How to Absorb Terrain While Snowboarding

Snowboarding on bumpy and powder rich surfaces is best accomplished by absorbing the terrain. Riding flat and choosing straight lines maximizes the difficulty of the terrain. Absorbing the terrain minimizes the difficulty by reacting to the landscape rather than pushing through the landscape. Absorbing terrain is a critical skill for backcountry snowboarding, but the practice is also applied to landing jumps and working through groomed parks. The skill is simple, but practice is required to develop instincts and quick reactions to changes in the riding surface.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin riding with a slight bend in your knees. Keep the board relatively flat to maximize the surface area contacting the snow.

    • 2

      Ride down the hill, making your normal turns while maintaining a comfortable speed. Negotiate obstacles, but return the board to a flat position on any straight sections.

    • 3

      Allow your knees to flex when the terrain elevates and push down when the terrain drops. If you run over a bump, the flexed knees will absorb the shock by flexing further. The amount of flex required depends on the size of the drop or bump.

    • 4

      Spread your arms and use them for balance as you absorb aggressive terrain. The arms naturally raise as the knees bend. Do not fight the natural instinct to balance while absorbing the terrain.