First time snowboarder - should I start in regular-footed or duck-stance?
Question:Hi,
I am regular footed, and just had a couple of days of Snowboarding lessons. On my first day I was regular-stance and managed to do falling leaf. On my second day they installed my board in duck-stance (+/- 15 deg). I didn't know it's "something special", and when I managed doing turns I also worked on my reverse turns thinking they are as important since I was feeling a little weakness there.
Question is: as a newbie, should I continue and get used to duck-stance, or learn regular-footed? If duck-stance, should I work on my reverse turns or are they not important?
BTW I plan on going up 3-4 times a season, so I'm not planning on becoming a pro or anything like that.
Thanks!!
Answers:
Who is a good athlete role model?
First to clarify some terminology for you: "regular" and "goofy" in surfing, skating, snowboarding etc. refer to which foot you lead with, left or right respectively. And, as noted before me, you're referring to "switch" riding when you are going "backwards" from your regular stance.Now the positioning of your bindings is another issue separate from your preferred riding position. While there are some tried and true settings depending on what kind of riding you intend to do, these settings can be largely preferential.
Examples of some standard settings:
Freeriding in powder is best with both feet slightly forward (or at least with back at 0 and the front forward) and BOTH bindings set back closer to the tail rather than nose. And keep the bindings at about shoulder width.
For freestyle (aka park/pipe) riding, the duck stance has gained popularity. Most often the back foot is NOT at the exact opposite angle as the front (let's say back -9, front +14). Bindings are set about equidistant from the board ends. Also, the binding width is wider than the rider's shoulders. This all promotes stability on rails and jump landings. It also makes nose and tail presses easier a well as butters ("flat" ground spin tricks).
For slalom (just to show you contrast with other styles) both bindings are canted forward quite a bit and the feet are kept close. It's all about speed and tight turns.
Point is, the more you ride, the more you'll notice what you like. Mess around. You can change your bindings during the course of a day even. And take note of what the conditions are.
Oh and 3-4 times a season is a very decent amount. You'll get good in no time and really fall in love with it. Good luck!
its all personal preference man. if you can do better and it feels better duck stance then go with that or you could work on your regular and it'll get you even better duck stanced as long as you practise both regularly or you could just go regular. so do what feels right
Snowboarders: Are you looking forward to the winter season?
STAY REGULAR FOOTED! duck-stance is a more andvanced set-up which allows you to do jumps and rails a lot easier. if you are planning on just riding around you should stay regular footed. BUT.. with the regular stance you should also practice on riding switch. or as u call it " reverse turns" they will help you later on in snowboarding. trust me ;)hope this helps :)
lata..
Slide across a wood or tile floor with only socks on.whichever foot you point forward is a good indication of your stance. If you put your left forward then you're regular and if you put your right forward, you have a goofy stance...this was the easiest way to tell for me. Good luck!
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