Falling while snowboarding is an inevitable part of mastering the sport. But with the right tips and tricks, you can dramatically reduce the number of times you fall. If you are a beginner, this guide is for you!
Learn how to stop on a snowboard without risking falling.
How to Stop on a Snowboard
To stop on a snowboard there are two main positions.
Stopping on the heels: This position consists of stopping with your eyes facing downhill and your weight shifted to your heels.
Stopping on the toes: This stop position consists of stopping with your gaze facing uphill and with your weight shifted to your toes.
Learning how to stop and slow down in both positions is essential to have complete control of the snowboard.
But if you’re new to snowboarding, don’t worry-it’s easier than you think. You just need practice and the right tips.
So let’s get started:
How to learn to stop on a snowboard
Step #1:
Before you start stopping, I recommend you get familiar with snowboard bindings.
To do this, hook and unhook the bindings while standing and sitting. This way, you will not have trouble hooking up in steep terrain.
Learn all the tips on how to strap into your snowboard.
Step #2:
Go on a slope that is not very steep, but steep enough for the snowboard to slide down. Even better if it is not crowded with other riders.
Pro tip: If possible find a slope where you can access and walk up. This way, you avoid spending money on the lift when you are not ready for the real slopes.
Personal experience: My first time snowboarding, I learned to stop on a slope where there were no riders.
I went up carrying the snowboard by hand many, many times!
Step #3:
Now is the time to ride down!
But first, you need to know an important thing, snowboarding movements are influenced by the distribution of your weight on the board.
To slow down and stop following a straight line, without turning, your weight must be in the center of your legs. So you need to have the same weight on your right and left foot.
Note: If the weight is centered, you will ride straight down without moving right and left.
Stopping on the heels
Let’s start by stopping on your heels!
Strap into the bindings while sitting, looking downhill. Now get up slowly, keeping your weight in the middle of your legs, but on your heels. You should have a position as in the image below:
In this way, you will already start to move while braking.
The first few times keep a fixed position, don’t change positions to accelerate.
To stop in this position put more weight on your heels by tilting backward more.
Stopping on the toes
Now it’s time to learn how to stop on your toes!
Go up the same slope, but this time you’ll have to start with your eyes facing uphill.
And here comes the problem with practicing stopping on the toes if you are a beginner. How do I strap into the snowboard when I’m looking uphill?
If you have found a slope that is not very steep or has a flat area at the beginning, it will be easy to strap into the snowboard looking uphill.
However, if you start on a quite steep slope, you will struggle.
So hook your snowboard looking downhill, then rotate your legs to turn over. Turn around while sitting, don’t move on the snowboard.
Pro tip: lift your legs and rotate your torso to turn over.
Now that you are well positioned to start, as with the heel stop, get up slowly and keep your weight in the middle of your body but on your toes.
By doing this you will start to move down by braking on your toes.
To stop completely, lean more on your toes.
Tips and tricks
Pro tip: Don’t put too much weight on your heels/toes. Put just enough to keep you from sliding too fast. You will figure out for yourself what is enough, trust me!
Pro tip: Don’t fully extend your legs, keep your knees always slightly tilted.
Pro tip: If the snowboard is not gliding put less weight on your heels/toes and tilt less.
While if it slides too fast put more weight and tilt less.
Personal experience: My first time snowboarding, I didn’t know I had to keep my weight in the center of the board. I was always moving left and right uncontrollably and ended up falling.
Regarding the right tilt and weight on my heels, after a few attempts I began to find my balance.
Repeat this steps until you can slow down and stop with control!
By following these steps you will be able to slow down and stop easily, but most importantly avoid big falls.
How stop on a snowboard while turning
Let’s start learning how to stop on a snowboard while turning!
Before you start I recommend you learn well how to stop and slow down without turning, this way you will improve faster.
Note: As I said before, snowboarding movements are influenced by the distribution of your weight on the board. Keep this in mind always.
Step #1
Find a slope steep enough that you don’t stop because your snowboard doesn’t slide.
Step #2
Strap into your bindings while looking downhill.
After that, start riding downhill and keep your weight on your heels. Do not start turning by directing the snowboard tip toward the downhill, but stay in the braking position.
Shift the weight slightly more toward the right heel to go right. While on the left one to go left. As in the image below:
Step #3
To stop while moving left and right, put the weight back on the center of the snowboard and then tilt back more.
However, if you feel you have gained too much speed, you can re-balance the snowboard by first putting your weight on the foot opposite to the direction you were moving.
And when the snowboard is straight put the weight back on the center. Finally, lean more to stop.
Step #4
Repeat step #2 and step #3. This time start with your eyes facing uphill, so tilted on the toes.
The mechanism is the same!
Personal experience: After I learned how to stop without turning, it immediately came naturally to me to stop and slow down while making easy turns.
This gave me the basis for learning heel-to-toe turns.
By following these steps you will learn how to stop on a snowboard easily and without hurting yourself.
Obviously, some slight falls at first are inevitable.
If you are a beginner there is no point in trying difficult things, start with the basics!
Always keep in mind that the snowboard moves according to your weight distribution, and you will be able to control it better.
If you need help or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us either in the comments below or by email. I will be happy to help you!
What to do next…
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