CHAPTER 5: TEACHING BEGINNERS
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Continue to direct the board through the turn by rotating the knees, and using the lead knee and ankle flexion to change from the flat base to the heel edge. The hips must continue to rotation through the turn in order to maintain an aligned and balanced position over the snowboard. Once on the heel edge, flex the lower joints (knee, ankle) to engage the edge in the snow. Complete the turn by looking ahead and equalizing the weight distributed over the feet. Sideslip as necessary to slow down.
How: Toeside Turn
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On the heelside edge (facing downhill), start to traverse across the slope, with slight pressure centred over the lead foot and the eyes looking forward in the direction of travel. Initiate the turn by moving the lead hip and knee down the hill. Slightly extend the lead ankle to relax the edge angle, allowing the snowboard to move toward the fall line. Rotate the hips to maintain upper body alignment (shoulders in line with the length of the snowboard) as the board moves through the turn. Allow the snowboard to approach the fall line, and slide on a flat base briefly. Continue to direct the board through the turn by rotating the hips through the turn, and flexing the lead knee and ankle to engage the toe edge. Once on the toe edge, push the lead knee forward toward the snow to complete the turn. Control the finish by equalizing the weight distributed over the feet. Sideslip as necessary to slow down.
Student Trial Encourage students to start with the heelside turn. Once one turn is completed, ensure students have control of their speed prior to starting the next turn. Encourage repetition and mileage once students are completing both the heel and toeside turns. For the students’ first turns, a hands-on approach may be necessary (see the “Dance Exercise”, below).
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