Snowboarding Course - Linking Turns
Linking Turns is the final step in our beginner course where you combine all you have learned. At this point, you should be comfortable with traversing and performing Garlands. You also need to get used to rising to a straight position and going down to a bent position while traversing. You can do this by practicing how to rise and fall on a flat surface, and then use the same motion while traversing on both edges and maintaining your speed.
What are you going to learn?
Linking Turns is a sequence of traversing, changing edge, and traversing again. Once you are able to link turns, you can consider yourself a 'real snowboarder' and you will look like one too!
Getting Started
Start by finding a groomed, gradual slope, preferably with as little change in contour as possible. It would be better if the area is not crowded so you will not be distracted or nervous because of people watching you. Visualize the run from the top. Make a mental note of where you might make your turns.
Heelside Turn
 | STEP 1: Start by traversing in the same way you learned while doing Garlands. Turn your head and torso to face the direction where you want to travel. Keep your knees bent and your center of gravity low. Only try your first turn when you are comfortable with traversing. |
 | STEP 2: Start your first turn by shifting your weight forward to point the board downhill. You will accelerate as your board points towards the fall line. At this point, you can always abort your turn by shifting your weight backwards slightly and pushing your board up from the fall line using your rear leg, bringing you back to a heelside traverse. |
 | STEP 3: Halfway in your turn, your board will be pointing straight down and you need to pivot the board from heelside to toeside. Twist your foot to turn the board across the fall line and push the board through the turn using your rear foot. Extend your legs and shift your weight upward as you cross the fall line. Make sure to switch from heelside to toeside swiftly. Without an edge, you will continue to pick up speed and you will likely fall. |
 | STEP 4: Complete your turn by twisting your front foot further and pushing your board away from the fall line using your rear foot. Turn your head and torso in the direction of your turn. At the end of the turn, you should be comfortably traversing on your toe edge. You have completed your toe-side turn! |
 | STEP 5:You have now completed your heelside turn and you are traversing back on your toeside. |
Snowboarding Course - Garlands
After learning how to perform the Falling Leaf, you are now ready to try doing Garlands. These are actually partial or half-turns in which changing edges is not necessary. They are called as such because the tracks that you will leave on the snow are similar to garlands that you see in Christmas trees.
 | STEP 1: You need a wide area for this exercise. Go to the top of the hill and position yourself across the Fall line. Start with a heelside position. Look towards the direction where you want to go. |
 | STEP 2: When you're ready, decrease the edge angle of your Snowboard. Point your board down the Fall Line and then shift your weight forward by applying weight on your leading foot. |
 | STEP 3: Begin a straight glide. Keep going until you pick up some speed. You will notice that you will gain speed as you point the tip of your board closer to the Fall line. Remember to look towards the direction where you want to go. |
 | STEP 4: After gaining the desired speed, slow down by increasing the edge angle of the board and shifting your weight backward. Get ready to turn sideways to decrease your speed. |
 | STEP 5: Move the tip of your board gradually across the Fall line. Take note that as you do this, you will be slowing down. Maintain your balance as you change the position of the board. |
 | STEP 6: You will come to a complete stop when you turn your board uphill or if its position is already across the Fall line. Repeat the process until you are comfortable doing it on your heel edge. After that, try doing Garlands on your toeside. |
To sum it up, these are the important things to keep in mind in doing Garlands: look towards the direction where you want to go, decrease the edge angle of your Snowboard and point the tip down the Fall Line, and turn uphill to slow down or stop. Once you get comfortable in doing Garlands, you will find that doing full turns will be a lot easier.
Snowboarding Course - Falling Leaf
Another movement that you should learn is the Falling Leaf. This is a Snowboarding Exercise wherein the rider skids back and forth on the same edge in an imaginary corridor, almost like a leaf when it falls from the tree. The difference is that unlike the leaf, the rider can control the path that he wants to go to. The trace that the rider will leave on the snow will be a zigzag pattern.
The Falling Leaf is almost similar to Traversing, except that the former incorporates a direction change. This is another good move to help you get down on tricky or steep slopes. When you are able to do the Falling Leaf, you will be able to travel in any direction no matter where your Snowboard is facing. Likewise, it will also help you hone your edge control skills. The Falling Leaf also adds directional control to your sideslip. Just remember that whichever end of the board has the most weight upon, it goes down the hill first.
 | STEP 1: Start in the same way you would when performing a Toeside Traverse. It is very important to look towards the direction where you want to go. Spread your arms a bit to help you maintain your balance. Put your weight on your front foot. |
 | STEP 2: Cut across the slope’s Fall line. Keep your balance on the toe edge. Don’t forget to keep the angle of your traverse in a considerable degree. Stop as soon as you get to the far end of the trail. Do this by bringing the board back to an angle directly across the fall line. |
 | STEP 3: Stay balanced on your toe edge. Do not flip over or begin a Heelside Traverse on the other edge. Turn your head and look over your shoulder. Gently put your weight on your backfoot. Traverse back across the slope. |
 | STEP 4: Keep your angle in a slight form. Also, make sure that you stay in your toe edge. When you reach the opposite end of the slope, shift your weight and direction. Ride the board nose-first and continue with another traverse using your toe edge. |
 | STEP 5: At this point, you have successfully made the first zigzag pattern. Just repeat the process until you reach your desired destination. |
If you want to do the Falling Leaf using your heel edge, just repeat the exercise, but use your Snowboard's heel edge. Just keep practicing this skill because it will be very helpful for you to travel down terrains.
Snowboarding Course - Traversing (Toeside)
If Sideslipping is the act of sliding down the fall line using the heel or toe edge to control your descent, Traversing is a skill that takes you from one side of the slope to the other while descending gradually. You can use the toeside or heelside in traverses. In this section, learn how to traverse using the toe edge of your Snowboard:
 | STEP 1: In traversing using the toe edge, it is very important to look towards the direction where you want to go. Spread your arms to help in maintaining your balance. |
 | STEP 2: Then, turn your head and upper body towards the direction you wish to travel to. Shift more weight on your leading foot and move together with your other foot. |
 | STEP 3: Return your Snowboard to its original position across the fall line. Get ready to move to the other side of the slope. Look towards the direction where you want to go. |
 | STEP 4: Just like in Step 2, turn your head and upper body towards the direction you wish to travel to. Shift more weight on your leading foot and move together with your other foot. |
java skate punk
