Balanced Position On A Snowboard

Maybe you didn't know this, but balance over your board is a key component in snowboarding. Because we balance over the board it’s therefore, the base of support. So you want to try to keep the majority of your weight stacked over your board to maintain a balanced position.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to get balanced over your board so you can kick off your snowboard journey in the right direction. For even more great beginner snowboard tutorials, make sure you check out our Learn To Ride series.

(Narrating: Duncan Mainland. Riding: Mike Barton. Film/Edit: Vince Emond. Filmed At: Whistler Blackcomb)

Finding Your Balance

With your front foot strapped in stand with your free foot on the board next to back binding. A good place to start is a strong neutral position:

• Knees flexed
• Back straight
• Head up
• Hands over your nose and tail.

This is a great base to start from, but gingerbread people make terrible snowboarders.

Getting Comfortable

You need to be comfortable moving all over your snowboard to really progress your riding quickly. To help with the process, try doing a few small hops. This will start putting a bit of stress on your neutral position and will force you to make small adjustments to keep balance. As you start moving on your snowboard you’re always going to be adjusting to stay balanced.

See how Mikey is in that balanced position with some small adjustments in his rear leg as he rides.

Testing Yourself - Up & Down

Now try some squats, getting as low as you can.

Get into a deep squat and feel a deep burn.

While doing this, think about using your ankles, knees and hips while keeping your back straight. I’s very common to bend at your waist to get lower, but all it does is move a ton of your weight over the snow, making it difficult to keep balance.

Testing Yourself - Back & Forth

Once you’re comfortable moving up and down, try moving towards the front of your snowboard and see if you can grab your nose. No, not that nose. This nose:

Get low and use your ankles knees and hips to center yourself more towards the nose of the board.

Do the same thing towards the back and see if you can get a hand on your tail.

Testing Yourself - Side To Side

When you start doing turns your going to be moving from your heel edge to toe edge and visa versa, so practice rocking onto your heel edge, then toe edge.

Push your knee towards the ground pressing into the tongue of your boots to get onto your toe edge. Then slightly squatting down and flexing up on your toes to get onto your to your heel edge.

Mikey B demonstrating a perfect toe side edge.

Don’t limit yourself to just standing in one spot on your board, you have a whole snowboards to use and explore. Practice moving around in all kinds of different positions because who know what kind of funky shapes you’ll end up in while you learn to ride.

Want Even More Training Tips?

Alex McCann 
Snowboard Addiction
Our Goal Is To Improve Your Riding