Mgalinat]

Tips for riding switch

So I just started riding last Saturday and one thing I was told by a veteran snowboarder was to learn switch at the same time as regular. This has helped me so much that I'm comfortable riding both sides now and have no problem throwing a 180 since I don't lose balance on switch

 

[SnowDogWax]

Started riding switch this December I had face plants and the whole relearning thing. Big change for me was simply commitment. First linked a couple turns switch, then down an entire slope switch, then entire day, now when racing a friend down slopes I ride switch.
Switch has now become another link in my snowboarding maturation. I'm about to finish only my 3rd season snowboarding, 2nd after not boarding for 10 years.

 

[speedjason]

its much easier when you know how to ride normally before riding switch. it would feel weird initially but as you get better and better it will be the same.

 

[Elit3PwnZ0r]

I am trying to ride more switch this year and this how I did it:

1. Race a friend who is also learning switch down an easier trail (this will help you to work on better linking turns because of the competitive aspect)
2. Ride easier parts of trails switch. (you'll spend 1/4 to 1/3 of the time riding switch)
3. Dedicate a harder section to switch riding (so you expand on your abilities)


Good Luck!

 

[whiskaz]

Spent the day riding with my wife (who as of yesterday is riding blues comfortably... slow...but controlled and comfortable). I spent the day trying to ride switch. So awkward. So hard to initiate turns as quickly as I do riding regular. By the end of the day though, I was so much more comfortable on my board... riding switch or just flat spinning.

At the beginning of this season I had a very 1-track mind. Content to just ride downhill and enjoy the turns. During seasons prior, it was all about getting the most runs in (I'm 3 hours+ away from the nearest hill). This year I changed my perspective quite a bit...start trying a lot of new things. I've progressed a lot this season as a result. It's been a lot more fun too! :thumbsup:

 

[chomps1211]

I have a few more questions for riding switch.

As a quick back ground I'm riding a Burton supermodel, so it has a 10mm taper and it is center off-set by 1in. For my last run I centered my bindings on the board tried a few turns switch and instantly bit it every time. Now I was with other people and didn't want to hold them up so I didn't focus in on practicing but my next time out I want to make some real progress.

Question is should I strap in regular and just practice switch or should I completely change it up, strap in goofy and start as if from square one?

I haven't read every post on this thread, so forgive me if I've missed something. I learned to ride switch on a directional twin board with almost 2" of setback on the bindings.

I'm not familiar with your board but If it is a directional board, (...which from your description it would apear to be!) Centering your bindings completely F's up the turning characturistics of the board. I have no doubt you "bit it" as you said.

It is entirely possible to ride switch on a directional board even with the setback. My advice is ask around and find an instructor who can teach you how to ride switch. and take a lesson or two. That's what I did. I can ride switch confidently on any directional or true twin board. :thumbsup:

 

[SnowDogWax]

Agree with Chomps take a lesson, just strap in regular and keep at it, you will make progress. Have fun.

 

[CassMT]

here's my twitter-length switch lesson:

take everything you do when riding forward and do that riding backward.

did i miss anything? i accept Paypal btw...

 

[SnowDogWax]

here's my twitter-length switch lesson:

take everything you do when riding forward and do that riding backward.

did i miss anything? i accept Paypal btw...

Thought skiers ride backwards, feel goofy saying that, I'll just switch back to snowboarding esier already.

 

[CassMT]

huh? ya lost me

if one can ride forward and already knows the principles, there is nothing an instructor can say except 'practice'...i'd save the money for beer

 

[snowman55]

People over think it when it comes to riding switch. All they have to do to start is just go to the bunny hill and start riding switch.

Start with same beginner drills used when learning to ride regular (falling leaf, garlands, J turns, etc..). After few hours, you'll be riding switch.

It'll come alot quicker than when you learned how to ride since you already know what needs to be done to turn, stop, slow down, etc.. It just takes practice time.

I improve riding switch tremendously when I was forced to ride switch more when teaching my kids. For 4 weeks or so, I rode more switch than regular. Before that, I would only ride switch when I was riding in the park which wasn't more than 20% of the time.

 

[ItchEtrigR]

Switch usually comes from time at the hill, loving this shit will make you try new things as you become confident. go boarding enough and eventually you'll give it a proper go. Giving it a proper go will make you want to get better. If your lucky your learning this shit from the start.

 

[Synathidy]

I've snowboarded for 12 days in all (ever since end of last season), and began practicing progressively more switch over the last 5 days riding (last two weekends). Today, I finally managed to go down a blue run entirely switch with solid technique and no falls. It was such a euphoric rush getting to the bottom doing that; it's the joy of learning the fundamentals all over again. ^_^

For me, it's been most challenging to re-adapt to the feel of making those small, surfy, sliding turns, rocking edge to edge, in flatter, narrow routes. They were the last puzzle piece to fall in place in regular stance, and it's much the same for goofy (switch to me). But it's coming along! I think it's tempting, for people who are anxious to learn fast, to want to know some secret approach which gives them an edge in accelerating the process, but I really don't think there is one for switch riding. If you're proficient in your natural stance, it's just a matter of consciously applying all the body mechanics you've already learned onto your mirror image. Expect to fall on your butt and face a lot once again (I certainly have often). It just means you're challenging yourself to improve, which is a wonderful thing.

I was surprised to read so many other posts in this thread about riders learning switch with asymmetric stance set-up and/or board shape. I bought my new, second board with the requirement that it was a forgiving (somewhat soft) true twin, with the intent that I would dedicate myself to learning switch with a perfectly symmetric stance set on a perfectly symmetric board. I want to do everything I can to make my switch riding just as natural-feeling and identical in form as my normal riding, so I use a totally centered stance with +15/-15 duck angles. I personally wouldn't want to attempt it with any asymmetry. And I can't see myself ever buying a non-twin board again with how important switch is to me. However, I commend those who can ride switch on directional boards with different angles. It must be a bit harder that way.

 

[Synathidy]

Switch Addiction

Switch journey update: day 20 of my snowboarding career and day 13 learning switch.

I have a confession: I've been riding switch excessively. At first it was just a curiosity, but for the last few weekends I started going goofy MORE than regular, sometimes only riding regular one run and doing all the others switch. I've also newly started attempting black diamonds this season with many first tries... switch. And they went fabulously. ^_^ Also, little slope-traversing front and backside 180s, and just spinning around on the snow like a weirdo have been amusing me very much.

This obsession is so out of control that today I tried going regular again down an entire run and my front leg suddenly got tired noticeably quicker from taking the weight needed to initiate turns. I actually felt MORE comfortable riding "switch" (what was my natural stance again?) today. I now need to re-establish my regular riding and make sure it's keeping up with my goofiness, LOL. Then the line between "natural" and "switch" will be fully dissolved and my grand plan will be realized. MWAHAHAHAHAAA.

If you or someone you know is addicted to switch riding, don't be afraid to seek help. Your natural stance is there for you, and it's never too late to reach out to it.

 

[SteezyRidah303]

Best tip i got is to remember to keep your weight towards your front foot, its really easy to want to lean back when learning switch. Reach your front hand forward over the nose when initiating turns.