"Rodeo hand" an apparently flailing trailing arm on heelside turns

[softbootsurfer]

thanks again for these Videos West...

[Jack M]

On 5/14/2022 at 7:34 PM, west carven said:

ha! ... from the front page of the ussrt website ... waving at his supporters ...

Indeed kind of an odd choice of picture, especially since he appears to be well outside the fast line.

On 5/14/2022 at 7:34 PM, west carven said:

maybe it is a necessary thing to do when your really ripping ... maybe you don't do it cause you don't rip ...

Ha!  Nobody is saying rodeo hand can or should be completely eliminated when you're riding aggressively.  I posted video of it happening to me.  My point is that when it happens, if not on purpose, it's a sure sign you didn't 100% nail that turn.  FWIW, YMMV, kumbaya, ohhmmm...

[Rob Stevens]

There’s a small distinction between letting it happen and making it happen. 
 

[SunSurfer]

I watched the linked video and had more thoughts about Rodeo hand/arm.

Here the rider appears to be deliberately practicing a slarved entry to a carved turn, a technique often used by racers. To do that they unweight the board at transition and twist/slide the board round to an angle closer to the fall line before the board edge grips and the carved part of the turn starts.

Newton's 3rd Law of motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

That action, of twisting the lower body and board while effectively weightless, is achieved with a reactive rotation of the upper body in the opposite direction. As the board them grips and begins to carve, the rider recovers the co-alignment of upper and lower body. We see the swing round of the arm on the outside of the turn, "Rodeo hand",  as that realignment occurs. The more forceful the original lower body rotation, the greater the degree of recovery required. A very energetic and dynamic turn!

Conversely, in a completely carved turn, where only edge change happens at transition and the curve of the edge drives the turn, there is nil/minimal rider rotation and so minimal recovery needed. A very smooth and energy efficient turn.

Anf of course, there will be turns made where the rider gets out of shape & off balance and that same arm movement occurs as the upper body is brought back into realignment just as a recovery movement.

 

[Jack M]

On 6/2/2022 at 10:01 PM, SunSurfer said:

Conversely, in a completely carved turn, where only edge change happens at transition and the curve of the edge drives the turn, there is nil/minimal rider rotation and so minimal recovery needed. A very smooth and energy efficient turn.

Precisely, which is why when you are purely carving, there should be no rodeo hand.  Ideally.

On 6/2/2022 at 10:01 PM, SunSurfer said:

Anf of course, there will be turns made where the rider gets out of shape & off balance and that same arm movement occurs as the upper body is brought back into realignment just as a recovery movement.

Yes.  Happens to the best.  Benjamin Karl rides the bull frequently.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ca4dC5ylGBy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZrMupIFUyK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I think in these freecarving clips he is just cutting loose and enjoying himself, taking a break from the pursuit of perfection.  Also a SL board with Allflex Spring Plate has a mind of its own and is a serious handful to manage.  (footful?)