Pressure Control

Author: Paul Morgan - Snowboard Instructor (CASI 3)

The snowboard is a very simple machine; namely, a flat spring. This spring can flex lengthwise, from tip to tail (longitudinal flex), or laterally in a twisting motion (torsional flex). Both of these flex patterns can be used to apply, create, and absorb pressure, and in doing so, can greatly improve our performance. For instance, when we incorporate independent steering motions with both legs, we utilize the torsional flex of our boards, which allows our front foot to begin one turn while the back foot is finishing the last one.

The various pressures acting during each phase of a turn are not equal; at the beginning of a turn, the board gives in to gravity, and there is very little resistance or pressure. However, as the board enters the turn, pressure builds up rapidly, culminating at the completion phase. Accordingly, the rider must apply sufficient pressure to the edge at the initiation phase of the turn, and maintain this pressure throughout. As the pressure increases though, the rider must be able to absorb some of it, or the edge will loose its grip and the rider will slide out, or fall.

By flexing and extending the joints in our lower body, we can cause the board to flex longitudinally; by doing so, we allow the board to absorb and transfer energy, which we can than use. As we enter the turn, the board flexes into a curve. If the board maintains this shape through the turn, it not only grips the snow better and makes a rounder, more even turn shape, but its stored energy is released at the end of the turn when it snaps back to its normal shape. If this spring action is timed to happen right at the end of the turn, the board will ‘pop’ off the edge and into the next turn. If the board is not allowed to flex however, then the rider will be bucked and thrown around, and will be unable to hold an edge.

Key points

• Maintain your stance! We want to push vertically into our boards, not laterally.


• Your front foot goes first, and so it needs to act first.



• You need to be low, but not too low! Keep a stance in which it is possible to either flex or extend your legs with equal ease; we need to be able to resist and absorb pressure during the turn.

How to

• Extend the legs gradually and steadily during the execution phase of the turn.


• As you finish the turn, extend your legs and release the edge, popping off of it.


• Pull your feet up underneath you (or drop your body down towards your feet) and shift your weight towards the other edge.


• Apply the downhill edge and flex your knees and ankles to absorb pressure.



• Stay low through the start of the turn, and begin extension in the middle of the turn.

Common problems

• Board chatters or washes out in the middle of the turn. Legs extending too quickly. Try extending gradually throughout the middle of the turn.


• Board skids or washes out at the end of the turn. Legs extend too far during the middle. Try holding a little bit back until the last second.


• Board won’t pop out of the turn. Final extension is too late and the board has already flattened out.

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