Beginner 'Learn to turn' snowboarder course 

Lesson 22

Lesson 1

Now, we break the turn down into three phases:

Initiation (or beginning)
Control (or body)
Completion/preparation (or end)

Note that the phases of the turn are very apparent in slower, low-level turns but become very blended and more difficult to see as the turns become smaller and your speed increases.

However, the phases of the turn are always present and without the understanding, Intermediate/Advanced snowboarding will be extremely hard to Master.

The Initiation Phase:

At the beginning of the turn, the uphill edge is released and the tip of the board moves into the arc of the new turn.

Movements here may include:
Extending or flexing to aid un-weighting
Stopping the rotation (from the old turn)
Releasing tension created in the torso and hips (anticipation/release)
And gently steering the body into the new direction

The Control Phase:

This refers to the ‘belly’ of the turn, where the board is guided down the hill, through the fall-line and towards the finish of the turn.

Movements here consist of progressive edging, pressuring and steering to resist the increasing forces acting on you.

The completion Phase:

This phase is where you complete the present turn while preparing to initiate the next turn.

Completion movements here consist of rotating to help finish more closed turns, whilst increasing the edge angle as the board moves across the fall-line.

At some point these movements cease to resist the forces pulling you out of the turn and consist of slower rotation and a decrease in edge angle in order to prepare for the next turn.

Preparation movements include looking down the hill at the approaching terrain, rotating the upper body in the new direction, and possibly building tension in the torso and hips.

At higher levels it is especially important that as we move into heel-side turns we prepare the upper body rotationally, so we can maintain balance and see through to the end of that turn.

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