Round Smooth Turns

The shape of an ideal snowboard turn is round, smooth, and consistent. In this tutorial we're going to take you through exercises and techniques to get your turns smoother than glass.

Want to learn other ways to round out your riding skills? Check out the full Intermediate Riding Series.

(Narrating/Riding: Nev Lapwood. Film/Edit: Vince Emond. Filmed At: Whistler Blackcomb)

 A common mistake snowboarders make is going from side-slip to side-slip, using only a small section of the slope as they haltingly make their way down. 

A snowboarder side slipping from turn to turn.

This happens when you're heavily waiting your lead foot and pushing your hips forward, sliding your back-foot around instead of carving through the turn.

Not sure if this is you? Is your direction more downhill or side to side when you board? Are you using only a small amount of the hill or are you using the whole slope? If your answers were yes, this might be you. Don't worry though, we have a few techniques to help you out!

Helpful Tip #1. Hopping

On a mellow slope, centre your hips to get in a stable riding position. Traverse the slope on your toe-side, hopping as you go. This exercise helps you flex evenly through both legs, so you're not weighting one foot more in your turns.

Hopping through a traverse.

Now bring this hopping exercise into a turn, hopping four times at the apex of each turn. You don't need to hop all the way down the hill but carry the width hopping added to your turns all the way to the bottom. 

2. Uphill Turns

Once you have hopping through your turns down, try turning uphill. Build up some speed and then initiate your turn, transferring weight to your back foot as you get deeper into your turn, allowing your board to head back uphill.

*Challenge - See how far uphill can you get in your turn, maybe even a full circle.

 
Weight on your back foot to round out your turn.

Once you have figured out centring your weight and transferring it from front to back, you can play around and start using all of the terrain. 

Smooth Round Turns or Tiny 360s?

Ready to Turn it Up? 

Hannah Paquette
Snowboard Addiction
Our Goal Is To Improve Your Riding