How to Snowboard 101: Toeside Sideslipping

Lesson 7/12
Sideslipping is a method by which you can control your descent while snowboarding. It is a fairly advanced technique, but one that you must know in order to safely and effectively traverse the slopes. Make sure you practice toeside sideslipping on your snowboard first! It involves making use of the toeside edge of the board to control the speed of your descent, even to the point where you can come to a complete stop if you want. Knowing how to sideslip can also really help you learn how to turn, which is something else that you will have to learn before really being able to hit the advanced level slopes.

Step 1
To begin learning to sideslip on your toeside, find a moderate slope to start out on. Both of your feet should be attached to your board as well. To get started, face uphill with your board stretched out across the fall line. You should bend your legs at the knees until they are touching the ground, and make sure to keep your balance!

Step 2
While you are on your knees, start by digging your toe edge deeper into the snow. By doing this, you will achieve a firmer hold on your position from which to continue. You should also plant your hands into the snow.

Step 3
Move your hands in toward your body, and slowly rise to a standing position. Holding your hands to your sides, try to balance yourself as you lift you knees from the ground. Try to stand up, but make sure to keep your board on it’s toe edge, or you will go flying down the slope!

Step 4
Once you have managed to stand up, it is time to learn how to control your descent using the toeside edge of your board. As you noticed earlier, enough of a toeside angle will keep you from moving. As you decrease this angle, your weight will distribute more evenly, and then your board will start moving. To gain more speed, lessen the angle. To slow down, increase the angle again.

Step 5
Practice this move enough to know exactly what your edge angle is all the time without having to watch your board. This is called edge awareness, and it is very important to successful snowboarding. You can come to a complete stop using the toe slide method by reversing the steps above, but remember that practice makes perfect, and that you should really work to perfect this method before taking on any serious slopes.

Related posts:

1. How to Snowboard 101: Toeside Traversing
2. How to Snowboard 101: Heelside Sideslipping
3. How to Snowboard 101: Falling Leaf Technique
4. How to Snowboard 101: Switching Edges
5. How to Snowboard 101: Moving Up a Slope