How to Boardslide: Mastering the Fundamental Snowboarding Trick

Snowboarding is an exciting and fun sport that requires a lot of practice and dedication to master. Among the essential snowboarding tricks, the boardslide is one of the most important and fundamental tricks that every snowboarder must learn. The boardslide is a trick where the snowboarder slides sideways along a rail or box, using the underside of the board.

This article will guide you through the step-by-step process of performing a boardslide, including the basics, preparation, execution, troubleshooting, safety tips, and practicing.

We will also cover some advanced boardslide variations that you can learn and add to your snowboarding skills.

Understanding the Basics of a Boardslide

Here’s a table summarizing the key points and tips for performing a basic boardslide:

Key Point/Tips	Details
Approach	Approach the rail or box with a relaxed, balanced stance.
Speed	Generate enough speed to make it onto the rail or box.
Ollie	Ollie onto the rail or box with your weight centered over the board and your shoulders parallel to the rail or box.
Board Angle	Keep the board perpendicular to the rail or box.
Edge Pressure	Apply pressure to the edge of the board to maintain control and balance.
Impact Absorption	Absorb the impact with your knees.
Exit	To exit, shift your weight back onto the board and ollie off.
Troubleshooting Tips	Apply more pressure to the edge of the board, absorb the impact with your knees, and maintain control and balance.
Safety	Wear protective gear at all times.

It’s important to note that the speed and approach required for a boardslide can vary depending on the individual rider’s skill level and the specific rail or box being used.

Additionally, the amount of pressure needed to maintain control and balance may also vary depending on the conditions. Therefore, it’s important to practice and adjust accordingly.

What is a Boardslide?

A boardslide is a snowboarding trick that involves sliding sideways along a rail or box using the underside of the board.

This trick requires proper technique, balance, and control to execute. It is a fundamental trick that every snowboarder must learn, as it is the basis for many other tricks.

Types of Boardslide

There are two main types of boardslide – frontside and backside.

• Frontside boardslide: In a frontside boardslide, the snowboarder approaches the rail or box facing forward and slides with the chest facing the rail or box.
• Backside boardslide: In a backside boardslide, the snowboarder approaches the rail or box with their back facing the rail or box and slides with the chest facing away from the rail or box.

Benefits of Boardslide

Learning how to boardslide can provide several benefits for snowboarders, including:

• Enhancing overall snowboarding skills
• Developing balance and control
• Improving confidence on the snowboard
• Opening up opportunities for more advanced snowboarding tricks

Preparing for the Boardslide

Performing a boardslide requires some physical and mental preparation. In this section, we will provide some tips on how to prepare your body and mind for this trick.

Snowboarding Gear

Before you start practicing the boardslide, you must have the right snowboarding gear. This includes:

• Snowboard: Choose a snowboard that fits your size and skill level. A shorter board is easier to maneuver, while a longer board provides more stability and speed.
• Bindings: Bindings secure your feet to the board and should be adjusted according to your foot size and riding style.
• Boots: Snowboarding boots provide support and control while riding. They should fit comfortably and snugly.
• Protective gear: Always wear a helmet, wrist guards, and knee pads to protect yourself from injuries.

Warm-up Exercises

Warming up before snowboarding is essential to prevent injuries and prepare your body for the boardslide. Some warm-up exercises you can do before snowboarding include:

• Stretching: Stretch your legs, back, and arms to loosen up your muscles.
• Cardio exercises: Do some light jogging or jumping jacks to increase your heart rate and blood flow.
• Balance exercises: Practice standing on one foot or balancing on an exercise ball to improve your balance.

Mental Preparation

Mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to snowboarding. Visualizing yourself performing the boardslide correctly can help you feel more confident and prepared.

Additionally, maintaining a positive attitude and mindset can improve your overall snowboarding experience.

Learning the Boardslide

Now that you are prepared, it’s time to learn the boardslide. In this section, we will discuss the step-by-step process of performing a boardslide, including the proper stance, approach, and execution.

Proper Stance

The proper stance is essential to performing a boardslide correctly. Follow these steps to get into the right stance:

1. Approach the rail or box in a relaxed and balanced riding stance, with your knees slightly bent and your weight evenly distributed on the board.
2. Align your board with the rail or box, with the tail of the board slightly angled towards the rail or box.
3. Center your body over the board and keep your shoulders parallel to the rail or box.
4. Position your feet at shoulder-width apart, with your front foot angled towards the nose of the board and your back foot angled towards the tail of the board.

Approach

The approach is the most critical part of the boardslide, as it sets the stage for a successful trick. Follow these steps to approach the rail or box correctly:

1. Keep your eyes focused on the rail or box, and visualize yourself sliding along it.
2. Generate speed by riding towards the rail or box in a straight line, using your arms to pump your body and board.
3. As you get closer to the rail or box, shift your weight slightly towards your front foot to initiate the slide.
4. Keep your shoulders and hips square with the rail or box, and avoid leaning too far back or forward.

Execution

Now it’s time to execute the boardslide. Follow these steps to perform the trick:

1. As you reach the rail or box, bend your knees and ollie (jump) onto the rail or box, using the tail of the board to lift yourself onto it.
2. Keep your board perpendicular to the rail or box and lock your board onto it by applying pressure on the edge of the board that is touching the rail or box.
3. Slide along the rail or box, keeping your shoulders and hips square with it.
4. Keep your weight centered over the board and your eyes focused on the end of the rail or box.
5. When you reach the end of the rail or box, use your knees to absorb the impact and ride away smoothly.

Troubleshooting Tips

Even with proper preparation and technique, you may encounter some common issues when learning the boardslide. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you overcome them:

• Slipping off the rail or box: This may happen if you don’t apply enough pressure to the edge of the board that is touching the rail or box. To fix this, focus on keeping your weight centered over the board and applying more pressure on the edge of the board.
• Landing too hard or losing balance: This may happen if you don’t absorb the impact with your knees or lean too far back or forward. To fix this, focus on keeping your weight centered over the board, and practice landing softly by bending your knees.
• Approaching the rail or box too fast or too slow: This may happen if you don’t generate enough speed or lose control. To fix this, practice generating speed before approaching the rail or box and focus on maintaining control and balance.

Safety Tips

Snowboarding can be a risky sport, and it’s essential to prioritize your safety when learning the boardslide. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Always wear protective gear, including a helmet, wrist guards, and knee pads.
• Practice the boardslide on a beginner-level rail or box and progress to more advanced ones gradually.
• Avoid attempting the boardslide in icy or low-visibility conditions.
• Always ride within your skill level and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Advanced Boardslide Variations

Once you have mastered the basic boardslide, you can start exploring some advanced variations to add to your snowboarding skills. Here are some examples:

1. 270 Boardslide: In a 270 boardslide, the snowboarder rotates 270 degrees in the opposite direction after sliding along the rail or box.
2. Boardslide to 270out: In a boardslide to 270 out, the snowboarder adds a 270-degree spin at the end of the boardslide to come out switch (riding with the opposite foot forward).
3. Frontside Boardslide: In a frontside boardslide, the snowboarder approaches the rail or box with their back to the direction of travel and slides along the rail or box with the front of the body facing the direction of travel.
4. Backside Boardslide: In a backside boardslide, the snowboarder approaches the rail or box facing the direction of travel and slides along the rail or box with their back facing the direction of travel.

Key Takeaways

• The boardslide is a fundamental snowboarding trick that involves sliding along a rail or box with the snowboard perpendicular to it.
• To perform a boardslide, you need to approach the rail or box in a relaxed and balanced stance, generate speed, and ollie onto the rail or box while keeping your weight centered over the board and your shoulders parallel to the rail or box.
• Troubleshooting tips for common issues include applying more pressure to the edge of the board, absorbing the impact with your knees, and maintaining control and balance.
• Safety should always be a top priority when learning the boardslide, and protective gear should be worn at all times.
• Advanced boardslide variations include the 270 boardslide, boardslide to 270 out, frontside boardslide, and backside boardslide.