Carving problems...?

Question

i am having trouble learning to carve...i can link turns and all that but its the carving that im having trouble with...any tips?...could it be because the angle of my binding may not be set right? they are set kinda duck footed but i like to ride regular and goofy so isnt this the correct way to have the bindings? does riding both reg and goofy mean riding switch?!

Answer 1

What you are talking about is linked turns, carving is a more advance kind of turn. This is how I teach linked turns:

Think about turning as additional pressure on the front toe or heel. Turning a snowboard is all about edge control. To turn, you bite the edge into the snow and then put pressure on the downhill egde of your front foot. This will release the edge in the front only and the nose of the board will start to swing down the hill. This will also put your weight forward which is correct.

A complete turn is just a continuation of this exercise. Use more pressure on the downhill side of the front foot to release the front of the edge and the board will swing faster toward the fall line. You MUST wait for the board to cross the fall line (straight down the hill) before you transition your weight to the other edge (or you will catch the downhill edge - ouch). Then use equal pressure on both feet on the new uphill edge to get the board to move back across the hill - this is a complete turn.

Once you are doing these in both directions, you can start linking the turns.

Good Luck

Answer 2

ok obviously all you are doing is watching others and trying to copy them. first off. to help you with your balance, take a 6-inch wide piect of wood that is about 2 foot long. then nail that to a 1 1/2 foot long 2x4 or 1x2. then work on your balance.. so after improoving your balance, set your bindings at 15 and 15, 15 front, 15 back. then go on a long  green run and use that balance techneque. rotate from heel to toe and keep the balance board idea in mind. then improve by watching and asking people.

Answer 3

Confidence & practice!  You can't be going too slow, and make sure your weight stays on your front foot, I see a lot of people go to their back foot, not good.  Also make sure your edges are nice and sharp.  Maybe watch some surf videos, then take that idea to the snow; nice sharp smooth carves...

As far as the bindings, you don't want to be TOO ducky, I have mine at 9 and 9.  My bf has 15 and 9, so just play around with it and see what works best for you.  Good luck!

Answer 4

carving is basically linking turns. just try doing it while going faster and faster. you can try riding in one direction. regular is left foot forward, goofy is right foot forward. if you ride regular and switch around its called riding switch. you could try angling your back foot a little more toward zero. im not sure this would help alot unless you were uncomfertable with your stance right now.

you could try this video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqZfnDBNl...

its kind of hard to tell what you are doing wrong when i can't see what you are doing.

Answer 5

I just went snowboarding again yesterday and was having problems carving so i decided to take another lesson.  Found out that your bindings need to be as far apart as possible and bend your knees a lot!

The way our instructor explained it was when turning to your toeside pee like a guy and heelside pee like a girl!

Weird way to explain it but it works!!

Good Luck!

Oh and make sure your shoulders are parallel to the slope of the mountain.  Do not lean away from the front of your board!