When snowboarding, should I have my butt sticking out?

Question

....or keep my pelvis more 'tucked under'? I somehow feel more in control when I'm sticking it out and keeping my upper body straight, but on a forward angle....

but I always hear "don't stick your butt out"

why?

Also, separate question....any tricks to get over the fear of leaning onto my forward leg? my toe side turns still aren't consistent

Answer 1

You want to "tuck" your butt and that comes naturally when you stand up straighter but with bent knees for stability.  The butt out stance feels safer but once you stand up and loosen yourself it's more comfortable and easier and your center og gravity is centered.

To get over the fear?  Find a run you're comfortable on and practice practice practice.  A friend told me "when in doubt ride it out."  Keep that in mind and do turns at lower speed (but not too slow, that'll trip ya up).

Have fun!

Answer 2

You seem to have described a stance with the forward rotation binding angle.  The conventional riding style, with a proper (common) binding placement, implies a laterally centered stance; no butt sticking.  What you described, that's not exactly the stance; you're having a problem on the toeside.

Buy a season pass!  Hike, or heist--after a couple of "weekends" you would begin to notice the results.

Answer 3

Here is the "why" you should not stick your butt out: if you do, you have to bend over at the waist to balance over your board.  This is a very ineffective position to be in.  A straight back and "tucked" backside will keep your body over your board for better balance and control.  Use more of a bend in your knees to ensure that you can get enough edge in your turns.  

The trick to getting your weight onto your front leg to initiate turns is to practice slowly on easy runs.  With practice you will find it more effective.  As you feel how it works you will find yourself more confident when you get your weight in the right spot.  Try to flow from one turn to then next by getting weight onto that front foot immediately after each turn completes.  Again, try this on easy runs first.  

Many bad habits can be developed by riding steeper terrain before you have mastered the basic skills required for easy terrain.  We all want to go faster sooner... but too soon can be hazardous!

Answer 4

Yes, you should actually. You should never stand straight up and lean back on your heels (no balance). You want to be squatting down slightly with your upper body more vertical (but still slightly angled back) to keep your center of gravity above the board. Just remember to keep your toes lifted so that you dont catch an edge. BTW when they say dont stick your butt out, they mean dont lean forward with your upper body and straighten out your knees. As long as your knees are bent and your butt is sticking out, you are practicing proper form.

As for the toeside turns. It is all about the timing of your weight shift and the rotation. During the transition from heel to toe you need to have the perfect synchronization between your leaning and your pivoting. If you lean too fast you will catch an edge. If you pivot too fast you will also catch an edge. Just practice the timing while you are going slo, then you will learn to do it while you are going fast.

Answer 5

first off- don't stick your but out its just the wrong form or stance. bend your knees and keep your back straight, also lean into your turns, don't fight it.

second- i have the same problem with toe side turns, i realized its just a fear of going backwards. conquer the fear and do it, start out on the bunny slopes or easy greens , also practice going from heel to toe, keep on turning and link your turns, don't get into the habit of leafing down the mountain on your toes, i made that mistake and its a bad habit. good luck!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

ok, the only time I squat down lower is either to avoid a tree branch or to go really fast, but you have to be careful of where your center of balance is as you'll become more unstable. Alot of people do this when they're starting out. It mainly boils down to they are scared of falling (though they usually don't want to admit it), so they keep a really low center of gravity and are really tense when they ride. When I ride I just relax my upper body and slouch, just like my mom told me not to when I was a kid. I also keep my knees comfortably bent (I'm almost standing up when I'm cruising). The less you fear falling down the more you'll be able to loosen up and stand a little taller, and I bet you find once you get used to it and relax you are way more in control.

To fix your toeside turns, just practice practice practice. I spent alot of time doing the little falling leaf thing on my heelside edge to get used to riding it (it was my weak side way back when). Then work in some turns as you get more comfortable on your weak edge.