What is the progression?
Collection of exercises used by instructors to teach snowboarders to move from a beginner level through to an advanced level.
13 Points of Beginner Progression - Summarised?
- Equipment Familiarisation
- Stance
- Straight Gliding
- Riding Lifts
- Side Slipping
- Skidded Traverse
- Single Basic Turns
- Becoming Mobile
- Direction Change
- Getting Up
- Falling Leaf
- Garlands
- Basic Linked Turns
(1) Equipment Familiarisation - Fundamental Mechanics?
SHOW THEM HOW TO CARRY AND PLACE THE SNOWBOARD. EXPLAIN, BOOTS BINDINGS AND SNOWBOARD.
- Ensure the guests have an understanding of how the boots should fit and feel.
- Identify the nose/tail, edges, base, and top of the snowboard.
- How to use the bindings to strap-in and un-strap
(2) Stance - Fundamental Mechanics?
- An aligned and centered position
- Anticipation in the stance with eyes focused ahead
- Balance in a centered position then on the toe and heel side
(3) Becoming Mobile - Fundamental Mechanics?
TEACH YOUR GUESTS TO MOVE AROUND FLAT TERRAIN, LIFT LINES AND SMALL HILLS WITH ONLY THEIR LEAD FOOT ON THE SNOWBOARD.
- Balancing over the lead foot with small steps when skating
- Setting the edge in the snow when stepping uphill
- Small steps to keep the rider balanced an in control
(4) Straight Gliding - Fundamental Mechanics?
MAINTAIN BALANCE WHILE MOVING FORWARD DOWN THE SLOPE. BACK FOOT PLACED UP AGAINST REAR BINDING.
- Keeping the muscular core strong
- Flexing the ankles, knees, hips and rolling the spine to keep the board flat
- Heel side and toe side braking
(5) Direction Change - Fundamental Mechanics?
STARTING IN A STRAIGHT GLIDE, THE RIDER WILL MAKE A TURN TO EITHER THE HEEL OR TOE SIDE.
- Move the centre of mas to the working edge
- Progressive edging
- Full body rotation
(6) Lift Riding - Fundamental Mechanics?
- Placing the rear foot on the board correctly
- Staying over the snowboard
- Gentle edge control
(7) Getting Up - Fundamental Mechanics?
- Keeping the board across the fall line
- Getting the mass close to the edge
- Balancing the mass over the uphill edge
(8) Side Slipping - Fundamental Mechanics?
BALANCING THE UPHILL EDGE SLIDING DOWN THE SLOPE WITH THE SNOWBOARD ACROSS THE FALL LINE.
- Use core strength to stabilise the upper body
- Laterally sinking and rising to control angles and pressure
- Plantar and Dorsi flexion for fine edge control
(9) Falling Leaf - Fundamental Mechanics?
CONTROLLED SKIDDING ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE SAME EDGE.
- Rising and sinking with full body rotation
- Matching shoulder to the pitch
- Progressive edging
- Torsional flex (twist & pedal)
- Switch riding
(10) Skidded Traverse - Fundamental Mechanics?
A CONTROLLED CROSSING OF THE SLOPE AND FALL LINE WITH AN ANTICIPATED STANCE AND MORE EDGE CONTROL.
- Core strength to hold anticipation
- Strong lower body angulation
- Less skidding by edging to develop direction and control
(11) Garlands - Fundamental Mechanics?
STAYING ON THE SAME EDGE DIRECTING THE RIDER IN AND OUT OF THE FALL LINE.
- Move the mass forward and over the board
- Full body rotation into and out of the fall line
- Torsional flex (twist and foot pedalling)
(12) Single Basic Turns - Fundamental Mechanics?
THE FIRST SINGLE TURNS A GUEST WILL MAKE. FROM TOE SIDE TO HEEL SIDE FIRST, THEN HEEL SIDE TO TOE SIDE.
- Recentring and moving into the tuns
- Higher edge angle as board executes the turn
- Torsional flex (twist and foot pedalling)
(13) Basic Linked Turns - Fundamental Mechanics?
TURN FROM EDGE TO EDGE CONNECTED WITH A SMOOTH TRANSITION INSTEAD OF A TRAVERSE.
- Earlier recentring and edging
- Forward movement in the transition
- LOwer body rotation and angulation
- Slightly faster speed and smaller radius
- Foot pedalling (torsional flex)
