Avoiding Edge Catches
- Skill:
- avoid catching an edge and falling unexpectedly
- Prerequisites:
- Sliding & Stopping, Linking Turns
An edge catch happens when the uphill edge of your board digs into the snow and the board stops while you keep moving. It hurts, but you can avoid it with a few habits.
Why it happens
- An edge only catches when it points downhill. If your edge is pointing uphill, it can't catch.
- Catches happen mid-transition. You switch edges too early, before the board has finished turning. You usually do this by twisting your shoulders to start the turn. That pulls your weight toward the new edge before the board is ready.
How to avoid it
- Stack your weight over the edge. Stay tall and balanced over the edge you're on, with no leaning back and no hips pushed out. Don't ride flat-based.
- Start turns with pressure, not shoulders. Press into your edge to start a turn. Don't twist your upper body to force it.
- Don't linger between edges. Slow, drawn-out switches leave you in the danger zone longer.
- Sink down, then rise up. Crouch before the switch and stand tall through it. This makes you light on the board while it changes edges, so it can't dig in.
- Keep your heel-edge and toe-edge stances similar. If your two stances look very different, switching takes a big, awkward move.
Side slipping
Beginners spend a lot of time side slipping, and it's where many catches happen.
- Keep a slight squat, with your chest up and your weight over your front foot.
- Control your speed by pushing your legs into the slope, not by flexing your ankles harder.
- On bumpy or icy snow, let your hips open slightly so the edge grips.
Learn more here:
Video by Taevis Kapalka