221 Creating lower body angles
Appropriate utilization of body parts to contain turning forces.
Initially, a rider should learn to bring the board to an edge with the feet, and stand correctly from foot to foot in order to effectively shape a turn.
As that rider becomes more adept at bringing the board to an edge, the bend in the board will generally increase, which means the board will become more lively. A livelier board requires a more effective posture in order to avoid being ‘high-sided’ or tossed out of a turn. Similarly, when the board is carving on edge more than skidding, it is helpful to be able to alter the angle of the board on the snow mid turn in order to affect the shape of the turn.
So, the whole ‘creation of lower body angles’ in this context means that there is enough flexion at the knee and ankle joints such that the legs may move in an arc via the hip socket. Ideally, this type of movement can be used to affect edge angle, without changing the rider’s weight distribution from one foot to the other. The chosen stance angle will, however, influence the success of this knees activity. The lower the binding angle, the less effective it will be. At the same time, using only the knees to tip the board will leave the rider somewhat compromised in the flexion extension department, as the lateral mobility of the knee joint will be affected with a change in leg length.