SNOWBOARD TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNIQUE
Although snowboarding is a relatively new sport, equipment technology has changed drastically in the past 20 years. Largely due to advances in materials, construction, and design, contemporary snowboards perform like sports cars. Boards from 25 years ago performed more like a minivans. Tis is an important consideration because the average rider now has to exert less effort to achieve a similar degree of performance from his or her setup. In addition to helping with efficiency, modern boards have a wide array of designs to accommodate a variety of abilities, conditions, terrain, and riding styles. In the early days of snowboarding, basic turns were larger and originated from the upper body, eventually directing the board. While larger movements still have their applications in certain tasks and among certain demographics, basic turning movements today tend to happen closer to the board, resulting in quicker responsiveness and more efficiency.
THE Y MODEL
A core component of AASI’s teaching methodology, the Y Model is depicted as a stemmed glass, in which the base represents a new rider, the stem represents activities that promote foundational aspects for rider development, and the bowl “contains” the skills the rider acquires on the way to mastering different terrain options and types of riding (i.e., freestyle, freeride, and alpine/carving).
BASE
Te bottom of the model (the base of the Y) is where snowboarding evolves – where the new rider can be found. Tis first-time riding experience is the foundation of the rest of our snowboarding lives. Te base of the Y Model also serves as a reminder that our core mission as instructors is to transform our students into “riders.” For our sport to remain relevant, growth in participation is crucial.
FOUNDATIONAL
Te stem of the Y represents a period in learning in which riders gain understanding of the movements they have to make in order to create the desired performance from the board. All of the common activities of a beginner lesson are contained within the stem of the Y. Once riders have successfully performed the parts of a turn, they move on to completing a turn. Tasks learned up to that point are directed at that one goal: turning. A rider’s skill and versatility within the sport consists of his or her ability to consciously or subconsciously understand and apply specific movements, increasing or decreasing board performances to achieve a variety of outcomes (see Chapter 3: Board Performance Concepts).
DEVELOPMENTAL
Te Y model illustrates the world of all-mountain riding in the bowl of the Y. Te first layers of tasks are developmental in nature and set the rider up for greater success in any or all of the applications above them. You may be thinking, “What does switch riding have to do with boardercross, and what does buttering have to do with riding bumps?” Te answers are easy once you understand how all tasks can improve all skills.
16 AASI SNOWBOARD TECHNICAL MANUAL
TheSnowPros.org
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