Basic counter-rotational turn

This turn partially relies on the speed of ride. Having big enough speed, the turn can be used almost in any conditions. The turn is based on the mechanics when snow friction and resistance generate a couple (a pair of forces) affecting the board base.

It is useful to distinguish three phases (or elements) of the turn:

  1. Forward weight shifting and body leaning initiation.
  2. Board rotation initiating using body counter-rotation.
  3. Turn balancing.

Forward Weight Shifting and Body Leaning Initiation

At the beginning of this phase, the rider’s body weight is usually shifted to the backwards position (more over the board tail) finishing previous turn. To meet the basic precondition for this type of turn – more weighted tip of board, the boarder starts to shift his body forward to the direction of the board tip. This is done just by moving rider’s torso and hips, without tilting the upper body to the board tip.

At the same time the boarder starts to lean his body in the direction to the centre of mentioned turn (i.e. downhill and a little backwards to the ride direction). This leaning is the first step of changing edge – the board moves onto the flat base and is ready for sliding.

Board Rotation Initiating using Body Counter-rotation

The boarder starts a rotation of board to the direction of mentioned turn using muscles of lower body. That means the origin of the movement is the lower body. There is no pre-rotation of upper body there. The upper body rotate to the opposite direction (counter-rotation) to balance the rotation of the lower body and the board. This movement also finishes the board edge changing started by the body leaning because lower legs during rotation move under the body and dramatically change the angle to the board. So the board is on the new edge at the end of the phase. The position of board is sideways to the ride direction and thus another basic precondition for this type of turn – a transverse component of sliding – is met.

Turn balancing

The body leaning fluently continues to the centre of turn. The continuing body leaning causes lower legs leveraging the board on to its edge more and more and this way continuously slow down the board sliding in the transversal direction. This produces the permanent couple that causes a permanent board rotation. This continues until the edging increases so, that stopping the board’s rotation and thus finishing the turn. Another way to balance the turn is the shifting weight over the longitude axe of board and so changing the unevenness of board weighting. Shifting the weight backwards finally changes the orientation of the couple. The result is faster finishing of the turn. The more dynamic are turns the more important is this backwards weight shifting for excluding an over-rotation of turns.

The goal of this phase is to control the body leaning and weight shifting so that the rider is in a balanced position and the curve has the desired shape.