Flexion and Extension on a snowboard carving tips
How to Improve Carving Snowboard Turns when you’ve just started to learn how to carve?
In my personal opinion, Flexion and Extension(done correctly) Is 70% of the battle…without it you cannot pressure the snowboard efficiently enough to enable it hold an edge at maximum speeds.
Without having the correct timing pressure techniques in place for carving, you will never be able to carve on your snowboard effectively.
This is the main reason why people tend to do make skidded turns rather than a nice small slim edge carve turn, it’s because they don’t understand the concept of flexion and extension combined with correct timing techniques.
So what is flexion and Extension when carving on a snowboard?
Flexion on a snowboard (also known as edge pressure) is when you flex down into your snowboard through your lower body…by doing this you essentially creating friction between the snowboard edge and the snow.
Extension on your snowboard is when you extend up off the snowboard, essentially releasing all the edge pressure that was created by flexing down into your snowboard (releasing the friction that was created between the snowboard edge and the snow).
With that being said…
When do you think would be the most efficient and friction free time to change edges during the turn????
If you answered Just before you turn, you would be correct!
That’s exactly where you should be changing edges when riding your snowboard, as you become more confident within your ability, you can start changing edge across the fall line instead of down.
(this is how we carve on a snowboard)
ALWAYS REMEMBER: Up to release, down to apply edge pressure.
NOTE: If you’re not even aware of this concept or have not taken the time to implement it, then your chances of being good at snowboarding are very limited…
I always use flexion and extension in my every day riding, without it I wouldn’t be able to ride half of the terrain with control, Balance and confidence!
So What is Timing and how does it affect your snowboard edge control?
Timing is a concept that helps you control exactly how much pressure is applied to the snowboard edge…
Without controlling the Edge pressure, what tends to happen is edge chatter or edge blow out (loss of Balance, control and jarring through the legs) when carving or riding steep, bumpy and icy conditions.
This is the main reason why so many intermediate (or advanced) snowboarders struggle with carving while holding a smooth strong controlled snowboard edge…
If you find yourself with a chattery edge, You are either dumping too much edge pressure onto the snowboard at once…
…or releasing too fast and losing edge angle and control (if your are extending).
Timing is all about controlling the pressure and as long as you have all other basic elements in place, you should be able to hold maximum speed with maximum control when carving down the mountain!
Here’s what I’m talking about…
– Basic snowboard stance is strong
– Soft in the legs
– Good body Angulation
– HEAD LOOKING UP AND IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
– Good range of movement through the legs (flexion & Extension)
– Anticipation into the turn.
And finally TIMING!
These are some of the fundamental elements needed to become a competent Carver on the snowboard.
As you become more comfortable with the speed generated from carving, you can start creating more friction (torsional twist) between you and the snowboard to help with Smaller carve turns…
This topic is for online snowboard coach members only…
NOTE: Want to learn how to stay balance and controlled when carving on a snowboard? Simply download this CARVING snowboarder roadmap to learn all aspects of learning how to carve. Learn what bad habits snowboarders make so you can AVOID them to progress faster and maintain balance and control easier…check it out now!
RELATED: Snowboard carving edge tips
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