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SnowDiscounts 
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Post subject: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
 Posted: Jan 10, 2012 - 11:55 PM
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First post: Jan 07, 2012
Total posts: 6
Status: Offline
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I'm hoping this is natural and/or common, but whenever I'm going for a turn, heel-to-toe, goofy, the moment the speed starts to pick up even a little as I turn onto the fall-line, I start bricking it like mad!
A mate taught me the basics a couple of years ago (I know, bad idea!), and ever since my biggest fear is catching an edge, possibly a bit irrational at times, like this.
Logic is trying to tell me that if I'm going straight, I don't have to worry about catching an edge???
This situation usually leads to me cancelling the turn and going back to my heel-edge - 3 attempts and I usually get it! 
Any tips/advice/suggestions? |
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www.SnowDiscountCodes.com
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TheKork
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Post subject: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 01:43 AM
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First post: Dec 28, 2009
Total posts: 86
Status: Offline
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I think you should just keep at it. If you are getting it every 1 in 3 then you are learning...
When first learning linked turns its easy to unconsciously turn your body away from the turn and back onto the same edge (like you mentioned.. back onto your heel edge). A good trick would be to not look down the fall line but (i assume your going from heel to toe turn) as you come to the fall line you are looking across the slope the way you want to go and point your shoulders over that way too. Keeping that shoulder turned slightly (remember the transition with your feet also) should lead you past the fall line every time and you will quickly lose that fear of getting stuck point straight down the hill. You only really want to be looking straight down the hill if you are bombing or doing quick short radius turns (later on).
This may sound stupid also but the fear of falling is what's making you bail out the turn. If you are still going relatively slow, learning linked turns, you should just tell yourself that falling is no big deal and you ain't really going to get hurt if you do fall.
I think when you mention that your getting it after 3 attempts means you should have it down next time you hit the slopes  |
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cwj
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Post subject: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 08:30 AM
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First post: Nov 13, 2010
Total posts: 760
Location: Glasgow-ish
Status: Offline
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Commit without thinking about it, what's the worst that can happen? You fall on some snow. So what.
Overthinking and worrying about stuff is where you are falling, I doubt it's in technique. |
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Stee
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Post subject: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 08:52 AM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 228
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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Took about 5 hours of lesson time for my wife and I to get linked turns consistently and that wasn’t long ago so am no expert What helped me nail it was:
- Looking where I wanted to go
- Weight on the front foot (technically I think it's centered, but unless I try, I lean back) knees slightly bent
- Not swapping my edge on the back foot till I’m across the fall line (As soon and I picked up speed I’d get up on a knife edge on both edges and fall over lol)
- Crap loads of protective gear (the old hardcore lot on here will tell you in their day 2 pairs of pants was enough  )
- Relax and hold that foot steering – the board WILL turn
- Commit!
Sounds like if you're doing it 1/3 of the time it's balls rather than technique. Stack the odds in your favour and practise when it's quiet and freshly groomed. |
Last edited by Stee on Jan 11, 2012 - 12:10 PM; edited 1 time in total
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CjKit
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Post subject: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 09:30 AM
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First post: Nov 01, 2010
Total posts: 2130
Location: NW London
Status: Offline
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I was trying to perfect my switch riding last month and a kindly instructor at Hemel was nice enough to help me out as I was having the same problem as you.
The two most important things he told me (for me anyway) were to commit to the turn, and to make sure you're unweighting (standing up a bit) as you try to turn. You cannot turn if you're squatting down in your stance as your legs cannot move.
So, stand up (unweight) a bit, initiate the turn, commit to the turn and then once you're picking up speed set back down in your stance so you can get pressure back on your edge. |
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CjKitPhoto
Flickr
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Cuillin
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:08 AM
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First post: Nov 08, 2010
Total posts: 122
Location: Edinburgh
Status: Offline
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Is it wrong to stand up between turns? I thought this unweights the edge during the transition, for crossover turns.
Edit: Sorry CjKit, I now realise this is what you're suggesting. I'm working on my switch too and am finding it's all commitment. |
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jdavies1976
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:24 AM
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First post: Jan 21, 2011
Total posts: 318
Status: Offline
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| I used to ski before I took up boarding and have always hated that moment of pointing straight down the mountain as you go through the turn. I know it's a little counter-intuitive but actually it's easier to turn if you're going a little faster so you just need to relax and build up the confidence to just let the board run a little before completing the turn. |
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charlie
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:39 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 9487
Location: York
Status: Offline
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You'll get it eventually and then you'll want to be pointing down the fall line as much as possible  |
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Photography
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Stee
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:47 AM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 228
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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charlie wrote:
You'll get it eventually and then you'll want to be pointing down the fall line as much as possible
Was watching people get down Hemel in around 8-10 seconds... I can't wait to be able to gun it down, but that must get frustrating to take a poma for 8 seconds of riding |
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philw
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Post subject: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:54 AM
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First post: Nov 30, 2004
Total posts: 643
Location: uk
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Stee wrote:
- Crap loads of protective gear (the old hardcore lot on here will tell you in their day 2 pairs of pants was enough )
T-shirt and a shorts on Dendix, actually. Total damage: one fat lip.
I think you need to learn how to fall. A bit like windsurfing, by the time you're really good at falling you'll not do it any more.
Can't really say on the original post without seeing, but if you're tripping up then your weight's in the wrong place. Take a lesson or ask a mate to tell you what looks wrong? |
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powder mountain CoC snowboarding safety
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 12:34 PM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 10147
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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| Second the "take a lesson" viewpoint. I find smiling more helps my riding and sometimes whooping, i.e. relax and enjoy. |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook
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SnowDiscounts
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Jan 11, 2012 - 10:52 PM
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First post: Jan 07, 2012
Total posts: 6
Status: Offline
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snowintuition
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Feb 01, 2012 - 07:19 PM
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First post: Jan 30, 2012
Total posts: 4
Location: Les Gets & Portes du Soleil
Status: Offline
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Hi SnowDiscounts,
I hope that it all started working for you!!
But if not, (or for anyone else in the same boat)
The previous advice of just commiting to it, does work for many, but if that isn't working, then what you probably need is to build greater confidence in your ability to control your edges.
a foolproof (if seemingly boring) way of doing this is to practice steering towards the fall-line (downhill) and back again on 1 edge (e.g. heeledge, down the hill and back to the heels) The trick is however, to ensure that you always have definate control of your speed, start out with slow speeds, (don't point too far down hill) and ensure that when you go back onto the edge, you do it calmly and feel in complete control. then gradually increase the speeds that your working at (by gradually pointing further down the hill) still ensuring that when you go back onto the edge, you do it calmly and in complete control. Make sure you do all of this on a sensible gradient, and over a relatively short period of time you'll find that you can confidently turn the board straight and slow it back down again.
There are various movements you can use to help with this, but they are all primarily aiming to improve your edge control, and if you have good edge control, then your early snowboard turns will be easy and effective.
Nate, |
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scottishshredder
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Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-line
Posted: Feb 18, 2012 - 06:32 PM
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First post: Jan 30, 2011
Total posts: 32
Location: Glasgow
Status: Offline
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dunx wrote:
Second the "take a lesson" viewpoint. I find smiling more helps my riding and sometimes whooping, i.e. relax and enjoy.
Totally agree, go for a lesson or two. And try and relax... stick your ipod on or have a beer. Stay square, your body alligned with your board and be confident, if your worrying about it, your brain is naturally going to make you think you cant do it and rather than getting ready for the turn, your getting ready to fall. |
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Jakey
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Nervous as hell approaching the fall-lin
Posted: Feb 18, 2012 - 08:07 PM
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First post: Mar 16, 2011
Total posts: 32
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I found that waiting for the fall line to change edge meant that I would pick up too much speed resulting in less control on steeps.
I therefore change edge early, but that requires commitment to the new edge. The first few times I tried this I was catching edges. Once you get it you wont look back. Just have faith in your technique. If your doing the right thing then you'll be fine. |
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