Carving

Author: Paul Morgan - Snowboard Instructor (CASI 3)

Carving allows the rider to ride at higher speeds with greater stability. Unlike sliding turns which leave a wide track in the snow, a properly carved turn leaves a smooth, sharp arc behind. While both turns involve pivoting, the pivot in a sliding turn is a large, quick one, with the pivot-point often located directly under the board between the feet. Doing so allows the rider to change direction on a dime, because the nose and tail of the board move while the centre remains stationary. In a carved turn however, the pivot point is moved towards the centre of the turning radius, and as it approaches the centre, the board slides less and less and moves through the turn in a more consistent and steady manner. Instead of making a turn in one quick motion, a carved turn stretches these motions out throughout the turn.

In order to carve, the rider must effectively use the camber, flex, and sidecut of the board through a combination of edging, steering, and pressure control. To steer the board, the rider must incorporate rotation in the lower joints of both legs, as well as in the core of the upper body. The board must flex as it moves through the turn, and the edge must be applied in a firm and precise manner so that the rider can brace the board against the snow. This allows the rider to absorb the energy created during the turn and efficiently direct it into the next one.

Though carved turns allow us to ride faster than if we were sliding, they are not therefore ‘better’ turns, anymore than a hammer is a ‘better’ tool than a saw. Carved and sliding turns have different uses, and work better or worse in different snow conditions and terrain. The steeper the run, the harder it becomes to carve, as the pressures generated by gravity become higher and higher. Similarly, a bumpy, ungroomed run is also more difficult to carve on, as the bumps make holding a line and edge difficult. Nor is powder the best place to carve, because aggressive edging doesn’t work well in soft snow. However, on a firm, well-groomed pitch, carved turns feel as if you were riding on rails. They’re fast, stable, dynamic, and really, really fun.

Key points

• Maintain a balanced, stable stance. You want to direct all your force into the active edge of the board, which requires keeping all the major joints (shoulders/hips/knees/ankles) aligned and stacked above the board.


• Keep your knees and ankles flexed, but not too much. You need to absorb and create pressure!


• Think about keeping your upper body quiet and lower body active; use your feet, ankles, and knees to edge and steer the board.


• Breathe. Don’t stop.


• Look where you want to go! Anticipate your turns, don’t react to them.

How to

• Find a nice, wide groomed green slope, preferably without many people on it. You’re going to need a bit more speed for this, so make sure it’s safe.


• Ride down the fall line until you are moving at a moderate speed.


• Initiate the turn by steering with the feet and knees, twisting them in the direction of the turn. This should cause the edge to bite and the sidecut to begin to carry you in an arc. Think about leading with your front foot at this phase of the turn and starting from a low stance.


• Increase the edge angle through angulation, by bending the knees and ankles. Maintain a low stance to absorb any bumps in your path. Try to apply pressure consistently throughout this phase of the turn and evenly along the edge. The board needs to hold a curve through this phase of the turn; this is achieved by bracing the edge against the snow and maintaining even pressure against it. As the speed of your turn increases, you may have to incline your vertical axis to compensate for the centrifugal force acting upon your mass.


• Finish the turn by shifting pressure to your back foot and towards the tail. Gradually extend your legs towards the end of the turn and get ready to switch edges. The board should spring back from its curved position as you make the transition from one edge to another; this ‘pop’ at the end of a carved turn propels the rider onto the opposite edge and into the next turn.

Common problems

• Board slides or slips out, especially near the end of the turn. Bending at the waist causes force to be directed away from the edge, rather than into it. Maintain a balanced, aligned stance, focusing on the vertical plane.


• Board chatters during turn; this is especially common in heelside turns. Straight legs cause resistance to pressure rather than absorption of pressure. Imagine you were riding a horse; keep your back straight and squat over the board, flexing the joints in your legs.


• Board slides or washes out during turn. Counter-rotating the upper body interferes with steering. Think about lining up the shoulders parallel to the length of the board, and rotating them with the lower joints.


• Board pivots and washes out at the end of the turn. Over-rotating the upper body. Keep your shoulders relaxed and in line with the board towards the end of the turn, and look to the next one.


• Board won’t initiate turn. Too much back foot pressure. Maintain a balanced, aligned stance, focusing on the lateral plane. Think about shifting pressure to the front foot at the beginning of the turn.


• Board pivots instead of steers during initiation phase. Rotating upper body into the turn too early. Focus on maintaining a neutral upper body and rotating the knees and feet in the direction of the turn.


• The turn is jerky and a smooth arc is lost. Turns tend to be square and not finish easily. Rotating upper body into the turn too late. Anticipate the turn and ensure the upper body is going the same direction as the board.


• Excessive hip movement across the board. The hips need to stay above the knees and feet to maintain a balanced stance; if the hips thrust forward too much, they will be in front of the feet on toeside turns, and edging and balance will be lost. If the butt sticks out on heel side turns, the legs will straighten and the board will tend to chatter. Focus on edging with the knees and ankles, and while allowing the upper body to incline slightly, keep the core tight and hips quiet.

If you have any questions, ask one of our qualified snowboard instructors on the Boardworld Forums.