Linking snowboard turns is the process of seamlessly transitioning from one turn (on one edge of your board) into the next turn (on the opposite edge), allowing you to control your speed and direction as you descend the mountain in a fluid, S-shaped path.
Understanding Linked Snowboard Turns
Once you're comfortable making controlled turns on your toe edge and heel edge individually, the next step is to connect them. This creates continuous movement down the slope, essential for riding efficiently and safely. The goal is a smooth transition, minimizing skidding and maximizing control.
Key Steps to Link Turns (Based on Reference)
Based on the provided reference, linking turns involves a specific sequence of movements to transition from one edge to the other and back again:
- Open your knee: Initiate the transition by adjusting your knee position.
- Turn to your heel edge: Shift your weight and body position to engage the heel edge of your snowboard, beginning a turn in that direction.
- Slide a bit on your heel edge: Maintain control and continue the heel-edge turn, allowing for a brief slide as you guide the board.
- Lean forward and go straight again: Towards the end of the heel-edge turn, adjust your lean to point the board more directly down the fall line (the steepest part of the slope) momentarily.
- Close and push the knee to come back to your toe edge: Initiate the transition back by adjusting your knee position and pushing to roll the board onto its toe edge, starting the next turn in the opposite direction.
The Transition Explained
Linking turns is fundamentally about controlling the transition from riding on your heel edge to riding on your toe edge, and vice versa. The reference describes starting a heel edge turn and then transitioning back to a toe edge. This continuous flow between edges is what creates the connected 'S' shape down the slope. You finish one turn, initiate the transition across the fall line, and begin the next turn on the opposite edge.
Visualizing the Flow
Think of your path down the mountain as a series of connected curves. You carve one curve on your heel edge, then smoothly transition across the slope (often pointing the board briefly downhill) to carve the next curve on your toe edge. This rhythmic movement between edges is the heart of linking turns.
Here's a simple breakdown of the edge transition described:
| Start Position (Implied) | Transition Action | New Edge | Resulting Movement | Next Transition Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Likely Toe Edge) | Open Knee, Turn to Edge | Heel Edge | Turning/Sliding on Heel Edge | Lean Forward, Go Straight, Close/Push Knee |
| Heel Edge | Close/Push Knee to Edge | Toe Edge | Turning onto/Riding on Toe Edge | (Repeat process for next turn) |
Mastering this transition takes practice, focusing on smooth, controlled movements rather than abrupt shifts.
