USE PRESSURE MOVES AND JUST SAY ‘NO’ TO SIDESLIPPING BY SCOTT ANFANG
T
he fi rst things that come to mind when I think about riding steeps is “challenge, fun, and creativity.” In my book, those are
the ingredients for a perfect day on the snow. It’s even better when you get to help fellow riders experience that perfection by slaying terrain they’ve either struggled with in the past or shied away from entirely. Being able to take on the steeps opens up more of the mountain, and the guidance you provide can mean the diff erence between taking charge and merely hanging on for the ride. Of course, you’ll want to make sure students are up to the challenge. I start by looking at their movement patterns and pressure management skills.
3 KEY TEACHING ELEMENTS In your warm-up, ride groomers and look at all the diff erent ways the students move their body in relation to the terrain. If you notice that certain movement patterns are missing – such as versatility in turn shape or eff ective pressure moves – work on those skills in terrain where students are comfortable. T en, take those same movements from the groomers to some choppy or off -piste snow, and, fi nally into steeper terrain. T e three most important things to teach before tackling steep
terrain are: 1. Turn shape and size, and the eff ect both have on speed in any terrain or snow condition.
2. Down-unweighting movement patterns. Riders need to fl ex, or “get small,” move their body down the hill, and get the board on edge early in the turn so they have more options for managing pressure throughout the turn.
3. T e value of versatility. T ere’s always more than one way to ride anything, so familiarize riders with their options (e.g., looking for the less gnarly line, matching turn shape and speed to the conditions at hand, or scanning the run for possible escape hatches or spots to regroup).
If a student is getting stuck on the heel edge, have them fl ex down to release the heel edge. Rather than stay tall and balance on the edge, they should let it go and move into the next turn. Also teach them to use a down-unweight move to create more turn shape, and up-unweight moves if they want to do more of a hop turn and get to a new edge with less turn shape.
HOW TO ESTABLISH YOUR OWN BEST PRACTICES As you work with students in the steeps, draw upon the fundamentals of riding and coach eff ective movement patterns. Here’s my advice
for crafting your strategy: Q Slow it down. Down feel the need to go straight to steep terrain just because that’s someone’s goal.
QFigure out why the student wants to go to steeper terrain. T is will help guide how you present information and work with the student.
QHelp riders choose wise options, until they can start to fi gure them it out for themselves. Sideslipping down the run is not an
22 | 32 DEGREES • WINTER 2017 WLQ\ FF D]J\
Eager to learn more tactics for the steeps? Watch this video on leapers, produced by REI in collaboration with PSIA-AASI.
On ONE CONDITION
AASI Snowboard Team Coach Scott Anfang scored some gorgeous vertical feet in at Interski 2015 in Ushuaia, Argentina.
option. If you fi nd this is happening, go back to item #1 on this list.
SUCCESS IN THE STEEPS IS SWEET When you’re confi dent a student has the skills to ride a certain run – even if he or she is nervous – off er good guidance and help them go for it. And be sure to stop at the bottom and look back to see what they just came down. T ings look very diff erent when you’re staring down the gut
of the run versus the view from the bottom up. It gives the rider a better understanding of the situation they were just in, builds confi dence, and makes them more aware of options for the next run down the same terrain.
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SCOTT MARKEWITZ
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