Falling Leaf

The falling leaf is the bridge between stopping and turning. You stay on one edge — heel or toe — and zig-zag down the slope by shifting your weight between your front and back foot. The board swings back and forth like a leaf falling from a tree. No edge change, no commitment to turning — just controlled descent on a single edge.

Heelside falling leaf. Face downhill, weight on your heels. Shift weight forward onto your front foot and the board slides diagonally in that direction. Shift weight back onto your rear foot and it slides diagonally the other way. Stay on the heel edge the entire time.

Toeside falling leaf. Face uphill, weight on your toes. Same idea — shift front, slide one way. Shift back, slide the other. Keep that toe edge engaged.

This is the single best drill for getting comfortable on a steeper slope before you commit to full turns. It also teaches you the weight-shift that initiates every turn you'll ever make.

Here is a tutorial on falling leaf:

Video by Ryan de Milliano

Key tips

• Keep one edge engaged the entire time — no flat base
• Look in the direction you want to travel; the board follows your head
• Shift weight subtly, not dramatically — a little goes a long way
• Practice both heelside and toeside before moving to linked turns
• Once you can traverse confidently on both edges, you're ready for turns