Snowboarding
This skill involves balancing, tilting, and steering to make every movement count.
There’s something about gliding down snow-covered peaks that sparks a special kind of adrenaline. If grabbing your snowboard and heading out to the slopes is your biggest pastime, you might be looking for new tricks for your next run.
"Learning new tricks is hard," said professional snowboarder and Red Bull athlete Ben Ferguson. “But that's what makes it fun when you can overcome difficulties and learn something new."
If you’re ready to take on a new challenge, learning how to carve turns on a snowboard can be the perfect goal. This skill involves balancing, tilting, and steering to make every movement count. Below, you’ll learn the fundamentals of performing carved turns so you can make your way through the slopes with precision and style.
01
Understanding carving
Carving is the technique of making clean, precise turns by tilting your board's edges into the snow and following a curved path down the slope. Carved turns differ from skidded turns in that, during a skid, your board is completely sideways. Skidded turns often result in a loss of momentum, whereas carved turns keep you speeding down the slopes.
Aside from maintaining your speed, carving allows you to keep good control of your board and trajectory with smooth, efficient turns. Because there isn’t much friction between your board and the snow when making these turns, you maximize your leg muscles’ endurance. This, in turn, makes for longer, more exhilarating downhill runs at more consistent speeds.
02
Gear and equipment
Here’s the gear you’ll need to help make every carved turn smooth and controlled.
Snowboard
Any board with at least a decently sharp edge will do the trick for great carving. If you’re truly looking to elevate your experience, though, look for a board with a classic snowboard shape (also known as a traditional camber). This shape gives you plenty of grip and makes performing carves and other snowboarding tricks much easier.
You should also look for a board with a directional shape in which the nose is a bit longer than the tail. This shape helps you carve through the arc of a turn and come out of it smoothly. A board with a stiff core also encourages rigidity and precision in your turns. This way, you hold your edge while carving and maintain control even at higher speeds.
Bindings
Snowboard bindings are the straps and baseplates that secure your feet to your board. Beginners often opt for short, flexible bindings that allow for more grace when attempting tricks. Advanced snowboarders tend to prefer tall, sturdy bindings that allow for greater precision.
On your board, set your bindings to position your feet roughly shoulder-width apart. As you’re getting the initial feel of your stance, start with your front bindings set between 12 and 30 degrees. Set your rear bindings between zero and 12 degrees. You can play around with these angles to find the setup that’s most comfortable for your knees and ankles.
Boots
If you’re just getting started on a snowboard, softer boots are more forgiving when a turn doesn’t turn out quite like you hoped. If you’re a snowboarder who’s already learned a few other tricks, you might prefer stiffer boots, which are generally better suited for carving. These boots provide more support and increase your board’s response to each movement you make.
Helmet, goggles, and gloves
Performing a carve on a snowboard involves picking up a decent amount of speed. For the times when you take an unexpected tumble, a helmet helps protect you from any impact so you can get up and try again. You should also bring a pair of goggles to protect your eyes and increase your visibility. A good pair of gloves keeps your hands warm while leaving you with some mobility.
03
Body position and technique
Now that you’ve packed all your gear, it’s time to learn the technique of carving. To start, keep your weight centered over the snowboard and evenly spread between both your feet. Bending your knees also helps you tip the board. From there, with your full body, lean into the turn in the direction you want to go. Focus on maintaining a fluid motion as you start the turn.
To initiate a toeside carve, shift your weight slightly forward to engage the toeside edge of your board. Your shoulders should align with the board’s nose. For a heelside carve, position your body as though you’re preparing to sit in a low seat. Put pressure on the heelside edge to dig into your turn as you’re in its arc.
As you come out of the turn, gradually shift your weight back to a centered position. The key is letting the board smoothly transition from edge to edge. This edge control, which results from you balancing your weight evenly across your board, links one carved turn to the next.
04
Practicing carved turns
You might find putting the above steps into practice a bit tough when you’re facing the slopes. Here are a few practice tips to make your turns easier.
- Choose gentle terrain. The best snow to carve on isn’t too soft or icy. Your board’s edges need to be able to set into the snow without sinking too deep into it.
- Begin off the slopes. On flat ground, take a moment to work on your stance. Get comfortable with centering your weight over your board. Give your knees a slight bend, and visualize the movements you'll make on the slope.
- Start with the basics. Practice shifting your weight from edge to edge while riding straight. Gradually increase the intensity of these side-to-side shuffles, getting a feel for your board's edges.
- Build on your technique. On a mellow slope, initiate gentle carves by leaning into the turns. Begin with wide, sweeping turns to get a sense of the board's response. Then, challenge yourself by linking consecutive turns. Carve from your toe edge to your heel edge and vice versa. Work on controlling your speed and fine-tuning your technique.
05
Troubleshooting and common mistakes
Below are a few mistakes new carvers often make, along with tips on how to avoid these issues.
- Using only your torso. Relying on solely your upper body to lean into a carve disrupts your balance and limits your ability to engage your board’s edge. Instead, try practicing lateral movement by focusing on flexing through your lower body.
- Putting too much pressure onto an edge. Applying excessive pressure to an edge can force your board too deep into the snow and cause you to lose control of your movement. Focus on using enough pressure to tilt your board while moving it down the slope.
- Not having enough speed. Attempting a carved turn without enough momentum can prevent you from getting an edge and holding your carve. Make sure there’s enough force to carry you through your maneuver. Before you start attempting carves, take a few simple runs down the slope to get comfortable with picking up speed.
Carving with confidence
Carving is a thrilling trick to add to your snowboarding skill set. Much like any new trick, though, it can be challenging to learn at first, so embrace the process and keep a positive mindset. With consistent practice, you’ll find that what now feels unfamiliar will soon become second nature. So put on your gear and hop on your board — the mountains are ready for you to make your mark!
