SWriverstone Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 I'm a rookie carver and still learning. I've noticed in many evenings on the slope that it feels really difficult to work on proper carving form at slow speeds. For example, I have a very hard time squaring my shoulders to the nose of the board on heelside turns when I'm not going pretty fast (because centripetal force is non-existent, therefore gravity is pulling my torso down the fall line). Sort of like trying to ride a bicycle at 1mph. Does this make sense? Or is my problem due to still-bad technique, and should I be able to "maintain the posture" even at slow speeds? My speed isn't governed by me so much as the crowds on the hill---it's tough to relax and open up when people are bombing down everywhere (I'm definitely getting out this week in the morning when nobody's around!) Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maciek Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Yes. Speed helps. It is required to do more dynamic carving. Now I would not go very fast while learning. You have to master balance of your snowboard edge before going very fast. You have to be able to make sudden stop. Judgement of the area/trail is also imoortant if you'd love to make locked turns. They are fun at speeds, but mind other boarders/skiiers. Locked means there is no miracle to get out of the turn at any moment. You can fall but you can't get out easily. You have to finish the turn. So speed definitely helps with learning how to carve, just find enough space with no others if you plan on carving harder. I ususally watch for gaps between skiiers and other boarders. Otherwise I make turns that allow me to make corrections and ultimately change direction right away. Actually I do not like locked turns ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 wonders for the balance is carving at low speed where it becomes quite a balanceing act this works on pretty flat trails like greens just don't start to do the dipping hip thing another thing that you could try is to pick up allot of speed and learn to slow down without skidding sorry I got a little off track anyway to answer your question yes some speed is required but not as much as you probably think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWriverstone Posted January 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Originally posted by bobdea another thing that you could try is to pick up allot of speed and learn to slow down without skidding Hmm...now you've got me wondering...how DO you slow down without skidding? (Other than just coasting uphill on an edge 'til you stop!) Are you referring to just doing more/tighter turns to decrease speed? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjl Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 It sort of depends on what board you have, but if I recall correctly you on a regular freeride board, which probably has a very small sidecut. In any case, I found when I was just beginning to learn to carve that I was going way, way faster than the speed that the board wanted to carve. With an 8 or 9m sidecut (which is big for a freeride board), I think you'll find that to make a clean carve, you'll be going significantly slower than you think you should. Surprisingly slower. Just my opinion. I'm not a super awesome carver, but I did just go through the beginner stage a year or so ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 tight turns and turning back uphill a little my key point is to minimize coasting across the trail when you fininsh your turn start the next one right away if you need to scrub off more speed carve harder and hold it longer so it brings you uphill a little more don't think that this is how I always ride but when I feel that I need to improve it helps, it also really gets those legs in shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirror70 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 While speed is not necessary, it does make learning easier because it helps build confidence. Once you have proper form, speed should be irrelevant. Until then, a certain level of speed will help mask some flaws in your technique and enable you to work on other things without getting frustrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostertwo Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Originally posted by SWriverstone I'm a rookie carver and still learning. I've noticed in many evenings on the slope that it feels really difficult to work on proper carving form at slow speeds. For example, I have a very hard time squaring my shoulders to the nose of the board on heelside turns when I'm not going pretty fast (because centripetal force is non-existent, therefore gravity is pulling my torso down the fall line). Sort of like trying to ride a bicycle at 1mph. Does this make sense? Or is my problem due to still-bad technique, and should I be able to "maintain the posture" even at slow speeds? My speed isn't governed by me so much as the crowds on the hill---it's tough to relax and open up when people are bombing down everywhere (I'm definitely getting out this week in the morning when nobody's around!) Scott From your description, I wonder that you might be using a big movement of the hips or whole body to tilt the board, rather than using the knees or ankles to tilt it. Moving the knees or ankles is usually a much better choice to tilt the board at lower speeds. Here's a <a href="http://www.vailbcschools.com/Page2_3.pdf" target="http://www.vailbcschools.com/Page2_3.pdf">short description</a> of the different movement options available to tilt the board on edge. The article and illustrations are obviously written for lower stance angles, but we have similar movements available in hardboots at high angles. If you'd like to get a feel for the different movements used to tilt the board and you have your board handy, find a doorframe and carpeted floor and strap in so you can use either side of the doorframe for support. Isolate the movement you use to tilt the board so it comes from the ankles. After some practice, move 'up the ladder' isolating the movements from the knees, hips/spine, and whole body. IMO, versatile riders have mastery over each one of the movement options used to tilt the board (and over each of the other movement options used to create the other aspects of board performance). If you get out early (or late) on a wide, uncrowded slope, try <a href="http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=792&highlight=practice+drills" target="http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=792&highlight=practice+drills">hangers</a> if you'd like a fun practice drill to develop lower leg movements to tilt the board. Or find a gentle slope and make edge changes as fast as you can (ankles will be faster than knees, and both will be faster than hips/whole body). <img src="http://tinypic.com/1idbmp"> Or go faster! Cheers, B-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjl Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Another point to consider: if you new to carving, if you carve at too high of a speed, you will be more focused on preventing your quadraceps from catching on fire and exploding into a million pieces and less focused on your technique ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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