Goal
Safe riding in the opposite direction. Switch riding comes first in freestyle—it is part of the absolute basics.
Where
Gentle slope (blue run); well-prepared, grippy piste
How
Longitudinally shift the body weight onto the switch front foot when coming out of the traverse, and make a knee impulse towards the valley. The board twists and turns towards the fall line. The edge change should happen just before the fall line. The weight remains on the front foot until the board has been completely turned into the fall line. From the fall line, the edge angle is constantly increased and the weight is shifted back onto both legs, to enable the turn to be controlled and steered with a good shape.
Methodical progression
For this turn, there are two different teaching approaches:
Holistic method (spin method)
- Spinning with a partner (hold hands, rotate clockwise and counterclockwise)
- Spinning without a partner (rotate clockwise and counterclockwise)
- Linking turns together
- Variation of speed, turn radius, and terrain
building block method
- Demonstration of the finished movement and adapted technical explanation
- Stationary exercise: practice weight shifting and knee impulse while standing with the snowboard strapped in
- Practice in the traverse: during traversing, practice shifting weight onto the new front leg (a slight wave track may occur)
- Turn toward the slope: build up using a turn fan to gradually reduce fear. At this stage no edge change is made! The snowboard instructor provides assistance when setting off
- Wave: practice initiating and braking through weight shifting
- Single turn with partner assistance
- Single turn without partner assistance
- Linking turns together
- Variation of speed, turn radius, and terrain