Poster: A snowHead
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OK, so I am very much an idiot ( and not the youngest ) still learning. Currently out on hols with newish board and nice snow, and progressing quickly (literally), linking turns, reasonably carved most of the time, upright most of the time and coping on steeper stuff too.
However, my back thigh front and side is just so strained that it's getting hard to keep going at times.
I suspect the reason is that I'm 'braking' with it all the time on turns, esp on heelside. I guess that this is pure fear... Not prepared to commit at speed to a fluid turn, etc.
Riding on toe edge is much less strain once it's sore/burning than heel edge.
To relieve/rest it I'll ride switch for a while - but then the other back leg gets tired too!
Any suggestions/assists, and how much is this just part of the inevitable learning and confidence curve?
Cheers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds like you are getting leg burn more associated with riding powder, ie putting your weight on the back of the board to keep the nose up. You need to distribute your weight more equally on both legs, that will solve the issue.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Grizzler, Is your stance too wide?
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cad99uk wrote: |
@Grizzler, Is your stance too wide? |
Possible, but it's on the absolute minimum setting for the board - already adjusted that this week before the leg 'strain'.
FYI I ride 'duck' 9 degrees each foot, seems the most comfy for my body & knees ( previously was 6 but gone to 9 when narrowed stance width).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@JimboS, good thought ( says OH coach). Possibly I am - suspect again a fear of committing down the nasty fast hurts when you hit it hill thing.
Oh for some nice soft powder...
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@Grizzler, Probably not a width issue then. Mrs cad rides +18, -6. Try something like that and see if it makes any difference.
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Your weight distribution is wrong for the perceived conditions. You need to be further over your lead leg.
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If it's your back leg, then the chances are you're not riding in a balanced centred stance. You want your weight evenly distributed between your feet, balanced front-back and side-side. It's common to see people with a straight front leg, loading up their back leg, and kicking one or the other leg around to make "turns". If you're doing that, then it's going to be hugely tiring. Get someone to video you riding and you'll see it straight away, if this is the issue.
For what it's worth, you also want to ride centred in powder. If you find you have to shift your weight back, then instead shift your stance back, because if you don't then you'll burn out really quickly. If you're riding a twin board (in powder) then commonly you will need to do this as they're not directional. Most powder boards have the reference stance set back. But note that you still want to ride them centered on the stance - never ever load up one leg.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Grizzler, As said above. I used to do the same, and still do sometimes when I'm knackered. When I find myself doing it and want to snap out of the habit, I try to consciously drop my leading shoulder which brings your centering back over the middle of the board a bit. Some suggest that while you're teaching yourself to centre, reach forwards with your leading hand as though you were going to try to grab the nose of the board (not ACTUALLY grabbing the board though, just pretend OK...) Its also a good practice for when you're learning to ride Switch, as quite a lot of people tend to shift their weight back when Switch.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Grizzler, always remember though, it's about a balanced stance. Getting on the front foot is good, but don't get stuck there.
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@stevomcd, Yes, this is something which worries me and, TBH, I just don't really understand weighting and stance on a board as yet.
I felt quite in control before my lesson, just the aching rear leg. Now I feel less in control (but just getting used to a new stance perhaps?), but am apparenty technically riding better (certainly faster!) with the front leg aching. That feels equally not right...
I did ask my instructor about stance and weighting and how it changes through the turns and other riding positions/purposes, but it didn't really get answered. She was very keen on getting the weight right forward by physically leaning forward, shifting body sideways/forward so that front pelvis/hip was directly over the front foot and the rear leg straight. (Also dropping front shoulder, which is an issue on my part to be sure.) Traversing also seemed to be very much get and keep the weight forward and tip the boad on edge. Her version was that board steering is purely (?) by leaning down the fall line and changing edges, not as such rotating any part of the upper body (or other parts).
Asked Mr G, and his version is "um... I don't really know what I do, it's just instinct now"...
So - any help or pointers to helpful articles/YT vids would be most appreciated.
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You know it makes sense.
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Sounds rather like she is trying to get you into a place where you'll be consciously pressuring and twisting your toe/heel edges to start your turns rather than using your upper body position to move your weight around.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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You're almost certainly not turning properly. You're probably trying to use your back foot as a rudder and skidding your turns, rather than flexing into your knees and ankles to initiate from the front foot. Especially if you're riding with any kind of speed, this is highly inefficient and will wear you out much quicker.
As others have said, it has to do with weight distribution.
Looked up "skidded turns" versus "carving" online and you'll see the difference.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A snowboard is just a giant castor, like a supermarket trolley wheel ......
Little experiment; get old old lolly stick, lay it out sideways in front of you on a smooth surface, such as a table. Put a finger near the left hand end and pull the stick to the left. Lolly stick follows obediently. Now centre the stick, put finger near right hand end and again move to the left. See what happens? It tries to come round, again and again. Inherent instability, basic physics.
A snowboard will do this whether you're going straight or turning. So you are constantly, often unknowingly, fighting to steady the board with your trail leg. As most ride at or near (sometimes beyond ......) their limits, the trail leg tires before the lead leg, as it's actually doing more 'work' than the lead leg.
Grizzler I've not seen you ride but have seen a lot of learners/progressers do this: Lead leg is ridged, giving them the impression that the weight is over the front of the board when it's actually being forced over the rear due to a more flexible trail leg moving the weight distribution back, giving reverse castor. Both legs need to be flexible, but in a way that gives the lead leg more weight
Gross oversimplification and, yes, there will be times when your weight needs to be moved around due to terrain and conditions, but it sounds from where you're at, it'd be good to maybe work on the above first.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Grizzler, sounds like you're doing well.
Ultimately, the goal is to be able to transfer weight to the front foot right at the start of the turn, then make a strong, steady shift towards the back of the board as you move through the turn. The front foot gets the turn started, the back foot provides the power to finish it off.
I'd say you're on the right path!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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stevomcd wrote: |
Ultimately, the goal is to be able to transfer weight to the front foot right at the start of the turn, then make a strong, steady shift towards the back of the board as you move through the turn. The front foot gets the turn started, the back foot provides the power to finish it off. |
stevomcd I've always found it hard to put turning into words, but that's about it. Not spitting hairs in any way at all, but they way it feels as you transition to the bold highlighted phase feels more like 'popping' the board out in front as much as leaning back onto it. Semantics I know, and not that it matters.
Power in on the lead leg, roll into the turn 'popping' the board out front as the weight loads rearwards. Making it overlapping and fluid is the hard part .......
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@BCjohnny, for sure!
All depends on the type of turn, of course. Quick and snappy in bumps, on steeps, in trees, mellow in carves or in powder.
The shift from back foot (at the end of one turn) to the front foot (to start the next turn) is quick but very brief, the return to the back foot is immediate, but much more gradual.
Incidentally, and just for interest, I actually think Ryan Knapton rides in a more "BASI" style than the Canadian video I posted. A BASI video would be similar, but would have some stylistic differences - more for interest than really substantial.
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