Goal
- Safe riding in steeper terrain
- More security and speed control through active edge pressure
- Active control of speed and turn radius
- Learning load and unweighting techniques
Where
Moderately steep slope (blue to red run); well-prepared and grippy piste
How
The turn is initiated with an active edge push combined with a weight shift. The turning impulse comes from the front knee (up–forward–inward). The edge change is completed. As soon as the edge is switched, the slow downward movement begins.
By increasing the edge angle during the gradual downward movement, pressure is progressively built up. By stopping the downward movement, reaching the maximum edge angle, and then following with a dynamic upward movement, the greatest pressure is generated at the end of the turn.
Throughout the entire turn, the riding stance is maintained with the upper body, which turns along with the board.
Methodical progression
- Demonstration of the finished movement and adapted technical explanation
- Stationary exercise: practice vertical movement while standing with the snowboard strapped in; slowly down and dynamically up, then up–forward–inward
- Practice vertical movement while traversing
- Turn toward the slope: start high – go down slowly until the end of the turn
- Turn toward the slope: start high – go down slowly – at the end of the turn jump into a higher track
- One-and-a-half turns: start high
- Linking turns together
- Variation of speed, turn radius, and terrain