How To Actively Snowboard Bumpy Terrain & Moguls

There are perfect conditions for snowboarding and wakeboarding. Lakes are glass when there aren’t many boats out and there’s no wind to make the water choppy. In snowboarding we get fresh powder or the snow gets groomed but can get bumpy when folks turn and push the snow around. We need to be able to Absorb & Ride Bumpy Terrain. We also have some free snowboard videos to prepare for snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Bumpy Terrain, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snake Course, Snowboarding Chutes, Building A Race Course, Active Passive Absorption, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

We learn how to snowboard on flat groomed terrain with a gradual slope. After you get comfortable with this terrain step up to steeper slopes. When there is more of an incline you gain more speed. This steeper terrain requires you to turn more to keep your speed in control. On powder days snow is pushed around much more and easy blue slopes that were groomed in the morning might have moguls to start forming in a very short time. You will have to be able to navigate this bumpy terrain to get down. If you use some basic movements and can survey the terrain you’ll do fine.

When I’m teaching students how to ride moguls I choose good terrain. I like to start on blue groomers and get them to start developing rhythm. There are different types of movement patterns and some are better than others in certain situations. Check out Dynamic Flex & Extend Movements For Snowboarding to get a better idea about what I’m referring to. After students are moving their bodies dynamically I can get them off piste. I choose blue terrain that has moguls on one side and is groomed on the other. This way they can try to ride bumps and if they’re not getting it they can jump back onto the groomed terrain.

I like to use Active Absorption Versus Passive Absorption. I will actively lift my front leg up as I approach a bump and then push it down as I go over it and do the same with my back foot. You really want to use independent foot steering, flexing and extending your legs. One might be extended while the other is flexed. It is a good workout to ride moguls. If I only have a short time to ride and want to burn the most calories I ride the moguls. Moving more creates more energy. If you want to be cruisy stay on the groomers and if you’re looking to be more aggressive get off piste and into the bumps. 

Look down the hill and try to plan your line at least 5 turns in advance. I like to just follow the fall line or gravity and choose the path of water or the least amount of resistance. I will change edges across the fall line and will turn uphill to bleed off speed. Snowboarders and skiers both make moguls but because they are faced downhill with narrow skis and boarders are sideways with wider boards we ride the bumps a bit differently. I turn on the bump using it as a berm. I can ride moguls like a skier or a zipper line but my upper body gets out of alignment on my toeside edge and this can cause injury. I prefer to stay stacked over my board finishing my turns in alignment. I plan ahead and if they are obstacles I have no problem avoiding them and keeping my flow.

You should work on being consistent in your turn shape staying on your toeside as long as you stay on your heelside. It will take some practice to get these movements fine tuned. You might get it right away or it might take you a long time but keep with it. You can sign up for the full course to gain access to all of our snowboard lessons, study guides, textbooks, glossary, tests and direct feedback from your coach. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com and take a look at our YouTube Page for more free content and learn to snowboard right! Online snowboard resources like videos on our YouTube Channel and articles like these can help you a ton. Professional snowboard lessons help even more. My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.