The Sideslip
The sideslip is a maneuver that is used by both beginner and expert snowboarders to control speed and to get past difficult parts of the slope. The sideslip can be performed on either your toe-side or heel-side edge. As you stand up stay perpendicular to the fall line, keep your downhill edge off the snow, and evenly distribute your weight across your board. This will keep you from sliding down the hill or to either side. Then, think of your feet as gas pedals. Slowly lower your down hill edge toward the snow. As you do you will start to slid down the hill. Keep your weight evenly distributed across your board so that you are sliding down the slope and not to either side. To stop, bring your down hill edge higher up, away from the snow. Do not lower your down hill edge too close to the snow or you will catch an edge and fall down the hill.
Try to sideslip at various speeds. As you get better you will be able to sideslip faster down the hill. Remember to use your feet as gas pedals to control your speed. Also, keep your weight evenly distributed across your board so that you slid down the slope, and not across the slope, or to either side.
The Traverse
The traverse is a maneuver that involves steering your board across the hill, not down the hill. You can try the traverse either on your toe-side or heel-side edge. As you stand up keep your down hill edge off of the snow and your weight distributed evenly across your board, so you do not slide down the hill or to either side. Then, put some weight on your front foot and use your front foot to steer the front of your board slightly down the hill. Do not angle your board too far down the hill. A low angle will help you control your speed and stay in balance. As you start to move across the hill turn your upper body in the direction that you are going across the hill. As you get to the edge of the slope start thinking about stopping. To stop, use the sideslip by steering the front of your board back across the hill (up the hill), then tilting the board higher on its up hill edge to skid to a stop.
Practice both the heel-side and the toe-side traverse. Remember to turn your body in the direction that you are going, keep your down hill edge off of the snow, and use your up hill edge to steer your board and to stop.
The Falling Leaf
The falling leaf uses both the traverse and sideslip to move back and forth across the slope. This is a good way to learn how to keep your balance, and how to start and stop, without actually turning your board. You can use the falling leaf either on your toe-side or heel-side edge. To use the falling leaf just traverse across the slope. When you get to the other side sideslip to a stop. Then, turn your upper body the other direction and traverse backward (“fakie”) across the slope. When you get to the other side of the slope sideslip to a stop. Practice the falling leaf on both your heel-side and toe-side edge. As you get better try to make quick direction changes, instead of going all the way across the slope. This is a fun way to learn how to keep your balance and to maneuver your board across, and down, the slope before you learn how to turn.
