Snowboard Basics: Switch Riding

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Snowboard Basics: Switch Riding
Written By: dougfagel

Riding switch (i.e. backwards, with your back foot forward) can be a lot of fun and very challenging at the same time. The ability to ride switch smoothly is one of the key skills that separates advanced snowboarders from aspiring intermediates. The problem, for many, is that they have picked up a few bad habits while learnign to ride normally (regular), which prevent them from making a smooth transition to switch riding. Even if you don't have this problem, making the change to riding with your "back" foot in front can be intimidating. So watch the video below and see how Sierra Snowboard Instructor Doug Fagel breaks down the key elements to mastering riding switch.

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Guests - 1
97 days 10 hours 53 minutes ago

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145 days 14 hours 17 minutes ago

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145 days 14 hours 17 minutes ago

Guests - Wonderfully composed post, cheers! <a href=http://www.bathwatches.com title=replica watches>replica watches</a>
167 days 9 hours 29 minutes ago

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277 days 11 hours 25 minutes ago

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RohanJ1 - haha when he does it seems so fluid thanks this really helped
472 days 20 hours 32 minutes ago

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489 days 22 minutes ago

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489 days 22 minutes ago

hako - Thanks to Doug, it's very helpful video for me as beginner in snowboard (4 days) to practice at the same time snowboard turn and carving.
489 days 3 hours 44 minutes ago

Guests -
515 days 1 hours 57 minutes ago

usmostwanted - thanks. waiting for new videos
558 days 14 hours 8 minutes ago

rymar24 - wow thx when i tried switch i faceplanted and never tried again.. i guess ill give it another try :)
572 days 19 hours 17 minutes ago

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694 days 6 hours 25 minutes ago

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694 days 6 hours 33 minutes ago

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705 days 52 minutes ago

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705 days 52 minutes ago

krooroo21 - when i was taught to snowboard, i only rode switch and everyone said it was weird of me. it's good to know that it's not too strange.
760 days 22 hours 27 minutes ago

dougfagel - When riding switch make sure to let your foot rest flat in the boot to promote a more balanced stance. Standing on the inside or the outside of the foot too much can through of your balance and ability to manipulate the board.
809 days 2 hours 17 minutes ago

VSteeeze154 - These videos are super helpful! He makes it all look sooo easy...
820 days 1 hours 41 minutes ago

ddoneleven - Can't wait to try this next time I go boarding.
825 days 21 hours 57 minutes ago

ncearle - Just one thing: that front flip at the beginning is sweet you should make a how to video for that.
838 days 3 hours 18 minutes ago

jchu - i like i like
838 days 20 hours 34 minutes ago

warped - Good start, but what's after that?
842 days 20 hours 4 minutes ago

BBOYLE - love your videos! so helpful! ^_^
848 days 6 hours 43 minutes ago

ackattack - good tips, cheers for the help
854 days 2 hours 14 minutes ago

thundersnap4 - thanks,,good help!
877 days 5 hours 50 minutes ago

LAXkeeper - thanks doug
892 days 6 hours 12 minutes ago

PacmanNathan - Thanks, this video really helped desipher what was wrong with my switch riding. Thanks brah
896 days 21 hours 56 minutes ago

Luke4 - The one thing i have to work on, not too good at tricking from switch.
900 days 29 minutes ago

Omitson - Great easy to access video, once again. Loving it.
905 days 11 hours 32 minutes ago

snowmass - word dude this helped a little. all i gotta do is practice more then i will be pro i wish
912 days 8 hours 58 minutes ago

supersandman82 - wow thanks this will really help me this season
937 days 7 hours 28 minutes ago

eyeung003 - I keep leaning on my back foot, is this just a matter of practice?
937 days 13 hours 54 minutes ago

truejello - simple advice is always the best, cant wait to try this!
939 days 20 hours 25 minutes ago

mmm911 - thanks vids.
943 days 11 hours 12 minutes ago

mcmicx - very useful when you get used to it. Its a great advantage when you get comfortable.
953 days 8 hours 16 minutes ago

Eohara - Great video and keep them coming! Thanks
1006 days 9 hours 1 minutes ago

dougfagel - One of my favorite thing to do is Backside 180 to Switch Backside 180!
1042 days 22 hours 43 minutes ago

boydy5 - this helped me when i tryed riding switch
1044 days 13 hours 13 minutes ago

shea864 - Nice vids. I'll keep this in mind next season!
1053 days 9 hours 31 minutes ago

scboarder43 - looking forward to learning switch back to back spins
1057 days 1 hours 15 minutes ago

skooter - i have a 156 and a 152 board; which would be easier to learn switch on?
1066 days 6 hours 53 minutes ago

Iggypop - switching it up this winter baby!!!
1079 days 13 hours 38 minutes ago

kurill777 - switch is sooo hard, but very need for best skill
1119 days 15 hours 32 minutes ago

djuneek1 - To get the feel of having a different foot in front... i rode the flat i.e. cat paths it helped me a lot at first...
1121 days 17 hours 12 minutes ago

dougfagel - The falling leaf is good to practice a technique. Try working into garlands so that you can work in and out of the fall line. As you get more comfortable in the fall line, in a good stance, riding switch you can really start to step up the performance of the board and the access to steeper terrain in your switch stance.
1125 days 3 hours 21 minutes ago

SnowBanker - Practicing falling leaf heel side and toe side is an easy way to start (sliding back and forth and down the mountain going forwards and then switch). What really worked for me was doing flat spin 180s, and getting comfortable with doing turns while riding switch---still working on it!
1129 days 7 hours 7 minutes ago

Forge - switch is sooo hard, must learn to snowboard better after this
1135 days 17 hours 15 minutes ago

claudiarc - ya! me too!
1137 days 12 hours 13 minutes ago

Dirtydragon - Sickk!! time to ride switch baby!
1142 days 4 hours 11 minutes ago


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