Gerd
04-01-2004, 12:41 PM
Posture(how you stand on your board while riding) is a very important consideration when riding. No matter if you are trying snowboarding for the first time or if you are an expert, posture is a factor that can drastically effect performance on the hill. There are three areas of the body that are important for efficient posture. Those 3 areas are the back, knees, and feet.
Starting with your back, it should be in the same arched position that it is when standing normally. A common problem you see with riders who are stuggling on the hill is that they are bending over at the waist. It often appears like the rider is reaching down for the snow. This causes the rider to be horribly off-balance and fall a lot. Keeping the back arched helps the rider stay balanced and accomplish their riding task much more effectively.
Next is your knees, which should always be bent in an active, athletic position. Consider how a basketball player bends their knees to take a freethrow. Riders who are struggling with a riding task will often times be straightening their knees until they are locked. This makes it tough to ride because the knees are not ready to absorb any bumps. Keeping the knees bent in that athletic position will help absorb bumps as well as help with balance.
Finally we come to the feet, starting with how the bindings are placed on the board. A common question riders have when setting up their board is "how far apart should my feet be?" This is called the stance width. The truth about stance width is that it is different for everyone. The best method for finding a stance width is to experiment and see what works the best for you with your style of riding.
Other than stance width, the main consideration with the feet is weight distribution. When riding down the hill the most effiecient way to distribute your weight is EVENLY BETWEEN YOUR FEET. This means that the amount of weight on each individual foot is even(there is no more weight on the right foot than on the left and vice versa). You can simulate the feeling of equalizing the weight distribution of the feet in your bedroom by simply standing up, closing your eyes, and concentrating on feeling the weight on your feet. Once you feel the weight, keep your eyes closed and try to equalize the ammount of pressure applied to your feet. This is what the feet should feel like when riding down the hill.
A common problem riders will encounter with the equalization of pressure between the feet is that they have a tendency to ride with more weight on the back foot than on the front. This problem tends to worsen when the pitch of the terrain increases. Sitting with weight on the back foot causes the rider to be off balance and makes it harder to complete their riding task. By keeping the weight evenly distributed between the feet the rider is able to more comfortably and confidently manuever down the hill.
Keeping this posture in mind while riding can help increase the progression speed of learning. But nothing helps Progression more than taking a lesson. Lessons are not expensive and they can often be the difference between having a fun, progressive, and safe experience on the snow and going home frustrated and possibly in an ambulance. Good luck, Have Fun, and Be safe!
Starting with your back, it should be in the same arched position that it is when standing normally. A common problem you see with riders who are stuggling on the hill is that they are bending over at the waist. It often appears like the rider is reaching down for the snow. This causes the rider to be horribly off-balance and fall a lot. Keeping the back arched helps the rider stay balanced and accomplish their riding task much more effectively.
Next is your knees, which should always be bent in an active, athletic position. Consider how a basketball player bends their knees to take a freethrow. Riders who are struggling with a riding task will often times be straightening their knees until they are locked. This makes it tough to ride because the knees are not ready to absorb any bumps. Keeping the knees bent in that athletic position will help absorb bumps as well as help with balance.
Finally we come to the feet, starting with how the bindings are placed on the board. A common question riders have when setting up their board is "how far apart should my feet be?" This is called the stance width. The truth about stance width is that it is different for everyone. The best method for finding a stance width is to experiment and see what works the best for you with your style of riding.
Other than stance width, the main consideration with the feet is weight distribution. When riding down the hill the most effiecient way to distribute your weight is EVENLY BETWEEN YOUR FEET. This means that the amount of weight on each individual foot is even(there is no more weight on the right foot than on the left and vice versa). You can simulate the feeling of equalizing the weight distribution of the feet in your bedroom by simply standing up, closing your eyes, and concentrating on feeling the weight on your feet. Once you feel the weight, keep your eyes closed and try to equalize the ammount of pressure applied to your feet. This is what the feet should feel like when riding down the hill.
A common problem riders will encounter with the equalization of pressure between the feet is that they have a tendency to ride with more weight on the back foot than on the front. This problem tends to worsen when the pitch of the terrain increases. Sitting with weight on the back foot causes the rider to be off balance and makes it harder to complete their riding task. By keeping the weight evenly distributed between the feet the rider is able to more comfortably and confidently manuever down the hill.
Keeping this posture in mind while riding can help increase the progression speed of learning. But nothing helps Progression more than taking a lesson. Lessons are not expensive and they can often be the difference between having a fun, progressive, and safe experience on the snow and going home frustrated and possibly in an ambulance. Good luck, Have Fun, and Be safe!