Snowboard Halfpipe Riding Tricks & Tips
Snowboard Halfpipe Ticks & Tips
Snowboarding in the halfpipe is the next step in progressing your riding skills. In today’s media it¹s the half-pipe that gets all the attention. The following tips will help any rider get started riding the halfpipe.
Snowboard Halfpipe – Riding Tips & Tricks
Before entering the halfpipe, ride to a wide-open slope with a decent pitch and work on doing a “falling leaf.”
This maneuver is basically a pendulum-like movement to the right and to the left, progressing downhill. Start on your heel-side and do a traverse looking in the direction of travel and swing both arms to that direction. Proceed about 3-4 yards distance, edge to a stop, then swing both arms to the opposite direction, weighting the tail of the board, looking back to that opposite direction, and ride switch for about 3-4 yards to a stop. Heel-side is skeletal using body strength, whereas toe-side relies on muscle, which is why we are stronger doing the falling leaf heel-side.
Practice making carved turns in the halfpipe.
Beginning snowboarders make skidded turns which scrub speed (slow you down) as they drag the tail of the board through the turn, whereas the carved turn shows a clear letter C in the snow, cutting the path of the board edge from front to rear without lateral skid.
Imagine the ski trail you are on as narrow, and try to make short radius turns rather than those wide traverses. Half-pipes are not wide and the more comfortable you are with narrow terrain, the happier you will be when in the halfpipe.
Snowboard Halfpipe Diagram
Halfpipe Etiquette – Know the Rules
Snowboard Halfpipe Diagram
Read the terrain park and halfpipe signs posted by the resort, Snowboarders should adhere to strict standards – set a good example and properly represent the sport. Spend a few minutes at the half-pipe and you will see how it works: everyone waits patiently for his or her turn and there is no cutting of the line. A raised hand or spoken word announces who is going next – Yell, “Dropping!”. It is casual, but very specific. Lastly, a person should never enter the pipe until the previous rider has exited.
Drop into the Halfpipe
The halfpipe is one of the safest places for beginning snowboarders. Riders can’t fall off the trail because the sides are high, and they won¹t fall out – AKA “decked” or “cased”. The only scary part is actually entering, like jumping off a diving board.
The first time, you should enter the halfpipe heel-side at the very top with a jump in. Simply stay on that edge doing the falling leaf the entire length of the halfpipe wall, and if you are up for it the second time, occasionally switching to toe-side then back to heel-side.
Picture the half-pipe space as a rather narrow trail. People make the error of trying to go straight across, but it is better to snowboard down on an angle. In other words, snowboard across and down the halfpipe, not just across. You won¹t have as many jumps, tricks or “hits,” but your speed will carry you further.
The “falling leaf technique” will give you a feeling for the halfpipe surface and an understanding of how, by pumping your legs in the flat you can use the speed to go slightly up the half-pipe side walls. Just like pumping your legs on a swing, you go higher and higher. Snowboard in the same motion, going up and down, bending and straightening your knees. Don¹t forget that your head faces the direction of travel and your arms act like the pendulum of a clock.
Practice Tricks & Continue Learning
Now get riding! The big thing in riding the halfpipe is being comfortable and not intimidated. Commit to it! Fear causes muscles to stiffen and stiff muscles don¹t turn a snowboard! Go back to the ski trails and work on your turns, then go back to the halfpipe and try doing some short radius turns. The better you can carve, the more speed you will have in the pipe; the more speed you have, the higher you will go. Your snowboard success in the halfpipe is truly predicated upon your success on the trail so work on those basics and go for it – ride the pipe!
If you are still having trouble, how about signing up for a lesson? A half-pipe clinic will save you the hard knock way of self-education.
Also, check out these resources for more advanced lessons.
Tagged: featured, freestyle, half pipe, halfpipe, jump, ski, skiing, slopestyle, snow, snowboard, snowboarding, tricks
Got something to say? Click here to reply
Comments are closed.