Skating
Author: Jeremy Sheridan - Snowboard Instructor (CASI 2)
Skating will enable you to move around on flat terrain with ease. The video below also covers climbing and J-turns (part of basic mobility).
Key Points
- Maintain a balanced body position.
- Look and point in the direction of desired travel.
- Keep your snowboard flat on the snow, and pointed in the direction of desired travel.
- When first learning to skate, use small pushes and keep your feet not too far apart.
How To
- Skating with your snowboard requires you to have your front foot strapped into your front binding. You will be pushing with your back foot in a forwards direction (towards the nose of the board).
- Strap your front foot into the front binding.
- Place your snowboard on the snow and pointed in the direction of desired travel.
- Place your back foot on the snow behind the heel edge of your snowboard.
- Transfer weight onto your back foot (on the snow) and using a small push slide your snowboard in a forward direction. As your snowboard slides forward, transfer weight onto your front foot.
- As momentum decreases, transfer weight back onto your back foot (on the snow) and push the snowboard in a forward direction again. As your snowboard slides forward, transfer weight onto your front foot.
- Start by using small pushes and small glides. As you become more comfortable you can use bigger pushes and let the board glide further. If you want, during the glides you can place your back foot onto the stomp pad on your snowboard.
- If you need to change direction, place your back foot on the snow and use it as a pivot point. Transfer weight onto your back foot (on the snow), lift your font foot (attached to snowboard) and make small adjustments to the direction of your snowboard.
Common Problems
- Placing your feet too far apart will cause your snowboard to move away from your body. Keep your feet no more than shoulder width apart, especially when you are first learning how to skate.
- Looking down at your snowboard will put the rest of your body out of balance. Keep your head up and looking in the direction of travel.
If you have any questions, ask one of our qualified snowboard instructors on the Boardworld Forums.
