JohnE Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 For most skiers and most snowboarders, variety of terrain and slope is a significant factor on where they want to ride. Speaking for myself and my riding buddy, variety doesn't matter much. We've ridden the same slopes hundreds of times. I've shown videos of us to skier and snowboarder friends and while they think it is pretty cool, I think they wonder why one would want to do this run after run, day after day? I think it has to do with the effect of simple harmonic motion on the inner ear (or vestibular system?). The back and forth motion creates dopamine and is addictive. It's hard to explain to others who haven't experienced it. It is common to snowboard carving, riding a motorcycle, driving a car on a curvy road, slalom skateboarding and in-line skating, etc. I can't say that I understand why this stimulates the inner ear but the only reason we stop at the end of each day is because we are exhausted. Do others here agree? Is variety of terrain important to you or do you just carve the same runs over and over and over? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbootsurfer Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 Personally, I like doing the same run over and over, one can get in a Zone quicker that way, as there are very few surprises to break ones focus, the most on the front of Milk, was 24 t t b from 8:30 till 4, while 26 once on larkspur over on west ...after 37 seasons I believe your theory totally, even Surfing with the same type movements was different because of Wave variations, I also do believe the years I spent on the sidewalk in front of our house in California, on a Skateboard, had a similar and euphoric affect as well... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 We "crave the carve". I describe the sensation of a really carved turn as being as addictive as a drug. I can happily do the same run over and over, but I do seek out different lines to carve on that run. I enjoy runs with a variety of gradient. I love runs that have banked walls to carve on, and bottom turn on, and rise and fall and rise and fall. If I can't carve it, then the trail is just a means of getting to where I can. But that feeling of playing with gravity, that G-force pull as the board arcs across the fall line into and out of the turn. That is my drug, my addiction, my dopamine hit par excellence! --------------- I see powder so rarely that that is always an unfamiliar experience, where my brain is concentrating on just staying upright mostly. I have had moments where the board starts to float and flow and that playing with gravity feeling arrives. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted April 20, 2022 Report Share Posted April 20, 2022 It's not a rhythmic thing for me, just following my mood at the moment. Sometimes I follow the terrain's lead. Sometimes I fight the terrain just to see if I can. Powder is uber rare for me too. Carl from Exegi woke me up to playing with board pitch (nose up vs. down) in the deep stuff. Sinking the tail wasn't something I even considered and it opened up a whole new world of options in trees! All of a sudden I was working in 3D. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhamann Posted April 20, 2022 Report Share Posted April 20, 2022 14 hours ago, Corey said: It's not a rhythmic thing for me, just following my mood at the moment. Sometimes I follow the terrain's lead. Sometimes I fight the terrain just to see if I can. reading the terrain, fall line, etc is like reading a green when putting. or something like that. not everyone has that insight, naturally. ie. transitioning and carving up the hill. i think there's like three or four trails at each mountain that are carve friendly. we find those and rotate. the others are just the others, but also fun to explore and learn how to carve there too. crowds/conditions play a factor of course. the rhythmic feeling/zone on double fall line kills me every time. ah, the never ending pursuit and feeling of each turn... "deserving another". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobD Posted April 20, 2022 Report Share Posted April 20, 2022 At first it's the challenge, but eventually it's the flow, mentally relaxed, and physically fluid. The feeling of extreme dynamic balance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pow4ever Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 just when i thought i kick the addiction; this thread pull me back in maybe there is something to it: we are all from that Primordial goo. it's comforting floating in the ocean; feel that primal rhythm. like running, walking, rocking to sleep. running is active mediation and carving is like chaos mediation for me. in addition to that "Simple harmonic motion". carving to me is finding order/control in other wise variable/entropic environment. getting goose bump just thinking about it. yep; same here i can ride the same trail over and over and my ski friends don't get it at all. making tighter turn each turn is great drill and watching from the lift picking apart the track - crap; i mess up here. oh damn that's nice one there. it's going to be a long summer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Job Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 I experiment with a ton of different things each season. Lapping the same run over and over and over and over and over helps a lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 7 hours ago, pow4ever said: carving to me is finding order/control in other wise variable/entropic environment. Ooh, I like this. I love the difference between how chaotic an aggressive turn is on non-perfect snow, when compared to what an outside observer sees. I'll have a run that's a bit messy with a few mistakes and recoveries, and moments later someone tells me how smooth/beautiful/whatever it looked. Ken Lau made an epic video about the Aspen 2010 WCS session. I saved a copy but can't find it online to share. He had a graceful side shot showing him carving, then switched to a knee-cam of the same turns. The contrast was striking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffV Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 On 4/20/2022 at 12:27 PM, dhamann said: reading the terrain, fall line, etc is like reading a green when putting. or something like that. I love that analogy Dave. At each mountain there are specific pitches of a trail that give you that carve “high”! I remember riding up the lift with Jason at MCC trying to see if we could pick different lines under the chair. We tried but the flow and pitch of the trail wasn’t the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnE Posted April 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Corey said: Ooh, I like this. I love the difference between how chaotic an aggressive turn is on non-perfect snow, when compared to what an outside observer sees. I'll have a run that's a bit messy with a few mistakes and recoveries, and moments later someone tells me how smooth/beautiful/whatever it looked. Ken Lau made an epic video about the Aspen 2010 WCS session. I saved a copy but can't find it online to share. He had a graceful side shot showing him carving, then switched to a knee-cam of the same turns. The contrast was striking! Corey - I've watched you board - a lot. I can't ever recall a mistake. Also - just got back from a carving day yesterday. I'd like to edit my initial premise: simple harmonic motion is just one aspect of carving: when your rhythm causes you to spring from one edge to the other - that is simple harmonic motion. However most of my carves are much lower frequency, much higher amplitude than SHM. These turns still get the dopamine rush and are still addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 2 hours ago, JohnE said: Corey - I've watched you board - a lot. I can't ever recall a mistake. Just keep believing that. And thanks! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chouinard Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Repost…lateral acceleration is the drug. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnE Posted April 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Thanks for the link. I do remember seeing that video (or a portion of it) before. It explains pretty well the physiology of why the back and forth motion is so addictive. We rode yesterday and kept doing the same 6 or so runs over and over until we could barely stand up. I used to rollerblade a lot back in the 90s. When you get good enough the sensation comes close to carving - but nothing beats carving! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted April 22, 2022 Report Share Posted April 22, 2022 (edited) LUUUVVV SLOMO!!! Lateral acceleration ftw! Defying/manipulating gravity is dopamine inducing. Throwing your body down and transmitting the speed of that fall into the board and across the fall line back upright to do it again is the greatest most addictive activity I've ever done. And if I can surf big open pow the same day my life is complete. I did a lot of downhill rollerblading/off-season ski training in the 90's too, making ski turns year round was awesome. Now the onewheel lets me board year round, pavement not required. It aint layed out carves like hardshells on corduroy but it tickles the jones so I no longer dread the end of the season. Edited April 22, 2022 by b0ardski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneburner Posted April 22, 2022 Report Share Posted April 22, 2022 I would like to think that I can carve on snowboards and skis, but for me the carve on a snowboard is much more addictive. Something about being on one edge instead of two. As one of our cat guides said: "Snowboarding is fun!" But I do get the back and forth motion. Something about the snowboard allows you to vary the turn shape more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 On 4/21/2022 at 11:03 PM, Corey said: Ken Lau made an epic video about the Aspen 2010 WCS session. I saved a copy but can't find it online to share. He had a graceful side shot showing him carving, then switched to a knee-cam of the same turns. The contrast was striking! Reloaded a backup copy I had of Ken's video to YouTube. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Job Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 On 4/21/2022 at 12:23 PM, Chouinard said: Repost…lateral acceleration is the drug. +1 for proof to get ahead into the high income levels, you statistically need to be a Type A personality asshole. Do it now. hurry up. hurry up. hurry up. wtf? HURRY UP. No boat anchors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 16 hours ago, SunSurfer said: Reloaded a backup copy I had of Ken's video to YouTube. Yes! 0:34 to 0:54 - that's the beautiful duality of carving for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pow4ever Posted April 24, 2022 Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 6 hours ago, Corey said: Yes! 0:34 to 0:54 - that's the beautiful duality of carving for me! awesome! to put it less eloquently: thank you Sunsurfer for the video! it should also be in the hardboot video watch list. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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