How to Turn on a Snowboard: Edge Control Step by Step

On a snowboard you control your speed and direction with your edges. The board has two long edges: the heel edge on the side of your heels and the toe edge on the side of your toes. Turning is simply a controlled switch between the two. The order below is the one most instructors use with beginners.

1. Side-slipping on the heel edge

Face down the hill with the board across the slope. Press gently through your heels and lift your toes: the edge digs into the snow and you stop. Lower your toes a little and the board starts to slide slowly downhill. Learning to control your speed with this angle alone is the foundation of every turn.

2. The falling leaf

While side-slipping, put your weight on your front foot: the board starts to travel diagonally in that direction. Then shift your weight to your back foot and travel the other way. You drift left and right across the slope like a falling leaf, always on the same edge. Practise it on your heel edge first, then on your toe edge, facing uphill.

3. Your first half turns

As you move in the falling leaf, put a little more weight on your front foot and look with your shoulders in the direction you want to go. The nose of the board slowly turns down the fall line; at that moment press on the same edge again to finish the turn and slow down towards the side of the run. These half turns get you used to pointing down the hill before you ever change edges.

4. Linked turns

A real turn means changing edges while you are pointing down the fall line. Coming from your heel edge, turn your gaze and shoulders towards the new direction, put your weight on your front foot and let the board run flat for a moment. Then press onto your toe edge to complete the turn. Do the same in reverse and you have drawn your first "S".

Common mistakes

• Weight on the back foot: The board will not turn and speeds up out of control. Press on your front foot as you start each turn.
• Leaning uphill: Leaning back out of fear makes the downhill edge catch, and you fall hard.
• Stiff legs: Without bent knees, the board cannot feel the snow. Let your knees work like springs.
• Looking at the board: Your head and shoulders lead the turn, so look where you want to go.

What is catching an edge?

The fall snowboarders fear most is catching an edge: the downhill edge digs into the snow and the board stops dead. The way to avoid it is to always keep the downhill edge slightly raised and to let the board run flat only for a moment when you change edges.

If you have not found your stance yet, read our guide regular or goofy first. We describe what your first days at Erciyes look like in our guide to snowboarding at Erciyes, and our First Steps lesson packages include snowboard lessons too.

• Snowboarding
• Snowboard technique
• Beginners
• Turning