SNOWBOARD
Photo 1
Photo 2
SPEED UP YOUR EDGE CHANGE WITH THE ANKLE FLICK AND BUTT HIP SINK
By Amy Gan W Photo 3
hen making dynamic turns, there are small changes you can make that can add energy and quickness to your riding. Here I focus specifically on the edge
change for a heelside turn. With three easy steps, you can play with
how quickly you can change edges and move your center of mass (CM) into the turn. Let’s make it happen: practice steps 1 and 2 separately to make sure you are comfortable with both moves before moving to step 3.
STEP 1: THE ANKLE FLICK Start by traversing across the hill on your toe edge, focus on your front ankle, and give it a sharp, quick flick down into the snow. Like a quick jab with your toes down into the sole of your boot, and then just as fast, relax your foot again. Keep your knees and hips relaxed. You should feel the board (stemming from your front foot) wanting to jump uphill and out from under you. If your joints are stiff, it will not allow the board to move away from you, instead you’ll just turn slightly uphill. If you’re flicking with the right amount of force and quickness, you’re going to feel a big reaction from your board.
Photo 4
AASI Snowboard Team member Amy Gan drops WKH EXWW KLS DV VKH KHDGV LQWR KHU WXUQ
STEP 2: THE BUTT HIP SINK Now it’s time to engage a body part I like to call the “butt hip” (photo 1). Practice driving your butt hip down toward the nose/heelside corner of your board as you change edges in your heelside turn (photo 2). Quickly sink into that carved turn. Let your edge fully grab for a high edge- angle rip. Tis will get your weight in the
right spot for the new edge to grab. To successfully move your CM to this part of the board, make sure to exaggerate how low you get when making your edge change.
STEP 3: PUT IT TOGETHER Time to get these steps working together. Use the energy from the ankle flick to get the board uphill. Initiate the ankle flick at the very beginning of the turn, while you are still across the fall line. When that board wants to jump out from underneath you, that’s when it’s time to let your butt hip sink directly toward the contact point between your nose and heel edge (photos 3 and 4).
Tis will get your weight in the right spot to handle the release of all that energy you just put into your board via the ankle flick, and set you in the right spot to engage your heel edge and head into your heel turn. Alright, you’ve got all the steps! Remember, let the board jump uphill with the ankle flick. Sink your butt hip into the corner of your heel edge, set your new edge and enjoy the ride.
Amy Gan is a member of the AASI Snowboard team. She is the lead snowboard trainer at Mount Snow Resort in Vermont, and is a member of the Eastern Division educational VWDff Instagram DJDQ b
THESNOWPROS.ORG | 71
COURTESY OF AMY GAN
COURTESY OF AMY GAN
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