How to Move From Falling-Leaf Technique to Carving in Snowboarding

Snowboarding is an exhilarating sport that requires practice and skills, especially when performing more advanced moves such as carving. Learning and perfecting basic moves is necessary before you can progress into carving through the snow slopes effectively. Carving allows snowboarders to glide and cut through the snow faster and to maneuver with better control.

Instructions

    • 1

      Practice the falling leaf technique until you have mastered traversing down the slopes on your toe side. Keep the angle of your board in a slight form and stay on the toe edge. Keep practicing until you are comfortable with this technique.

    • 2

      Learn how to do the garlands technique. Garlands are partial or half-turns in which the snowboarder does not need to change edges. To do the garlands, go to the top of the slope and start with the heel side position. Look towards the direction you intend to go and decrease the edge angle of your board. Point the snowboard straight down the fall line and then shift your body weight forward by pressing on your leading foot. Fall line is the imaginary line pointing straight down the snow slope. As you glide straight down, you will gain speed. Slow down by increasing the edge angle of your snowboard and by shifting your body weight on your back foot. Prepare to turn sideways by moving the tip of your snowboard slowly across the fall line. Maintain your balance as you change snowboard position. Repeat until you are comfortable on your heel edge and then switch on your toe side.

    • 3

      Learn how to link turns. Linking turns is the appropriate transition after learning the falling leaf and garlands. This technique combines the heel side and toe side traverse by linking them in turns. To link turns, find a gradual slope and start by traversing heel side in the same way as garlands. Turn your head and torso to the direction you want to travel. Start turning by shifting your body weight forward to point the snowboard down the fall line. As the board is pointing straight down, switch from your heel side to toe side. Turn the snowboard across the fall line and push through the turn with your rear foot. Extend both legs and shift your body weight as you cross the fall line. Switch from heel side to toe side fast because without an edge, you will continue to accelerate which can cause you to lose control and fall. Complete making a turn by twisting your leading foot further and pushing the snowboard away from the fall line with the push of your rear foot. At the end of this first turn, you will be traversing on your toe edge. Practice linking your turns from heel side to toe side and vice versa until you have mastered the technique and are able to make smaller and tighter turns down the slope.

    • 4

      Learn how to transition from linking turns to carving. Carving means tipping the edge of your snowboard as you glide across the snow without skidding. As you carve, your body position shifts on an angle and the board edge digs into the snow, leaving a thin arc. Carving is as simple as traversing on your heel side and toe side except you are tipping your snowboard on edge and adding extra pressure.

    • 5

      Practice tipping the edge of your snowboard. Hold onto something stable and tilt your snowboard on edge. When carving on your toe edge, your knees need to move forward to tip the board up. When carving on your heel, your butt needs to be dropped down as if sitting on a low chair.

    • 6

      Perform garlands with carves and then link turns with carves. Practice on groomed, intermediate slopes and start with larger turns. Look back at your tracks and make sure its a thin arc.