Tag Archives: snowboard lesson

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Advance Snowboard Lesson On Jumps, Freestyle and Pond Skimming

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Freestyle, Jumps, Air Tricks and Pond Skimming. Let’s start to focus on your freestyle. A great way to practice tricks while you’re in the air is to get on a trampoline. I’ve read that NASA would train their astronauts by having them jump on a trampoline after being in space or to prepare for space. These studies showed that jumping was %68 more efficient than running and less impact on your joints. I’ve done experiments on myself as well and I’ve seen the improvements when I jump on the trampoline over other exercise. It’s a natural movement and most people can get on a trampoline and start jumping without much coaching. Bend your legs more and more to get higher and higher. You will start to feel that unweighted feeling at your apex. Once you’ve started jumping and testing how high you can jump start to get into a rhythm of jumping the same height. Once you’ve got your balance and feeling comfortable you can start doing some tricks. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over movements to teach you how to perform spins and rotations that will improve your freestyle. 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 Advance Snowboarding Getting Air on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; ; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Basic Carving: Circle Drills, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

Once you’re comfortable in the air start to pull your legs up at the apex and extended them back down. Get that rhythm and start to reach down and grab your ankle or foot. Switch legs and arms so that you’re doing different grabs. In snowboarding depending on what arm you grab your snowboard with and the location on your board is called a different grab like a mute, indy, nose, tale. melon or stalefish. Here is a Snowboard Grab Chart that shows different grabs. Once you’ve got some grabs down step it up. Start to reach down and grab your foot with both hands. Start to pull your knees up to your chest and grab your knees to start to tuck. Once you’re doing this you’re ready to start spinning and flipping. Start to spin by creating power from your hips. Build your spins up by doing a 90º rotation. Start your rotation by winding your body up when you’re low and about to jump. Jump and spin at the same time so while you’re in the air you rotate. If you get that easily start to spin 180º and then 270º and then to a full circle or 360º. In snowboarding we refer to a ‘3’ as a 360º rotation, 540º rotation as a ‘5’, a ‘7’ is a 720º rotation, a ‘9’ as a 900º rotation and so on. The big thing to remember is build up to this level. Follow the progressions that I’ve taught in previous snowboard lessons. Some of your spinning can be created by scissor kicking you legs. I can counter rotate my upper body and shoulders and throw my arms around to create rotation. I can use my core and hips to create pivot movements. My hip is a ball socket joint that can truly pivot and creates a ton of power. I use a combination of these movements when spinning. Depending on the type of trick will depend on the type of movement I’ll use. If I’m doing a 50/50 on a box and want to do a quick board slide I’ll scissor kick but if I want spin while box sliding I’ll use upper body and core to come on to the box and spin on. If you have trouble spinning use your upper body and keep turning your head to look at your back but remember to have your core and legs follow you.

Flipping is the next step. Flipping is more dangerous since you can land upside down. If you’re able to pull your legs up and grab your knees you’re ready. Jump high and straight up. Some people jump forwards when doing front flips and backwards when doing backflips. A front flip is easier so once you get to your apex you want to be tuck and drive your head to your knee and flip around. The stronger your move the quicker you’ll flip. If you’re really scared about flipping on a trampoline go to pool that has a diving board. You can build up by starting to dive and back dive. That’s similar to a 180º because you spinning half way and diving is doing a half flip. Once you get diving down start to rotate more. This takes time and not everyone can do it but if you can if brings a huge adrenaline rush. After you feel comfortable jumping, spinning and flipping we’re ready to put our board on.

When jumping on a trampoline we want to get a foam board for safety. Your snowboard is hard with metal edges. Your board can damage the trampoline and yourself so get a padded board is recommended but I’ve jumped on trampolines with my snowboard on and was fine. Start looking over your front shoulder because when snowboarding we’re sideways. Practice like you’re snowboarding to build your muscle memory. Try spinning the same ways I just talked about but now with your snowboard on. Try to land with both feet at once or your back first to develop good technique for landing jumps. If you’re able to spin 180º start to reach down and get a grab that we talked about. If you’re good with that start doing 360’s and more. If you still feel a bit unsafe check out a trampoline park with foam pits. These have sprung up all over the world over the last few decades and there should be one in your area. The foam pits have trampolines next to them and you can flip into them. This will help to to perform difficult tricks that eliminate hard falls. Getting out of the foam pit can be difficult but it’s worth it. After getting your tricks down on the trampoline you’re ready to blend those movements into your snowboard style.

I love powder and snowboarding in it. Powder can act as a foam pad also and that’s why real good snow is called ‘Hero Snow’, you do almost anything without consequences and you feel like a superhero. Know your snow conditions and your abilities. Don’t try to do a flip or chuck a 3 off a jump if you’ve never attempted one before. Build up to it by trying a 180 first or something easy and when the snow is soft your falls don’t hurt as much. When the snow starts to melt puddles start to form. If you carry enough speed you can glide or skim across it. Some places have ponds or lakes that thaw and you can pond skim across them. Some tips for that are to keep your speed, if you jump land with your board flat and nose up, lean back slightly, keep your core over your snowboard, keep the nose up and keep a solid stance. It’s a lot like surfing when you pond skim. When you build a jump by the pond you can get away with chucking almost any trick. I like finding awesome powder fields but when it’s late season it’s wet sloppy snow anyway so jumping into water and pond skimming are advanced fun ways to snowboard.

Learn how to snowboard better by pushing yourself to higher levels of efficient movements. Trampolines provide great core strength, improves jumping muscle memory, gives you snowboard practice off snow and is a more efficient exercise. You’ll start flowing into some good freestyle with some off season/off snow practice on your trampoline. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about kids and beginner movements. You can signup to get 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.

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Snowboarding Pads Flex/Extension Pros & Cons

Blake Tholen Clark Certified Snowboard Instructor, Flowing Freeride Online Snowboard School, Free Snowboarding Lessons, From Your Snowboard Coach, Snowboard Gear Reviews, Snowboarding Tips, , , , , , , , , ,

This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboard Padding Flex & Extend. If you’re going out to snowboard for your first time get some padding. There are some places that have awesome soft fluffy powder snow conditions that are perfect for learning to snowboard. You can find these conditions in Western States like Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, California and more consistently. The Rockies are bigger mountains and in some areas like Utah you get Champagne Powder because of how dry and light the snow is. The Sierras and other mountain ranges near the Ocean get lots of snow but it’s heavier wet snow. When you fall in powder the impact is softer and you may not need pads. The snow isn’t always going to be ‘perfect’ when you fall. Impact shorts, knee/elbow/back pads are worn under you snowboard pants and they can prevent injuries when you fall. Wrist guards are worn under your gloves to give you more protection. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over safety, equipment and techniques. 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 Advance Carving on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How to Snowboard: Balance Twist, Beginner Snowboard Stance, Snowboard Training Hill, What To Wear Snowboarding, How To Size Your Snowboard, Snowboard Freestyle Boards, What To Wear Snowboarding, Demo Boards, Snowboard Camber, Freeride Boards, Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, & Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

Now when I go out and try new tricks I want to have the Safety Gear to help prevent injury if I do crash. There’s a downfall to having this safety equipment and padding it’s your flexion extension that is lacking. It limits my range of movement. If I were to be wearing a knee pad or an elbow elbow pad or impact shorts it limits my flexion extension. Flex and extension is key in any sport. When I’m extended out I’m using my skeleton and bones to support myself. When I’m flexed I’m using my muscles and pads prevent a little bit of range of movement. That can make it harder to reach down and grab your snowboard or do other dynamic movements. That extra movement can help you jump a little further or higher and let you stomp you trick so weigh the pros and cons of pads. If I were to be wearing something that limits my flex and extension it can change the style of my riding and the way it looks. I always recommend a helmet for protection but I don’t always recommend you wear pads. If you’re a first timer I do recommend you wear pads but it’s not required. The big key is to steer the board with your feet and to limit hard falls with proper technique. Our snowboard tutorials go over movement patterns that teach you how to operate and manipulate your snowboard. Look at these three Snowboard Video Tips; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, & How to Snowboard: Balance Twist. You can practice these movements off snow so that you can be training to snowboard even when you’re not on the mountain.

When you snowboard you might not fall if you’re good. I like to push myself to new skills, tricks and movements. If you’re building up new snowboard skills and you’re riding kickers, rails or other park features you may crash and pads soften falls. When I do a new trick I may do it hundreds of times until it’s perfect with flowy style. Build up to that skill by perfect practice. Do the same trick over and over again until you’ve got muscle memory and as you’re flowing down the mountain you can bust that trick out anytime no problem. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about kids and beginner movements. You can signup to get 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.

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Snowboarding Euro Surfer Carves

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding Euro Surfer Carves. Welcome to the 2018 AASI Rider Rally. We ripped at A-Basin, CO for a week. The snow was great considering in was May. There was a huge turn out with certified riders from all over the world! I was one of the many L3 Full Certified Riders including the AASI Team Riders. The Team Riders gave a good show sharing knowledge that we’ll bring back to our divisions and local resorts. If you’re an AASI certified snowboard instructor you should attend training events like this that combines all the divisions together in one event. Being a L3 Cert I train in events like DCL/Beyond L3 pushing our snowboarding to higher levels and I’ve been a snowboard trainer at resorts helping instructors pass their exams and certifications. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over carving tips and techniques. 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 Advance Carving on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Basic Carving: Circle Drills, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Our Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and Learn To Snowboard Right!

Snowboarding has many styles and you can adapt to the snow conditions. Our rhythm started flowing towards Surfer Turns and Euro Carves. Here we we’re doing some Euro Carves laying our bodies in the snow and getting our back arm to drag. We really talked a lot about practicing and focusing on one thing that you’re about 75% efficient on that movement, trick or skill. For this style of carving you want to get low at the very beginning of your turn and start dragging your back arm in the snow. Get your board to change edges across the fall line. Refer back to my Dynamic Flex & Extension Video to get you flowing in rhythm. Put a lot of your weight on your back leg, then extend through your turn and lay your body in the snow. Put pressure towards the nose of your snowboard to pop you back up. If you put a grab in you’re making Surfer Turns.

Carving is riding and balancing on the snowboard edge and sidecut. Your back foot follows your front foots direct path and you’re not skidding. Keep your core over the width of your snowboard and pressure down on the edge. If you’ve done snowboard training you can see there are many different styles, alignments and movements in these carves. Some carving styles here were to separate your upper body from your lower locking you into your carves but it causes alignment issues and can tweak muscles or joints. Carving like this is for higher level riders so build up to carving by trying Circle Turns. I’ve seen the sport of snowboarding go back to carving because it when you’re carving you’re flowing and using the snowboard the way it’s meant to be used. You use the side cut and move fore and aft of your board also using the camber to create pop. That pop can be used to start jumping and spinning. Carving can set you up for good flow in your freestyle. Putting your hand in the snow and grabbing your snowboard while ripping boosts your style and efficiency. If you’re training for your snowboard exams and certifications manipulating your snowboard to perform efficiently is what will get you to pass your L3, Freestyle Cert or High Level Exams. You need to have a good understanding of the biomechanics of the human body. It will help you to perform better in other sports also.

Snowboarding is a very active sport. Stay fit to be able to bend, absorb, flex and extend with little effort. When riding with a huge group of high level snowboarders you see cool style and tricks that you might want to be able to do. Build up to that skill by perfect practice. Do the same trick over and over again until you’ve got muscle memory and as you’re flowing down the mountain you can bust that trick out anytime no problem. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about kids and beginner movements. You can signup to get 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.

 

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Snowboarding Two Feet In

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding With Two Feet In. This is the next step for beginner snowboarders that have been skating around and steering with one foot in. People tend to drag their back foot in the snow acting like an anchor to brake for them. At this level you need to be able to pressure the edge to turn the snowboard and not force the board around with hip rotation movements. Use more of your lower body like your ankles to flex the board and to steer. We also have some free snowboard videos for beginners to prepare you for a great day snowboarding on our YouTube Page. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup that cover every step and feedback from your coach. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How to Snowboard: Balance Twist, Beginner Snowboard Stance, Snowboard Pads, Snowboard Training Hill, What To Wear Snowboarding, & How To Size Your Snowboard Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

Putting your back foot in is awkward at first but gets easier. Snowboarding is similar to riding a bike because the faster you go the easier it is to balance and steer. When you’re going slow on a bike you have to turn the wheel a lot instead of leaning when you’re going faster. If you’re slow enough you lose your balance and put your foot down. Snowboarding you need a little more speed to keep better balance and it’s easier to turn. I know at first beginner snowboarders may not want get more speed but with it turning takes less muscle effort. Your front foot will start your turn and then your back foot will follow. Remember it’s not all at once. I’ve given you drills to practice if you’ve signed up for FFR Snowboard Course. You can start getting the snowboard down the fall line and then across to get some speed and then slow down making J shape turns. Try to steer the snowboard going right foot forward or Goofy stance and then left foot forward or Regular stance. It will probably be easier to do this on your heelside edge but try to do it on your toeside edge also.

You will usually be on a Snowboard Training Hill area that is flat with a surface lift like a conveyor belt. If you’re out hiking away from the resort you’ll be wanting to learning on similar terrain. You do a lot of work with just one foot in before strapping in the second foot. When you feel comfortable controlling your snowboard hike up something a little steeper. You might need to leave your beginner area and find something a little steeper. Skiers can practice on the flat stuff and be fine to go right to the lift. Snowboarders should hike up a little bit and practice two feet in before going all the way up the lift. The area you’re at might be a small short lift and you can get away with that. Going to the lift is usually steeper terrain than what you’ve been practicing on. My advice is to hike up a bit and then put in two feet and see if you can still stop and steer. If you’re not then go back to the flat area and practice more with one foot in. A big tip is to let the board get flat and make small movements to steer the snowboard. Keep your core over your snowboard by staying balanced and not flailing your body all over the place.

Once you’re at this level you’re actually starting to snowboard a develop some muscle memory. The first few days can be hard on your body. I do recommend impact shorts and pads incase you have a hard fall. There are some Pros & Cons To Padding that I go over in this video. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about kids and beginner movements. You can signup to get 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.

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Snowboarding Teaching Tips For Little Kids

Blake Tholen Clark Certified Snowboard Instructor, Flowing Freeride Online Snowboard School, Free Snowboarding Lessons, From Your Snowboard Coach, , , , , , ,

This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboard Tutorial For Teaching Kids. I’m going to let Dante give you some tips that he’s learned from Flowing Freeride’s Techniques. I have another video about Teaching Kids To Snowboard on our FFR YouTube Channel. You’ll have access to all our snowboard tutorials when you signup that cover every step and feedback from your coach. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How to Snowboard: Balance Twist,Beginner Snowboard Stance, Snowboard Freestyle Boards, What To Wear Snowboarding, Demo Boards, Snowboard Camber, Freeride Boards, Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, & How To Size Your Snowboard Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

One big tip for teaching kids is to stay near shelter, food, bathrooms, water and near transport. They wear out especially at young ages. If you’re teaching your kids to snowboard then you’re probably a decent rider and you want to share your love and passion of the snowsport. Be patient and make things fun. Let the child think they knew the answer by giving them clues to what you want done. Guide them towards the correct stance, body movements and position. Make things into games and competition. You might know the kids personality and play off that to your advantage. Get down to their level and when they’re doing well let them go on their own for a bit so they can learn by just doing it. Get them to go as much as they can when they’re happy. Don’t take a break when they want to snowboard. Believe me they will want to take many breaks so if they’re doing well don’t stop them. When they do want to stop make the time in the lodge fun. If all they can remember is a good time then they’ll want to come up again and again. As soon as they want to get off the snow do it. Sometimes they just like to ride on the gondola or play in the snow or make snow angels. Whatever the activity is in the snow that they like do it. Spending time together as a family on the snow will create awesome memories and the kids will want to keep coming up.

What if they don’t want to go snowboarding? It’s a good idea to have another adult with you so the kids can see one adult snowboarding while the other helps. You can also take ride breaks while one teaches the other gets to snowboard. Let’s face it we’re up on the mountain to snowboard and when a child doesn’t want to go then it’s nice to have some adult time of your own. Be patient and know every child is different with their own personality. My first son loved snowboarding right away the first time we went up we were snowboarding for a few hours. Dante is ripping now at age 8 and going down black runs with me. My youngest wasn’t having it and threw tantrums but the last two times this season were great. The last day was on Easter and there were eggs all over. He found an egg that had a toy in it. I told him that it was magic kind of like the feather in Dumbo and it gave him snowboarding power. He totally dug on that and did the best he’s ever done. We did six runs in a row, took a break and then did two more. I was lucky if I got two the whole day.

Make everything a game and guide them to play and skills will follow. Rule #1 In Snowboarding Is Have Fun! Make sure you bring snacks and treats so they remember how fun it is and take lots of breaks so they stay warm and energized. Don’t do a ton of talking do a lot of snowboarding and demos. Kids development differs from adults so spread their stance out a little wider and make your teaching info easy. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about kids and beginner movements. You can signup to get 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.

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Snowboard Lesson On Binding Types

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Free Snowboard Tips On Binding Types. When you’re ready to take your riding to the next level get your own custom bindings.  There are many types of bindings but the most common binding is two straps that ratchet tighter. There are some systems where you step-in or Burton’s New System You Step On to your bindindings. The rear entry system has been made popular by Flow. There are different advantages and cons to the bindings so let’s take a look at some snowboard binding systems. 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 educate you on  Snowboard Equipment on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Snowboard Freestyle Boards, What To Wear Snowboarding, Demo Boards, Snowboard Camber, Freeride Boards, Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, & How To Size Your Snowboard Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

The big benefits to step-ins or step-ons is the quickness of getting in and out of your bindings. If you’ve ever been out riding with skiers they get off the lift and go. Snowboarders have to take time and strap in. Quickly step your foot in and pull the lever or it clicks in. It saves time and you don’t have to bend over as much. If you range of movement doesn’t allow you to bend over very well these step-in bindings save time and energy. A guy I work with teaches and only has one arm, he uses the Flow system to get him in and out with just one arm. I’ve demoed all types of bindings and really liked the Flow system. When I worked in Ski Patrol I was required to have a step-in system so I could get in and out of my bindings fast so I could work setting up poles, signs and ropes. The Flow Rear Entry Snowboard Binding System is what I used. The binding is compatible with any snowboard boot. The first step-ins required you have the boot and binding. The boots wore out quickly and the system would jam a lot. It was a good idea but had flaws and inefficiencies. Flow made adjustments to it’s rear entry system and has remained one of the best step-in bindings. It has a lot of positive uses. Flow is a great name and having good flow and rhythm is why I chose the name Flowing Freeride for my Online Snowboard School, it’s a big part of good snowboarding. Gatorade Flow has come out as well because basketball is all about flow, rhythm, running downhill, momentum & pace and that’s where the saying comes from “he’s on fire!”

There are many pros to step-in systems so why don’t more snowboarders ride on step-in bindings? The two strap ratchet system is more reliable and is very unlikely to fail. Even if the system brakes you’re still able to get down the mountain and it’s easy to fix. After riding my Flow bindings for a few years the high back broke when I was out on the mountain. I’m pretty sure it was the low clearance when getting on the lift or maybe something else. Always fold your high backs down when getting on the lift because they can break. When my high back broke it was still held together enough to get me down the mountain. Most times when things break on step-in bindings you’re walking down the mountain. You usually can get down the mountain if one of straps breaks with the two strap system. A broken binding can really put a damper on your day. My personal experience was a scary one. I had just bought some new Flow bindings and I was going very fast around a trail with some bumps on it. The binding failed and the rear entry opened while I was going 40 mph. My back foot came out of the binding and I flipped out of control down into a valley out of bounds. Luckily it was full of powder and I was unharmed. I took them back and like the two strap system.

I rode the Burton Step On Bindings this year at the 2018 Rider Rally. A bunch of AASI Instructors get together to share new ideas, concepts, movements, skills, drills and progressions to further improve your snowboard style. I like how Burton is using new technology. The binding had a lot of pros similar to the Flow system. The fall back was I had to have that snowboard boot and I was riding boots a bit too small, so I couldn’t wear my boot. Once I was in I was locked in. I found it a little bit difficult to get locked in everytime and sometimes had to do a good heelside turn to click and lock in. While riding the bindings felt real secure and safe. They were responsive to my movements. It was great that the guys at Burton came out and let us demo their bindings, boots and boards. They’re making tweaks every year to this system to make it better. I snowboarded all day on my Custom Wide 158 Regular Camber Twin Tip Burton Snowboard and really liked the speed and flex of the board. The bindings have a slot to slide your snowboard pants to prevent jamming but on my very last run I couldn’t get out of binding. My pants had jammed into the locking mechanism of the bindings. Luckily I was down at the bottom where the Burton Tent was. I was rescued by the tech taking the binding off with a screwdriver. I applaud these Snowboard Companies for pushing snowboard technologies and hope to see more new ideas next season.

If you get an old setup somewhere like at a pawn shop or yard sale try to get bindings that are two straps since the older technologies aren’t as safe. Snowboarding is expensive but there are ways to get hooked up. I talk about demo days. Do a little research, I talk about this in the snowboard tutorial Learn Demo Snowboards, and find free demo days at snowboard resorts near you. It’s a good idea to take a lesson and watch FFR’s videos to prepare you. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach you about equipment and movements. You can signup to get 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 through my local resort or have any questions about Snowboarding.

 

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Backcountry Advance Snowboard Lesson

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Free Snowboard Tips On Backcountry. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over backcountry tips and preparation. Conditions vary depending on the area you’re going out into the backcountry. There will mostly be lots of powder in the backcountry and you can practice backcountry conditions by going off the groomers and riding crud, bumps and powder inbounds at the snowboard resort. Riding deep fresh powder is very similar to surfing the mountain. Our snowboards are wide and have a lot of surface area that allows us to float on the snow. Skiers have adapted snowboard technology and have made powder skis that are much wider than normal skis. The thrill and adrenaline rush from ripping a fresh powder field is something that is astounding and a feeling that can’t be matched! 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 Advance Powder and Heli Boarding on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs, Snowboarding Off Piste, Snowboarding Chutes, Snowboard Lesson Navigating Trees & Obstacles, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Basic Carving: Circle Drills, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

Some tips for powder riding are to keep your nose up and your weight back. I set my bindings back so I have a longer nose when I’m riding deep powder. I still steer with my front foot but my back leg is doing a lot of work. Speed is a big part of riding powder, you need to keep enough speed and stay on steeper slopes when you’re in deep powder so you don’t sink, crash or get stuck. I like to keep my snowboard a little bit more flat in powder. When you lift your edge up too high the edge digs in causing you to lose balance and throw your rhythm off. That’s all it takes to make things go wrong in powder conditions. Stay stacked over your snowboard and what I mean by that is keep your center of mass over the snowboard. If you’re using body movements that aren’t efficient it will be hard to ride powder because there’s more snow to push. It’s usually making the toeside turn. People try to turn the snowboard by counter rotating, chucking their meat, and steering with their upper body. I progress my students through proper body movements and it’s easy to see when snowboarders aren’t using the best movements. You can send footage of your snowboarding to Virtual Pro and I can go over the timing, intensity, duration, edit and add voice over of your movements to improve your riding. Virtual Pro Example. Once you get comfortable keeping you balance start going to steeper terrain and do whatever you want.

I like to call powder conditions “Hero Snow” because you have tons of confidence with soft snow. You can do almost anything with smaller consequences. It’s like jumping into a foam pit. I like to got out in the the backcountry and build huge kickers and jumps. You can shoot out and do big grabs, flips, spins and get huge air and land in soft powder pillows. I lived on Donner Summit near Truckee, CA at Donner Ski Ranch and there’s some awesome places to build jumps in the backcountry. The old stagecoach trail is still there and we’d hike out along that and build kickers on it because it was perfect terrain. It’s steep, flat and then steep making building jumps easy. If you know a place that has a road cut into a mountain that can be a great place to build your kickers. A lot of roads are closed during the winter and aren’t plowed so find some terrain like that if you’re wanting to get your Big Air on. Take caution and scope out the landing. There needs to be plenty of snow. There are obstacles under the snow. Landing on snow is soft so make sure it’s snow and not rocks. In all my freestyle snowboard videos I always say to look before you leap so you can enjoy snowboarding for the rest of your life.

Jumping into deep powder is awe-inspiring and shredding the pow is awesome! I build up my students confidence in powder by taking them down trails that are groomed and have powder on the sides. I tell them to keep their speed and carry that speed into the powder and make just one turn so they can get back on the groomer. If they don’t do well they’re close to the groomed trail and can get out of the powder. Powder get chewed up as people rip through it and that makes it bumpy. If you surf, water ski or wakeboard you know how great it is when the water is glass. It’s easy to turn, the water is soft and the conditions are perfect. When the wind picks up or other boats create waves the water is bumpy similar to when the snow gets chewed. You need to be able to absorb these bumps and when you can you’re a Ripper! The powder will spray and you’ll get face shots. I was in  Ripping Kitzbühel, Austria last year and was getting face shots every turn. It was amazing powder conditions and the people there were great! I stayed inbounds and got tons of powder.

When I go out in the backcountry I take safety seriously. You need to have a beacon, probe, shovel and you should have a buddy. There is a lot to know about going into the backcountry. You need to have some basic skills on how to survey the terrain. Slopes that are over 30º can slide and create avalanches. I go over avalanche safety and teamed up with the Utah Avalanche Center to create a video on Snowboard Avalanche Safety 5 Red Flags. It’s a good idea to take a class and watch FFR’s videos to prepare you. You can practice efficiently with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach Steering, Balance, Stance and Body Alignments. You can signup to get 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 through my local resort or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Snowboard Responsibility Code #7 Lift Safety

Blake Tholen Clark Certified Snowboard Instructor, Flowing Freeride Online Snowboard School, Free Snowboarding Lessons, From Your Snowboard Coach, Snowboarding Tips, , , , , ,

This online snowboard lesson will go over #7 Lift Safety. The lift is something you want to really know how to use. I’ve gone over certain skills you’ll want to have when loading and unloading the lift. Be very comfortable skating and gliding with one foot in and one out. Use a bench on a slope to create a simulation of the chair lift. Before getting on the chair lift ride the conveyor belts or gondolas which are much safer and easier to load and unload. Refer back to what type of lifts are on the resort in the snowboard tutorial video Navigating the Resort. 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 Beginner Snowboard Skills & Drills on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos;  Beginner Snowboard Lesson on Steering, Toeside Heelside Stance, Learn How To Ride The Lifts Safely, How to Snowboard: Balance Twist & Beginner Snowboard Stance. Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

I have a ton of eye-witness experience seeing what snowboard chair lifts can do. When loading I’ve seen people not paying attention and get smacked in the face by the chair. This will cause lots of pain, bruising and bleeding. Pay close attention and follow the chair out. You need to keep your board straight and flat. Lifting your edge or turning your board can catch the snow under you and drag you under the lift. I’ve seen all this happen to folks. They usually are able to stop the lift but things happen fast around the lift. It’s good planning to actually sit outside of the lift line and watch people load the chair. Stop and wait for the chair to pass and then follow it out and wait at the line in the snow where the chair picks you up. If you hesitate and don’t follow it you should just wait for the next one so you don’t get hit by the chair. Once your board leaves the snow you can turn, sit, put your foot under your board to relieve stress on the leg that is strapped in and enjoy the ride up.

I had several students talk to me about the lift that failed in Russia this season. There is a viral video showing a Russian snowboard lift that has failed and the chairs are going backwards swinging wildly around the bull wheel at the bottom chucking people off the lift. I’ve worked in the winter sports industry for along time and know about these huge people movers. The technology and moving parts that goes into running thes giant ski & snowboard lifts is amazing. In the back of my head I always think about what if the lift were to fail? Where on this lift would I jump off so I won’t end up like some of the people who were riding that lift in Russia. A lot of times near the bottom there is less vertical and you see some people jumping off there. You don’t want to jump off a lift unless the brakes fail and it starts going super fast in reverse. I’ve been on lifts that have broke and I was evacuated off by ski patrol using and rope. Jumping off the lift or bouncing can cause a lift to derail off or cause damage to the lift and increase injury risk. Respect the lift and you’ll be fine.

I came up to lift and right as I was about to load the chair fell off as it was coming around the bull wheel. They closed the lift for a week to make sure it was safe. Luckily no one was on that chair and that it fell off right at the bottom. I helped the lift operator drag it off and close the lift. That chair weighed 500 pounds about 220 kilos and was heavy. I was teaching a lesson and helped close that trail. I always think about that when I ride that chair. I saw another chair come off the bull wheel at the bottom. This chair was a detachable quad meaning it comes off the wire at the top and bottom and slows down while going around the bull wheels. A skier was going fast out of control and crashed through the bamboo poles and ropes to keep folks away from the lift. Well, he went through those barriers and wrapped himself around a chair as it was about to detach off the wire. The rope and poles started snapping and breaking and then they pulled the chair right off the bull wheel. I was coaching and helped the lifty drag the chair and this one was even heavier. These are personal experiences that I’ve seen mainly because folks weren’t being safe and following the Snowboard Responsibility Code.

Chair lifts are big moving pieces of metal so make sure you unload the lift using efficient body movements. Keep your upper body and lower body aligned with the snowboard pointing parallel to the ramp slope. Have your back foot on your board as soon as you touch the snow. Standing up tall and not touching your hands to the ground is tuff but you can do it and keep the majority of your weight on your front foot that is strapped in. Glide off the ramp without turning and use the edge to steer once you’re in the flats. As you ride up the lift relax but practice turning your body in the chair to get ready to unload. Allow yourself about 30 seconds to get prepared to unload because if you’re prepared you’re 90% of the way there. You can practice efficiently with  Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach Steering, Balance, Stance and Lift Safety. You can signup to get 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 through my local resort or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Advanced Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Advance Snowboard Lesson: Dropping Cliffs. When you’re confident enough in your riding to start jumping and hitting cliffs you’ll want to be able to enjoy the adrenaline rush for your whole life. It’s key to scout out your landing and takeoff. There needs to be enough snow to cover the rocks, scouting is the most important thing when hitting cliffs. 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 Advance Cliff Drops on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Basic Carving: Circle Drills, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, Snowboard Jibbing & Snowboarding Moguls Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

 

Getting air is an awesome feeling. Review other snowboard videos and articles on how to get air and you’ll know that Speed is key and hesitation kills. To prep for cliff drops start pointing your snowboard straight and get a ton of speed. Getting comfortable with speed will launch you off your jumps. Progress up towards bigger and bigger terrain features. There has been many times that I’ve seen riders hesitate or not carry enough speed into the jump or cliff drops and the outcome has been grinding on the rocks and hard crashes. Have good efficient practice by not trying to do too much. If you’re just starting to get speed and little jumps you wouldn’t want to go huck yourself off a ten foot cliff drop. You build up to it. If you’re practicing getting speed going straight for 30 meters you should be getting that goal 80-90% of the time. When you get tired of doing that specific skill go have fun snowboarding your own style. Develop deep efficient practice by choosing skills that are within your ability but you haven’t mastered. This is how you’re going to develop into a better Ripper. Go out and practice getting comfort with speed and carry that speed off jumps.

You’ll get better with speed and to keep speed you’ll want to keep you body alignment straight. When you board leaves the snow if your upper body turn so will your lower body and you want the snowboard to land parallel with the fall line. Keep your upper and lower body aligned with the fall line. Let the tail touch first and then the nose with a flat board and not on it’s edge. It’s good practice to start grabbing your snowboard when you get a few feet of air. Keep the nose up and grab the nose or the toeside edge for your first few grabs. Grabbing the tail points the nose down and it’s not wise to land nose first so keep your tip up. Practice getting lots of speed then ollie moving for and aft on the board creating pop and also jumping. When you start dropping cliffs you’ll need that speed, pop and air to get over the rocks. Pull your legs up while in you’re up in the air and extend them down on your landing to absorb. It’s best to hit cliffs with tons of fresh powder for softer landings.

Develop your snowboard skills up so your fast and comfortable getting air. When we get some super stoked powder it can make you become a superhero! The adrenaline you get from hitting cliffs is an amazing rush and you’ll have bragging rights. “Practice doesn’t make perfect perfect practice makes perfect” so build your skills up with perfect practice. You can practice efficiently with  Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach Speed, Jumps and Big Air so you drop cliffs safely. You can signup to get 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 through my local resort or have any questions about Snowboarding.

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Learn To Snowboard Trees & Steep Obstacles

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding Trees, Gates & Steep Obstacles. Navigating through trees and obstacles can be a great reward to get into premo terrain. You should practice turning through trees on an open trail and putting down little like pieces of candy or a bunch of pennies or even your clothes like gloves. Setup a little course or go into the Nastar course if your resort has one. Running a course with gates will really help you get into a rhythm of when to turn. 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 Advance Snowboard Carving on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos; Building Rhythm, Advanced Snowboarding Getting Air, Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend, Active Passive Absorption, Upper/Lower Body Separation, Basic Carving: Circle Drills, Basics For Freestyle Features, Advance Snowboard Carving: Surfer Turns & Grab Carves, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles, & Snowboarding Moguls Learn to snowboard online with flowingfreeride.com, Take Placement Quiz, take a look at Our Blog for more free content, and learn to snowboard right!

Be able to ride well through obstacles will get you into terrain that not a lot of people go into so the snow stays fresh and better longer. If you get real good you can start competing in races like slalom and giant slalom where there are gates setup. The big key is to start your turn several feet above the obstacle. If I start my turn near the obstacle I will pass it and might have to avoid another tree or gate. You want to make your turn early and to be perpendicular with the fall line as you pass the tree so you’re ready to dodge the next set of obstacles. In steeper terrain you don’t want to make the mistake of turning late and then it’s too late to make any adjustments. Turning early and going across the fall line allows you also to turn up the mountain so you can find a better powder lines!

I like to say turn 8-10 feet before the objects that are in the way of your line. Find out what resorts host a Nastar course or any type of race course. The thing is though with most course they are setup for skiers with tall poles. Snowboarder race courses are setup with a short pole and then a long one. This is so we don’t get smacked in the face on our toeside turns. When I’m on skier gates I punch the gate when I’m doing my toeside turns. Be safe and where a helmet when entering gates, trees or terrain with lots of obstacles. We turn faster by using Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to earlier snowboard videos that teach turning, steering and rhythm if you’re having problems getting through trees. You can signup to get 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 through my local resort or have any questions about Snowboarding.