Snowboarding Question. What's a good technique to use to learn how to carve?

Question

I've been riding for a few years but have not mastered the art of carving yet. It seems that every time i think i'm going to carve, i catch an edge. I've become a master at pulling out of that so i'm not busting my a$$. I just look like an idiot b/c i'm all squirley. Are there any surefire techniques i can use to really get the feel and hang of carving up the mountain? I ride a big board, Timeless 161 and it's a free-ride beast.

Answer 1

Catching your edge?  The only way I think that could happen if you're going too slow or don't lean your body enough.  You gotta have some speed to really be able to carve easily.  Try not to use your upper body to twist and turn.  As you ride up onto your edge, lean forward or backward a tad, transition, and repeat.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=44KenqMrqI8

Answer 2

I ride a Burton Twin 161. Honestly not sure why you're having so much trouble learning to carve, especially after riding a few years.

I had some issues carving as well but, after enough times falling, what worked for me was (assuming you ride regular like I do) pretend your front foot is "planted" and never moves. Picture the second hand on a clock. Your front foot should be the center while your back foot pivots around the front foot. So just imagine yourself, while on your board, trying to walk in a circle. Your front foot will remain in the center while your back foot does all the work basically.

Once you get the hand of this, throw in your lean to match your turn. Front side turn, lean towards your right. stepping on your tip toes helps here. Heel side turn, just lean back a little bit since, by doing this, you'll naturally veer left.

Keep you knees bent the whole time doing this. Yeah, you'll look awkard in the beginning but, eventually, you'll get the hang of it and soon you'll be able to carve with ease like you see all the other people on the mountain doing. I'll still look a bit awkward on the slopes however I've only been doing it for less than a year. But by doing this, I've gotten A LOT better at carving than when I first started out.

Answer 3

Learn to use your edge correctly, practice feeling the edge as it engages and releases on a slope where you are comfortable. You must learn to balance on the edge as it is engaged and you are sliding forward or backward along the length of the board. The only time you can catch an edge is when you are sliding heel/toe, not length ways.