I just boarded for the first time!

[Guest kc0716]

The whole family went to a local mountain for a snowboarding trip. I had blast riding snowboard for the first time! The first day was the worst experience of my life, but second and third day, I was a lot better. I've been an avid skier for about 5 years and I guess it's time to change to snowboarding.

Anyways, I began to carve a little bit..I can only change directions slowly though. I was having this particular problem. Basically, what I did was, start going straight for some speed (I ride regular, left foot front), then I would start toe'ing first. I basically kick my right foot backwards, at the same time leaning towards the mountain and try to "stand on my toe". Toe'ing was easy for me, but I had trouble switching from toe to heel. When I want to change directions (by this time, my board is almost perpendicular to the hill, meaning sideways),

Then, I slowly try to bring my back foot forward this time, and leaning backwards at the same time, heeling. And a lot of times, this is where I lose balance or the boards gets stuck in snow or something, and I fall on my butt. I got a big bruise from last time on my butt.

When I watch the good people ride, they carve so fast. They spend barely any time on one side of the board, constantly switching from toe to heel very fast. I know I'm spending way too much time on TOE'ing. It is because I'm afraid I'll fall on my butt for the 20th time so I try to reduce a lot of speed while TOE'ing.

I found http://www.bomberonline.com/ from here and they have a carving board so I'll look around there as well. But does anyone think they know how I can go about, or how I should approach changing from TOE to HEEL?

All advises are welcomed! thanks

[Gleb]

Welcome to bomber!

Glad you're starting to get the hang of it. Best thing to do is try to find someone locally to ride with or practice excersises here especially the norm and the norm part II. Also try some of these out when you get there.

good luck:biggthump

[DiveBomber]

Toeing sounds like you are trying to stand on your toes, if thats the case I think you are basically fighting yourself. Sounds like you are standing tall, try to bend a little, and drive your rear knee in the direction you want to go.

Dont try to move you rear foot, try to controll with you Shins, by applying pressure, when you lean the upper half of your body.

[zoltan]

Dont try to move you rear foot, try to controll with you Shins, by applying pressure, when you lean the upper half of your body.

If he's riding rental equipment, using your shins can be fairly hard to do. Rental boots (and boards...) are like noodles!

If you're sure you're going to be doing this for a while and want to get into the freeride and carving aspect of it, drop some money on, at a minimum, so good, stiff boots. That alone will help a lot. Also, set your binding angles forward (21,6 is a pretty popular place to start). Rental places like to start out your back foot at 0 or even negative angles (duck).

Don't forget to do your research before buying a product. The industry has a very strong freestyle bend to it currently so don't just listen to the salesman.

[DiveBomber]

mmmm, I thought he was on hard boots

[Pow]

Don't rule out taking a lesson first... sounds to me like you've yet to master skidding, so a lesson should clear up some of the basic issues. After your lesson is over, it's time to start the norm:cool: