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Topic starter 09/03/2025 7:35 am
I think it's been discussed many times, but would like to have my own riding analysed because I honestly cannot tell if I am making the same mistakes as others. Here's a video of me riding on a mellow slope slowed in 1/2.
I often lose my heel edge when trying to get a higher edge angle. I used to ride a narrower board with risers (268mm waist). Now I ride a 272mm waist board without risers. Very similar problem on heel side carve on both boards.
Equipment specs:
Boot is US9 men Burton photon step on
Binding angles +36 +21 Burton normal step on bindings
Board is Nidecker escape 2024 162XW 8.7m sidecut radius
It happens less often on mellower slopes, and more often on steeper slopes.
Usually I feel ok on my toe side carves. I know it's not perfect and my shoulder is not horizontal in this video. I seldom lose my edge on toe turns unless it's super hard ice. But suggestions on both heel side and toe side turn is welcomed. Also I ride in the east coast 99% of the time.
Side note, anyone uses Burton step on bindings? I need to use such a high stance angle because I can't center my boot on board and have more heel overhang than toe (right now I have toe underhang). Switching to normal bindings has been considered but I ride in this tiny east coast hill and need to do 40-50 runs a day.
Thanks in advance.
09/03/2025 8:41 am
Nice riding!
(Caveat: I’m not an instructor) What I see is a good heelside initiation, but it looks like you start to loose tension in your hips and don’t get your weight back on board. Bringing my rear hand around to my front knee and really driving it around, throughout the turn, is a cue that helps me keep the hips open.
Having said that, the board does look a bit soft… it’s not powering through and staying on trajectory.
Big White, BC, Canada
09/03/2025 10:59 am
@samw Welcome to the forum!
Turns look pretty smooth overall. You could definitely add some hip rotation into your heelsides. With that steep stance there's no reason to have your butt hanging out so far. Twist from the hips and try to get your butt over your back heel (or closer at least). Play with more bend in the knees and add some of the bowing into your compression: front shoulder to front knee. This compressed position will help mitigate boot drag.
Canted Risers will help make the extra rotation feel more natural too, especially in that very steep stance.
You didn't state your height or weight but you look big for that board. It's decently sized for all mountain riding, but it's not going to take the kind of edge pressure and board angulation you're trying to create. You will be very limited by your equipment.
I had a look at Martina's Step-Ons just now. If you turn the disk 90 degrees you get two options for centering your boot. The bindings are pretty specific and only span two boot sizes per binding size so you should be able to get very close to center. Even centered though, that system adds a lot of length over a rear-entry binding from Flow or Head or SP.
I'm working on a binding video today and plan to measure Martina's Step-Ons vs her normal boots and Head bindings for length. My best guess right now is that the Step-On system will add about 1.8cm (18mm), which is a hell of a lot when your new "extra-wide" board is only 4mm wider than your old board...
I'm just slaying...
Topic starter 09/03/2025 11:38 am
Thanks for the advice gents. Looks like it's agreed that I need more hip rotation. I'll try to work on that.
I'm 180cm and 70kg. This board is rated a 5/10 by nidecker so it's really not a very stiff board. And I know these "extra wide" boards on the market is a joke. But I also see other riders in the same resort carving at really high edge angle on some soft ground trick boards which lead me to think it's could be my skill issue rather than equipment? I really don't know.
I tried the Flow NX2 before I switched to Burton Step Ons. Back when I found they had very good heel side respond but the toe side was sluggish. On top of that the step in mechanism wasn't as easy and quick as the burton's. But now I see almost every soft boot carver rides them maybe I should give it another try.
