Tutor - Basic Carve Turn
(Extension Turns)

In Brief

This is the first and most basic of many forms of carve turns. It is fundamentally the Elementary Turn enhanced with a weighting-unweighting action performed by a stong extension during the initial phase of the turn.

Technical Details

The turn may be broken down into three phases:

1. Initiation:It is important that the snowboarder's starting position (either backside or frontside) maintains a low centre of gravity (snowboarder is low with knees bent). The turn is initiated by a strong anticipated (or pre-) rotation of the upper body in the desired direction and at the same time an extension which performs an unweighting action. Though the snowboarder has extended and rotated, the board has not yet followed.
2. Driving:The snowboard will now start to follow the direction of rotation. The student must continue the anticipated rotation by rotating further as the board follows. As the student rotates, the student must gradually flex (bend the knees) so that the center of gravity starts to return towards the initial position. The snowboarder should also lean towards the inside of the turn.
3. Termination: Weight is brought back to an equal distribution across the board and the rotation is brought to a halt. If the snowboarder started the turn from the correct backside position then the turn will terminate with the frontside position and vice versa.

Learning the Carve Turn

Pratice Isolated turns (i.e. one at a time).

• Imagine you are picking up a heavy and fragile crate of beer which is uphill and you are putting it down in the inside of the turn.

Perfecting the Carve Turn

Pratice linking turns together.

• Add a "crawl" (as in swimming) motion to the arm which is closest up-hill.

Additional Tips:

• On the backside turn the student can compliment the rotation by tucking the back knee into the front knee.
• On the frontside turn the student can compliment the rotation by moving the back knee away from the front knee.