Skating (To be done on a flat surface)
Skating is a skill that will be used to maneuver around at the bottom of the hill, in the lift lines and in other situations when the snowboarders' momentum has stopped in a flat area. At this point, the skill of skating will be used to introduce the athlete to gliding on the snow surface. Begin by having the athlete stand in a snowboard stance on the board on flat ground, with the front foot clipped in. The athlete will then push forward with the free foot. Following the push, the free foot should be placed on the stomp pad between the bindings. The athlete will then ride the board as it glides to a stop. The coach should remain close to the athlete in case of loss of balance or a fall.
In the case of an apprehensive athlete, or an athlete with balance problems, the coach can assist by holding both of the athlete's hands during the glide. It is important to remember that this assistance is only to prevent falling and to provide security. The athlete should be supporting his or her own weight as much as possible.
Skating is an important concept for the athlete to master, as it is used to get around during the frequent instances when the athlete's board has lost momentum. It will be necessary for the athlete to skate in order to use the lift and to maneuver around prior to going downhill.
Continue to work on skating until the athlete is able to glide with good balance. Stay on a relatively flat surface to begin. As the athlete becomes more comfortable, the terrain can be varied by introducing a SLIGHT grade, allowing the athlete to experience the sensation of skating uphill. Also, the athlete can begin gliding for longer distances.
NOTE: Be very conservative when choosing terrain, especially during the beginning phases of learning. Many athletes experience unnecessary injury by trying to negotiate terrain that is too steep too early. Stay on flatter terrain until you are sure that the athlete has become comfortable with the skills you have been teaching. Overall, the athlete will learn proper snowboarding technique more quickly if the difficulty of the terrain is increased slowly.
- Begin with free foot next to the board on the toeside.
- Only take small steps, to avoid slipping.
- Keep head up with eyes facing forward.
- Maintain most of the weight on the strapped-in foot.
- Practice pushing with free foot on the heelside.
- Practice alternating between toeside and heelside
| |
| Error |
Correction |
| Athlete fails to maintain balance |
Head up with eyes forward
Take small steps
Keep weight on front leg |
| Athlete cannot skate on heelside |
Try skating on toeside |
| Athlete cannot skate on toeside |
Try skating on heelside | |
