APPENDIX 8: TACTICS GLOSSARY
edge. Challenge students to feel the knees and feet directing the snowboard to the new edge, and increase the pace of the edge changes as steering skill increases.
Static Steering Exercise / Mason Jar With students on a flat area of the hill, and both feet attached to the snowboard, have them isolate the knees and feet and envision a turning motion. Have students “direct” the knees toward the heel edge by both rotating and driving them toward the nose of the snowboard, and in the opposite direction for the toeside. As an analogy, have them imagine an extra-large “Mason Jar” sitting on the snowboard between the feet. The lid of the jar is at knee-level. Have them picture loosening and tightening the jar’s lid with each steering motion.
Static Rotation Exercise On flat terrain, and with the snowboard not attached to the feet, have students feel total body rotation as a means to create their first turns, beginning with the head and shoulders, and progressing to the hips, and finally continuing to the knees, feet and the snowboard. Have students try rotation towards the heel edge as well as the toe edge, while ensuring their eyes are focussed forward, over the “nose” of the board.
Twist the Disks Have students practice the Static Rotation Exercise (as above) with the snowboard off, but focus on completing the rotation by slightly turning the feet to affect the snowboard. Have students imaging their binding disks are loosened, allowing them to rotate the binding around the disk, when completing this movement. At higher levels, have students envision this analogy while riding.
X-Turns Alternate skill focus: Position & Balance, Pressure On flat terrain, with both feet attached to the snowboard, have students perform a small hop, in conjunction with slight rotation of the body toward the toe or heel edge. Once completed a number of times, the resulting pattern in the snow should resemble an “X”. To progress, have students feel the effect of using strictly upper-body rotation, and then incorporating lower-body involvement (steering) with the knees and feet. This allows students to feel the effects of a centre pivot point in short radius turns, as well as the us of rotation with lower-body steering. Ensure that alignment is maintained throughout this stationary exercise.
EDGING Clock Face Analogy As rider ability increases, students should have the ability to engage the new edge earlier in the new turn. Have students imagine a clock face, with one side of the circle representing a turn arc. Use this analogy to point out to them where the new edge should be established (IE: 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock). An engaged edge is evident through the point at which the snow begins to spray away from the turning arc.
Drinks on Shoulders Alternate skill focus: Position & Balance As a means of creating angulation, have students ride, envisioning they have drinks balanced on each shoulder. Their goal is to avoid spilling the drinks as they increase the edge angle, by increasing the amount of angulation used.
Stop-N-Hop’s Alternate skill focus: Pressure On terrain suitable for ability level, have students sideslip at a moderate speed on either the toe or heel edge. Have students stop by flexing the lower joints, thus increasing the edge angle. After stopping, students should balance on edge, and attempt three hops (either uphill or downhill) by maintaining a balanced position over the edge, and keeping a stable edge grip. Have students try on both the toe and heel edges, as well as hopping both up and downhill.
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