Tag Archives: snowboarding

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How To Avoid Snowboard Blindside Crashes 

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 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.

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Learn Snowboard Buttering Basics & Snowboard Tricks

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This snowboard tutorial will go over Basic Buttering Techniques. Buttering is a cool trick to be able to do on your snowboard. It’s when you start balancing on just your nose or tail of you board. Think about applying butter on a piece of bread and that’s where the term buttering comes from. It’s easier to butter on snowboards that are softer in their flex pattern. Reverse camber or banana boards are built to butter. You will loose other efficiencies but it that’s your style go for it. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park 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 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, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. Find a flat area where your board isn’t moving and draw a line in the snow. After you’ve drawn the line in the snow you’re going to try to jump from left foot to right foot landing on that line. Use the board to absorb your landing. Instead of landing flat on your foot land on the nose and tail. Get the board to flex as your landing. This will bend the board and make it easier on your body. Think of jumping on a trampoline. The springs and matt flex and absorb your weight and then pop you back up. When you land flat on your foot your body absorbs the impact. Use your board to create pop and it will be easier on your body allowing you to snowboard longer.

The first thing you want to do is start leaning right and left foot forward making a 90º angle in that leg that you’re putting more weight on. The left leg and then right leg making a 90º angle. Then you’re going to start putting more weight lifting the board off the snow. Then get the nose and tail off the snow a little bit. Then you’re to start doing the drill jumping from left foot to right foot landing on that line. If you can’t see the line well use your glove. That will make a good line so I can see where I’m suppose to land. After you’re able to do that start moving around and lifting up. You’ll start to see that your board will start to spin a little bit. Keep your snowboard flat that’s a big key. Don’t keep it on it’s edge keep in really flat and don’t keep it on it’s edge. Keep your snowboard really flat. We’re going to start buttering on our snowboards.

Buttering is great for freestyle but it can also help you avoid obstacles on the snow like a rock. Lifting your board over an obstacle prevents you from damaging yourself and equipment. See you out on the slopes! You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Buttering Tricks & Freestyle and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. 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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Learn To Snowboard & Get In Your Flow Zone Like Basketball & Baseball

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This snowboard video will help you get More Dynamic in Your Snowboarding. What that means is I want to move a little bit more the whole time I’m riding. I have some drills where I talk about rhythm. Adding to dynamic riding by turning with rhythm. I want to build on that. The whole time I’m riding I’ll have a bit of a beat. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park 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 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, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

Moving a bit having my knees, hips and ankles soft. That way when I’m out on the snow I can absorb any little variable that comes at you. Sometimes when you’re in a powder field there is a ice chunk or a rock or something else. Something that throws you off balance. If you’re able to absorb that you won’t crash. If you can bounce and be nice and soft in your body you’re able to absorb. We’re going to go out and just move. A good thing to do is to get some type of musicI really love riding to music I love doing a lot of things to music. It helps you just flow. That’s what Flowing Freeride is about, is rhythm and being in that state of flow. I know a lot of people talk about this in psychology. Time slows down, where athletes talk about being in the zone. That guy’s on fire! Basketball for example. These basketball players when they’re in the zone it’s like Stef Curry he shoots a 3 from almost half court because he’s on fire it just goes in. Swish nothing but net. That’s what I’m talking about.

When we’re out here snowboarding I want you to feel that flow and feel that rhythm. I want you brain to almost turn off. You’ve done it so much that you’re in that zone in that state of flow. We’re going out and bouncing to a rhythm. We’re going to get our either speaker or ear buds and listen to music. We’re going to put that into our ear, not both or a speaker. Some people don’t like doing that. I prefer ear buds. Riding to the beat the whole time that’s the drill. Ride to that rhythm and try to get into that state of flow. It’s just reaction. You can do anything. You’re really in rhythmIf you’re practicing at that state you get to be where a lot of these professional athletes are. Doing things so many times they’re in the zone. Baseball athletes are getting a baseball thrown to them at 100 mph and they’re able to hit that. It’s amazing! I’m talking about time kind of slowing down because they’re in that state of flow. This drill we’re going out listening to music as we’re riding bouncing to that beat and rhythm. So we’re in flow. Look at other videos on rhythm by clicking in the right corner. When you’re out riding with music make you sure you have one ear available. Take out one of your ear buds so you don’t have both in and can hear what’s going on around you. You don’t want to be deaf to the environment around here.

There are going to be people that come up on you, 2 inches away from you. I don’t know why they do it but you want to be aware of that. When you are out riding with music take one out to hear with one ear what’s going on around you. See you out on the slopes! You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Getting More Dynamic With Better Rhythm and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. 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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Learn Snowboard Jibbing

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboarding Jibbing Tips. When you’re able to flow around the mountain you use everything out there as your playground. When you’re in the park there are man made features and jumps. There are similar features on the mountain that are natural. Train your eye to spot these treasures and jib them. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper ½ pipe, jumps, freestyle and riding the park 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 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, Funnel Turns For Navigating Obstacles & Snowboarding Moguls.

When were out riding and we jump up and hit something it’s jibbing. You can use it as a verb to to jump off of something or to jump over an object. The object that you’re jumping over is jibbing it. Now as far as a drill what I like to do for jibbing is to go out and find as many things that I can jib off of, jump over use it as an actual a feature that I’ll jib off of. Maybe it’s a branch or I’ll be going up a quarter pipe and at the top I jump up and maybe twist and tweak my board to hit a branch or something. A lot of parks have a jump setup where there’s maybe a ball or some barrels something where you get the speed off it and then you actually bonk off of it jib off of it.

There are a few different phrases when you hit these objects but a good drill is to go out and find natural features outside the park. Maybe you find a little stick or logs whatever and try to jib off of them different ways. You can jib things with a flat board or your edge. Maybe you’re actually tweaking it and hit it with your board. Maybe you actually are going off a jump and you’re spinning one way and then you hit it and switch yourself back the opposite way. I’ve talked about some features outside of the park but the man-made features you might see a gong, big old bells, mail boxes and cars. You’ll even see urban rails with steps in there. You might see a lot of the metal objects and you’re like Wow! There are boxes and and all types of rails. These are great but I would recommend that you go out and first practice outside the park and as you feel a bit more comfortable gradually progressing in there.

One thing I really like about jibbing is once I get to my apex if there’s something I can jib off of and actually create more bounce. You’ll get a little bit further. It actually looks really cool and it makes you feel good. There are a lot of things you can do. It’s a fun little drill to go out and just jib over anything. You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride. You can learn more about Snowboarding Jibbing Tips and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. 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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Explore The Whole Resort By Getting Off Piste & Groomers Building FIS Features In Utah

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Off Piste Runs, Groomed Runs & Building Features For FIS. If you want to get to explore the whole resort you’ll need to be able to ride snow that is bumpy and not perfect. Get off the groomed runs so when there is powder you’ll know how to ride it and get to it. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper backcountry, off piste conditions and efficient snowboard 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 snowboard safety on our YouTube Page. I recommend watching these snowboard videos;Building Rhythm, 5 Red Flags of Avalanches, 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, Eruo Surfer Carves, 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!  

The groomers and cats are working hard getting ready for the FIS World Champs Events being held in Utah moving a ton of snow around. Utah is going for another Winter Olympic Bid having Events like Boarder X, Big Air, Slopestyle, Snowboard Halfpipe, Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom & Slalom. Events start Feb. 1 through 10. Groomed runs are great for riding park or for making  big carves and surfer turns. If you want to get into the powder you need to be able to handle bumpy terrain. Start riding the sides of the groomers and move fore and aft on your snowboard. You’ll need to carry more speed to power through the extra deep powder.

We’ve had some epic snow conditions this year in Park City, Wasatch Front and Cottonwood Canyons in Utah. It would be a great place to have the Winter Olympics again because we’ve got all the infrastructure already built. We’ve got big mountains and the snow to support another awesome Winter Olympics. The Ceremonies for FIS open Feb. 1st. Come out and support your local mountains from Solitude, Park City, Deer Valley & Canyons PC. Good luck to all the athletes competing over the next two weeks.

Start by Developing Dynamic Rhythm on groomed run, then steeper runs and then carry your confidence into the ungroomed snow on the sides of groomed runs. Watch this video on learning moguls to help you start pressuring your snowboard and How To Ride Moguls Or Bumpy Terrain.

These movements, skills and experience are what you need. You will gain these snowboard talents by training with Flowing Freeride.

You can learn more about Powder In The Backcountry and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/Flowing Freeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about hiking the backcountry. 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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Riding Jackson Hole Powder January 2019

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This snowboard video will give you tips on Riding Deep Pow At Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a long drive in a blizzard to get to Jackson Hole, Wyoming but it was worth it. There was 1 ½ feet of fresh powder when we arrived. Our first day was short due to the storm but it made the conditions epic. We almost slid off the road several times. We were on a highway with cars cruising in the other lane. Snow plows created white outs where we couldn’t see for 3 seconds and then seeing a line of cars. The snow drifts were a foot deep. We saw plows go by and a few miles down the road the drifts were back only allowing one lane of traffic through.There was a large group of AASI Level 3 Full Certified snowboard instructors training together. We ripped this steep mountain doing tons of trees, chutes and cliff drops. To get you prepared to ride this steep mountain watch this snowboard tutorial on steeps and alignments.

There is a resort in town called snow king that we could see from our hotel. The town has a great vibe and is fun. We drove up to the village catching some amazing views. When Jackson Hole gets tons of snow conditions are epic.

It’s important to really move fore and aft on your snowboard in these conditions. Build up your fore and aft riding skills before you get into powder and steep mountains. Jackson is one of the steepest mountains around having over 4,000 feet of vertical from the top of the tram to the base. To help you train yourself to move fore and aft on your snowboard watch the snowboard video Dolphin Turns.

This progression will help you move towards the front of your board at the beginning of your turn then to move towards the tail at the end of your turn using your whole board as it was meant to be used. Your core is moving fore and aft from edge to edge making a circular motion. Start to flow down the mountain with more rhythm getting dynamic on your snowboard. You can submit video clips to get movement analysis back of your riding by clicking here taking you to Flowing Freeride.

I strongly recommend that you ride Jackson Hole, Wyoming at least once to see what we saw. We met some cool people at Franco Custom Snowboards and you should check out their shop. It takes a bit of a drive through steep passes to get there but it’s worth it. Riding with other high skilled riders pushes you to ride more aggressive. This will improve your riding. Seeing how others ride the mountain and the lines they take will train your eye to survey the terrain. I hope that the snow gods are sending snow to your mountain. 2019 is off to a great start! 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 right online with flowingfreeride.com. 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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Learn Snowboarding Upper/Lower Body Separation

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 Snowboarding Upper/Lower Body Separation. There are certain times and places that we want to separate our upper body from our lower. It helps in tight situations like in trees, freestyle, glades, chutes and steeps. Freestyle moves on features like boxes and rails look super stylie. You can use slash turns and power stops to spray snow or to stop quickly. In chutes you can make fast turns to avoid obstacles and escape danger. Have this movement in your ‘snowboard tool belt’ to help you avoid injuries. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignments, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freeride carving rhythm. 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, 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, 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!

I ride most of the time with my body in alignment. I can absorb better and prevent myself from tweaking my legs or back. When I hit bumps my natural body movement is to absorb in alignment. If I’m riding with my upper and lower body separated all the time I’m going to wear my body out. After a long day of riding your muscles and joints get tired. If you’re riding out of alignment and using a lot of strong movements instead of finesse you’ll feel it the next day. There are techniques and movement patterns that will keep you snowboard fit. There are many times that I need to separate my upper/lower body when snowboarding. I have a set stance that I go back to or refer to. It’s my natural body stance except I angle my feet out. I keep my ankles, knees, hips and spine slightly flexed so I’m able to move smoothly and I my upper body is naturally aligned with my lower. We’re going to move in and out of alignment so we’re ready to handle whatever is thrown at us on the mountain.

Gravity pulls us down the mountain and the most direct path gravity takes is called the fall line. In steep terrain we follow that line much more. When we point our front hand down the slope we are setting ourselves up to be aligned with the fall line. This will make it easier to start your turn but it’s more difficult at the end of the turn. In tight situations you need to turn immediately to avoid trees, rocks or other obstacles. We want to be able to slow down and stay in control especially in steeps and trees. The upper/lower body separation drill will help you be able to ride through advance level terrain better.  

Start on mellow terrain that has some slope like a Blue or intermediate (in Europe Red). If it’s a Green or Easy (in Europe Blue) slope that is too flat this drill won’t work well. Point your front hand and upper body down the slope. Your lower body will be very dynamic rotating your snowboard around from toeside to heelside. Think about focusing more energy into your hips to help pivot. Bend your hips, knees and ankles to make the board flow around easily. Be sure to keep the front hand pointed down the slope. It is easier to achieve on the heelside. Really focus on the toeside to keep you arm pointed down the mountain. Your turn shape should be small and done quickly. If you’re still having trouble getting this movement review Snowboard Dynamic Flex & Extend to give you another example.

After you’ve got the drill on Blue terrain move into steeper Black Advance trails. As you get better flow down tree runs and steep chutes using this technique to Rip the whole mountain. You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. 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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Learn Snowboard Carving

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 Snowboard Basic Carving. Carving is something you want to be able to do so you can turn without skidding and slowing you down. You want to be able to carry that speed to get you through flat terrain. Carving is when the back foot follows the exact same path as the front and there is no skid. You are balancing on your edge using the sidecut of the snowboard. The sidecut is a circle diameter of 8M or 10M that is cut into the board. Your edge has that diameter circle shape that makes your edge arched and not straight. This helps to make Circle Turns. That’s what we’ll be working on in this snowboard drill. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignments, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freeride carving rhythm. 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, 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, Eruo Surfer Carves, 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! 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!

When you start carving find mellow terrain. You don’t want it to be too steep because it’s hard to hold your edge on steeper terrain and it should be very wide to make big turns. It should have no obstacles on it and very low traffic because carving takes a lot of space and you turn back up the mountain. The snowboard terrain should be groomed and flat without bumps so that you’re able to keep your balance better. Fresh groomed snow creates a firm top layer that allows you to really hold an edge and conditions are usually best for carving in the morning. The terrain choice is huge groomed, mellow slope, very wide, no obstacles and low traffic. Go out and scout your carving terrain to find these kind of conditions. Once you find this type of terrain we can start trying to practice Circle Turns.

You need to have enough speed to balance on your edge. I have my students point their boards parallel to the fall line to gain speed. Keep your snowboard flat to increase momentum. I have them start lifting their edge up bending their ankles and knees, focusing energy to these joints and balancing on their edge. Start to turn up the mountain and see how far up the mountain you can get. Your turn shape will start as a J-Turn and progress into a full Circle Turn. Try to drive your pressure directly down on your edge. That’s what you want to do. Don’t try to complicate it with extra movements. Focus in your feet and Steering From The Bottom Up and once you’re getting that you can get Dynamic Flex & Extend. Get enough speed to be able to turn up the mountain and lift your edge up keeping your ankles nice and soft. S-turns are two half circles and when you just keep turning you make Circle Turns.

It’s very important to find the correct carving terrain. I love finding fresh groomed corduroy in the morning getting the best conditions. Carving eliminates the pivot movement and the board doesn’t rotate to eliminate skidding. Balance on the edge of your snowboard using minimal movements to use your sidecut to make arching turns. You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. 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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Learn About Snowboard Camber Technology

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Snowboard Camber Technology. The shape of you snowboard is the camber and the shape of your edge is your side cut. There are different types of camber shapes. There are regular shaped, reverse, hybrid and flat camber shapes. Flat and reverse shape camber are better for beginners or park riders because that shape makes it harder for you to catch edges. Regular and hybrid shaped camber are more responsive and better for holding edges for riding the whole mountain. Snowboard technologies like camber will help you ride your snowboard better with efficient movements. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignements, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freestyle rhythm. 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, 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!

I love what snowboarding has brought to our winter mountains. One technology is the shape of your snowboard. Snowboarders shaped the board like a bow. When you pull back the bow it flexes and then when you release it creates a pop generating a lot of energy that is forced shooting the arrow out. What is so cool about snowboarding is that we can move fore and aft on the board and create pop. Skiers can’t do that. They are fixed on one ski with one foot. We can move fore and aft along our board to create the magic of pop. Camber technology is really intensified in our sport. Skiers can’t butter and spin like us because we can change our pivot points much easier than skiers. They have to spin from the center of their skis and god bless them, but they can’t do what snowboarders do because they don’t have two feet on one board. Camber is a fun technology that makes snowboarding skiing tons of fun and if you know how to use it if can be like unlocking a cheat code to a video game.

There are different types of camber shapes that if used correctly the snowboard snaps and reacts to providing maximum energy. Regular camber or traditional camber has a convex rise in the center. Reverse camber, banana or rocker camber is just the opposite of the that. Flat camber is just that flat and no shape. Then there are different kinds of hybrid cambers usually having regular camber under your feet and reverse between and tip/tail to foot. That’s great to know so how will that help you? If you like to ride park or a beginner then a flat or reverse camber snowboard will help you out because they’re more forgiving. The shape makes them harder to catch edges but out on the steep mountain it’s hard to hold the edge and they spin out more often. Riding the pipe and steep runs you’ll want to have a regular camber or hybrid camber shaped board. The reverse combo helps you float on the snow but I really love riding regular camber boards to rip through my turns keeping my speed.

I suggest you go out and demo boards to give you different options. While you ride other boards with different camber shape really push your riding skills to the limits. That’s how you’ll know what is different about the boards. While at the Rider Rally 2018 at Abasin we had Never Summer and Burton come out and did demos. I tired the new step on system. I got stuck to it and we had to pull out the screw driver to get be out. The boards were great and it was supper stoke to ride so many different boards. Find what shape of camber you like and start ripping! You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. 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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Learn Snowboard Freestyle Basics For Jumps, Boxes & Rails

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This online snowboard lesson will go over Freestyle Basics For Snowboard Features. If you’re like me you love flowing with rhythm through your line in the park. You do not want to hesitate when hitting freestyle features because speed is what’s going to give you the momentum to get air and flow with style when doing tricks. I like to go out and practice getting tons of speed outside of the park doing flat board drills. This is where you keep your snowboard straight and flat. The snowboard follows gravity or the fall line gaining lots of speed. You want to Stay In Control but build up your confidence to get more speed. Other Snowboard Videos on YouTube & Flowing Freeride go over proper snowboard alignements, movements & techniques to get you flowing with freestyle rhythm. 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, 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!

In the American system or AASI in freestyle we talk about ATML which is Approach, Takeoff, Maneuver, and Landing. Remember the acronym by thinking that having good freestyle is money and you get ‘money’ from an ‘ATM” and know your Landing or ‘L’ is always at the end. You don’t need to remember that unless you’re training to be a coach in the US. I’ve taught and trained in other countries and they have similar verbiage but once you become a full certified instructor you’re riding and teaching techniques are very similar. I like to blend all systems and use my own techniques to make my style unique. Think of your start as being a race going straight and to win you need to be the fastest. In freestyle to carry speed you don’t need to do nice carvie turns but rather we go fast and make short quick power turns or hockey stops using a lot of pivot motion because we want our upper and lower bodies to be able to seperate. Upper and Lower Body Separation allows your upper body to stay aligned to the hill and not move much while your lower body is being very dynamic. Do not hesitate and if mess up this part maybe just hit your feature next run so you don’t get hurt. The first thing to remember is a good Fast straight line coming into your feature and don’t hesitate. Go Fast.

The next part is the Ramp. You want a nice gradual ramp that shoots out and up to get nice air. You can find natural ramps on the mountain or man made ones in the backcountry or parks. When you’re on the ramp get lower bending your hips, knees and ankles more. Keep your back straight and have your upper and lower body aligned so you stay balanced as you get air. This will help you to create more lift off of the ramp and jump higher to perform the Feat. I’ve been snowboarding up at Alta, Utah and there have been a lot of people who have come out and built some ramps for jumps. They started blowing snow up there and created some snow whales that had some nice shaped ramps. I was getting some good air and spins. There are resorts open in my area out East and in Colorado. Lots of resorts are opening in the next few days.

The Feat is your Flow and Boldness. It’s the skill or trick you pull. It’s whatever you do off the ramp. It might be a box, rail, gong, mailbox, jump, grab or kicker. While I’m in the air I like to pull up my landing gear, my legs and reach down to grab my board. Folks that go off the jump out of control or off balance will a lot of the time roll down the windows throwing their arms in circles trying to get back on balance. If I’m on a box or rail I stay low and keep my snowboard flat. Start with straight airs pulling your legs up. Then start to reach down and grab your snowboard. Grabs that are on your toeside edge are easiest to begin with. Once you feel good with those start to spin frontside 180’s to begin then backside 180’s. After those you can start spinning full 360’s.

The last part is to Stomp It. We want to Stomp our landing extending into it and as we’re landing were can flex to absorb. You can land with you tail first and then nose stomping it down just how a beaver smacks its tail down on the water. We’ve all seen airplanes land when they come out of the air. We want to do that or all at once extend into the landing with both legs. Keep your snowboard flat and use to absorb the impact. The board will bend and flex which will spread out the impact of landing huge jumps. Just like at the beginning you want to keep your body aligned when you land so you don’t crash or get hurt. Landing on your edge does not allow you to spread the pressure out. You can also catch and edge if you’re not landing flat and straight. Have good technique and start on small jumps and features first and progress up to ones that are more difficult. Check out this freestyle snowboard video Getting Air for more technique.

So remember FRFS Fast, Ramp, Feat and StompIt! Those techniques will help you build up your snowboard freestyle. I like to go fast and it really helps me in the park to go fast. If you don’t already you should Wax Your Snowboard to give you that extra viscosity. You’ll be Flowing Your Freestyle soon just follow the tips. You can practice efficiently and get Hooked On Snowboarding with Snowboardclass/FlowingFreeride’s techniques so go back to other snowboard videos that teach you about other snowboard equipment. 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.