Snowboard Tricktionary :: The Basics

Jul 10, 2018

Snowboarding doesn’t just have to be swooshing back and forth across the snow running into skiers… it should be about launching air and pulling off some cool movies like Shaun White. Welcome to Kidzworld’s Snowboard Tricktionary. We’re going to go through everything from slideslipping to ollies and rail slides.

Snowboarding - Back to Basics

It’s important to make sure you know all the fundamentals before we get into complex tricks. You have to know all these little things that will make your life easier trekking up and down the mountain. Don’t underestimate the importance of these little things, it’s amazing how one little trick can prevent you from getting tired or discouraged.

Skating

Imagine skateboarding on your snowboard. You have your front foot strapped in and your back foot is free propelling you on flat surfaces or small inclines. You need to do this when you enter or exit a chairlift. The trick to having good balance when you do this is to keep most of your weight on your front foot.

Switching Edges

Flip Edges

There are times when you might find yourself lying flat on your back when you want to be on your knees, or vice versa. There is a little breakdancing move that you can do to avoid having to take off board and reset. All you do is roll onto your shoulders, getting your legs up nice and high and use the momentum to flip your board 180 degrees.

Sideslipping

Edge Grindin

This move is the best way to start learning how to get used to the edges of your snowboard. All you do is go straight down the hill with your board totally sideways. This is how you do it:

Start on your knees or on your bum totally still and ready to go down the hill
As you get up to start moving, make sure your board is totally sideways
To go faster, flatten your board with your feet and you will start sliding down
When you feel the need to slow down, dig your heelside edge (if your on your heelside) into the snow with your feet.
If you’re on your toeside, you’re going to dig your toseside edge into the snow to slow down.

Traversing

Side to Side

Traversing is a maneuver to get used to slowly move down the slope on one edge of your board ONLY. You can do this standing on your heelside or toeside, but as you traverse from one side of the slope to the other, you just stay on that side of your board.

Start by looking to the direction you will be going
When you want to start going, shift your weight to the leading foot
Keep your arms spread apart for balance
To slow down, try to dig your edge into the snow and/or angle your board slightly heading back up the hill

Garlands

Garlands are good for learning how to stop. Basically all your are doing is riding down a slope on your heelside and when you want to slow down, you make a half-turn on your heelside to slightly or completely stop. Here’s how you do it:

As you are heading down the slope on your heelslide,, slow down by increasing the edge angle of the board and shifting your weight backward
Move the tip of your board gradually sideways with your weight on your heel edge
Keep your knees bent!

Linking Turns

Full Switch

Once you learn how to link turns, consider yourself a “real snowboarder”! Linking turns is the way a snowboarder moves heelside to toeside back and forth all the way down a slope. Here’s how you do it:

While traversing downhill on your heelside start to turn so that your toeside edge digs into the snow
As you turn, your board will be pointing straight down and you need to pivot the board from heelside to toeside
Twist your foot to turn the board across the fall line and push the board through the turn using your rear foot
Extend your legs and shift your weight upward as you cross the fall line. Make sure to switch from heelside to toeside swiftly
Complete your turn by twisting your front foot further and pushing your board away from the fall line using your rear foot
Turn your head and torso in the direction of your turn

Once you have become comfortable with linking turns, make sure to keep focused on all the tips from all the other basics. Try to build lots of strength in your legs before you go down steep hills. The faster you go, the more strength it will take to slow down and if you don’t have the strength, you could find yourself flying down a hill mach speed saying your prayers!