@emilecantin thanks for the remarks! Yeah, I feel it and can actually see my heel side issue. I think its a confidence thing when making the toe to heel transition. I need to focus on trusting my rail more and I think my weight distribution is off on the transition (too back foot heavy I think). First day back on a carving board and first day on the JJA C4, so I've got time to get it together 🙂 hopefully.

I was doing a bit of those cross unders on the cat track that day. Roger that on the comment. Turning my shoulders more on the heel side carve is spot on. Maybe some mild yoga would help haha! For sure. I think I need to just roam alone and practice 2 turns at a time and reflect. First day was like pedal to the metal pure stoke.

Appreciate your time on commenting!

Posted by: @7b808

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Turning my shoulders more on the heel side carve is spot on.

Yeah not just the shoulders (though they kinda lead), but the pelvis.  Instead of sticking your butt out like you're sitting down, you want to bring the back hand around to the front knee, open your hips (forward), and then drop your hip more sideways.

I'm stoked to see the first footage of the C4 in action!  Good on you! 

I've been on my Freecarver 6000 and Stranda Shorty... not sure my ankles would be up for the C4 yet.  I optimistically had my pow board out on saturday (there really wasn't much pow) and that width was certainly a workout for my ankles!

@superfelix thanks for the comments! Yes, I recall James' video on hand/knee placement. Spot on. I feel and look awkward heel side no doubt. I have to focus on that. I'm also NOT "holding the beer tray" correctly in this video. That was a revolutionary discovery for me last season. It brings everything in alignment and I dropped the ball both toe and heel side in this clip. Extending that theory with the hand/knee placement is a great reminder. Thanks again.

And yes, my toe side shoulder placement is stooped over reaching for the dollar a bit. I've been working on that all last season, and the "holding the beer tray" idea remedies my natural tendency to pick up the dollar. I think I had my brain half on during this run. Even my friend Travis said it was too bad he didn't shoot my runs earlier. This recording was a last minute "idea" of his.. and I'm like... ok sure, thanks! It shows my true tendencies with half my mind engaged I guess.

Thanks for the focal points for next time out! I really appreciate it.

Hope to see you guys at MCC in February.

@board-doctor great points, thanks man! I'm going to try redeem myself this weekend 🙂

i finally had a chance to digest the feedback @wild-cherry so helpfully provided in that video. my main takeaways are:

1. add a bunch of forward lean. with the flows, i always felt like forward lean squeezes the cuff of the boot in a way that i never felt from previous bindings. i guess i will learn to love this.
2. get my weight onto my front foot at the beginning and through the middle of the turn.
3. get my shoulders moving “ahead” of my board and body as i start a turn.

i’ve been practicing items 2 and 3 this week and it’s absolutely making a difference. still haven’t tried out the c4 though i’m not really sure what i’m waiting for 🙂

This one got threadjacked!!!  Where's the moderator around here???

@7b808 Keep that back knee pointed more toward the nose on heelside, and while you're at it bring your hips and shoulders in that direction too.  Practice the heelside J-Turn also, you're pivoting the board into your heelsides.

@parkcityguy "Haven't tried the C4"???  You must have a lot of discipline...  What are your waiting for?

Posted by: @emilecantin

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(I know, it's a Knapton video on Carver's Connection, heresy! but it caught my eye as I was about to go look for some footage of James)

The blood feud is over, posi-posi won and duck stances have been banished from the corduroy kingdom.  Kidding of course.

For real though, why does everyone think I'm so anti-duck or anti-Knapton?  Ryan is a personal friend who I respect very much.  I've never said anything bad about him anywhere online (at least nothing that he didn't say publicly first) and I've never trashed duck stance carving either (though I have said that heelsides are much more difficult).

I get nasty YouTube comments sometimes stemming from this misperception.  A few months ago someone said something like "Ignore this kook, he thinks Ryan Knapton can't carve".  Ridiculous.  

Let's get past this division and unite all carvers!  The track speaks the truth, not the stance.  Mike Olsen is an impressive rider, props to him and thanks to @emilecantin for posting that vid.

@wild-cherry It was mostly a joke, I know you guys are friendly! Here's the proof for anyone wondering:

I think the blood feud is mostly between your respective fanbases, though. As a fan of both, this above video puts your respective advices / technique recommendations (yours and Knapton's) in perspective.

I am planning a video on body position and technique modifications for duck stance carving, but first I have to figure them out!

@7b808 I've ridden a couple times after re-watching James' video (the secrets of snowboard carving), and I think I came up with something that might help you: on heelsides, I used to think about getting my butt lower to try and get more angulation. This only got me into a bad position, bent at the hip, basically in the "potty" position.

After watching the video, I now try to think about getting my front hip lower, in a sideways direction, basically like a skier. This massively improved the grip I have on heelside turns; I'm pretty sure I end up in a more correct position but I don't have any footage to confirm this.

Hope this helps!

Posted by: @emilecantin

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I now try to think about getting my front hip lower, in a sideways direction, basically like a skier.

What does this mean exactly?  Expand?

@wild-cherry The move you're doing here:

You're talking about the knees, but thinking about the hip really helps me. I think my main issue on heel turns was that I was turning my shouders (I was touching the front knee with the back hand and more), but not my hips.

Posted by: @emilecantin

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(I was touching the front knee with the back hand and more), but not my hips.

Of course!  This is what I was just explaining to Evelyn while we were filming this video.

The hand to knee is only a cue, the hips is definitely where the motion initiates.

Thanks for clarifying.

@emilecantin yes indeed great advise! Since posting that video we've had more powder days than carving days (not a problem!). The few times I've ridden the C4 since, I've been focusing on just that. Getting off the potty squat! In the past with my Knapton Twin (152cm) I've had a hard time relying on my heelside edge. With the JJA I can rely on it MUCH more without fear of cracking my tailbone.

The advise about how to make cleaner toe to heelside transitions has been a focal point, coupled with what you're advising seems to be making a big difference. Feels way more natural and it lets the board do the work instead of me. Yesterday after a powder session I hit the semi chopped bunny hill w/ the C4 and got 6 runs in, in the last hour. Practice makes adequate or better I hope 🙂 Feeling more comfortable lately. Thanks to all for the advise!

@7b808 Where have you been riding?  Schweitzer Mountain?  They have a great bunny chair!

Keep working on those transitions and on "steering with your dick"!  Send more video.