How To Avoid Snowboard Blindside Crashes 

This online snowboard lesson will go over How To Avoid Blindside Snowboard Crashes. Snowboarding is a high impact high speed sport. I was riding at one of my favorite resorts Jackson Hole, Wyoming when this crash happened. Your blindside is where your back is facing and where we can’t see. You’ve got to be aware of your blindside to avoid other peeps out on the snow. I’m going to go over some snowboard safety tips to prevent crashes on the slopes. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride teach how to pick the right snowboard gear best for you. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup that cover every step and feedback from your coach. 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, Superman Eruo Carves, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Eruo Surfer Carves, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Snowboard Responsibility Code #1, Snowboard Responsibility Code #2, Snowboard Responsibility Code #3, Responsibility Code #4 Look Uphill, Snowboard Responsibility Code # 5, #6 Obey All Signs, Snowboard Responsibility Code #7,Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

You want to keep your head on a swivel when your trail starts to merge into other trails. When all the trails funnel down to the lift the traffic increases and you need to be safe. I like to give myself a lot of room so I don’t have to worry about someone making a sudden turn and running into me. I ride a lot and I hit by Rogue Riders/Skiers almost every year. Someone out of control or not looking where they are going. I really look uphill a lot while I’m riding especially on my toeside edge because my body alignment is already facing that direction.

This is Responsibility Code #4 Look Uphill and will help you to avoid crashes. The person down hill of you has the right of way. I know it sucks when you’re flowing down the mountain making consistent turn shapes in good rhythm and then someone snakes your line. That can throw you out of wack and mess your line up but some folks don’t have proper mountain etiquette. Be aware of your blindside and other rogue skiers and snowboarders.

When you ride with snowboarders that are all goofy everyone has the same blindside but when you switch to a group with both regular and goofy riders then you have opposite blindsides. This crash was with a regular rider and myself a goofy ride. We were funneling out on to the main trail and we just didn’t see each other because of our blindside. I could have avoided this crash by slowing down because I did see him and we were merging into trails towards the bottom. I was keeping my speed to flow well and to carve. We both had that idea and we met when both of us were doing heelside cares. I was wearing a helmet and always recommend it to anyone on the mountain. The impact knocked my GoPro off but I kept my momentum and was up quickly. It could have been a bad crash but any crash you can get up from without injury is a good crash. 

Beware of Rogue Riders and Rogue Skiers when you snowboard. Keep your eyes up and look around you. We have blindsides and we need to use all our senses out there. Try to keep your riding in rhythm making similar turn shape size. When you are approaching the lift know that there will be out of control high speed maniacs. You can learn more by watching Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach how to improve your skills. You can signup 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! My name is Blake Tholen Clark Contact Me if you want to book a lesson or have any questions about Snowboarding.