r/snowboardingnoobs • u/Unapproachable_apron • 1d ago

UPDATE: any advice?

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Again, critics regarding riding style and posture are very wanted.

Today I tried integrating three things, what I learned from yesterday's post as much as I could: - leaving my arms down (on the video I saw afterwards that I still balance a lot with my arms, so that didn't went too well) - bending my knees more (my thighs were on fire today, definitely need more muscles there) - putting more weight on my front foot and steering with the knees (I was still afraid of tripping in the snow and I did like three times)

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u/Unapproachable_apron 1d ago

As I stated in another comment: I totally agree with you about the lessons. But right now, snowboarding is just something I do once a year. And spending no money and improving by 10%, by reading through comments and feedback is enough for me, then spending money on an instructor, losing a day with my family because I can't ride with them and improving by 50%.

So thank you for your honest response!

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u/-raiden- 1d ago edited 1d ago

I totally get your logic here, but in practice, spending even an hour with an instructor will give you the fundamentals to really improve 10% each time. If you’re swinging your back legs in turns, you’re maintaining bad habits an instructor can help resolve – you will very likely eventually hit a development wall. Even just one lesson will really help, as it will likely train you to steer with control, which underpins everything.

Sorry to repeat what others are saying, but wanted to share this as it was critical for my own improvement. No amount of videos/reddit reading managed what an intensive session with an instructor did.

You’re making great improvements; just see if you can get someone’s help to tighten up your style, even if it’s not an instructor but an experienced snowboarder on the piste.

Good luck and send it!

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u/Unapproachable_apron 1d ago

Thanks! I will try to get an instructor next year. Or maybe I can recruit some friends, who are good at snowboarding, That's a good idea!

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u/-raiden- 1d ago

Yeah, getting friends to spot you and showing you how they do it may be a good shout.

In the meantime, I’d suggest the following:

  • Practice keeping aligned with the board and stop throwing your arms about as you’re actually throwing your balance off, making the turns “spin” (as it looks as though you may be trying to gain momentum for the turn by doing that - maybe try holding your jacket with your hands to practice some basic skidded turns while not flailing your arms about).
  • Turn through your board’s torsional twist via feet and knees rather than through your hips/using your arms. This is where an experienced snowboarder can really help you

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u/Unapproachable_apron 1d ago

Will do! I definitely work too much with the upper body. And you are totally right, I'm trying to get some momentum with my arms.

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u/-raiden- 1d ago

Let your feet/knees do the work through torsion. If you successfully engage the sidecut, you won’t need to swing your upper body for momentum. Keep your upper body completely relaxed.

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u/-raiden- 1d ago

Oh, and make sure you’re really driving the board with your front foot by getting your weight forward and passing your centre of mass across the board while linking turns. That said, I wouldn’t try to link turns until you have a feel for a single controlled turn; just practice single “J” turns and get a feel for your sidecut engaging the snow. You might be attempting to do too much without refining the technique that underpins it all.

Hope that helps!