How to Snowboard 101: Falling Leaf Technique

Lesson 10/12
The falling leaf is a snowboarding technique that actually looks a lot like a leaf gently blowing back and forth in the breeze… which is why it is named the falling leaf! It is a lot like a traverse, but it is a bit different and gives the rider a bit more control of the snowboard. It is more advanced than traversing, but learning to traverse first will really help you to have less trouble when learning the falling leaf.

Step 1

To start with, get in the same position that you would to do a toeside traverse. This means that your toeside edge will be facing up the slope. Remember, just like in traversing, it is important to look where you are going, and to turn your body in that direction. Put your arms out so that you can keep your balance, and put more of your weight on your front foot.

Step 2

Come across the fall line of the slope with a gradual descent angle. Keep balanced on the toe edge of your snowboard. Here is where you get the “falling leaf” part… you will actually stop when you get to the far end of the fall line by bringing the board back to an angle horizontal to the fall line.

Step 3

Once you have briefly stopped, you will want to remain balanced on toe edge. Do not flip around, but rather turn your body back in the direction where you came from, and watching where you are going, put your weight on your back foot. This will send you back across the slope in the same manner that you came. The brief stop sort of makes it look like you are floating, which is why it is called the falling leaf.

Step 4

Continue this on down the slope, and you will have successfully performed your first falling leaf maneuver! You can perform this maneuver on your heelside as well by just following the same directions, but while using the appropriate side of the board. This is a very valuable skill to know while snowboarding as it can help you to navigate more challenging terrain.

Related posts:

1. How to Snowboard 101: Toeside Traversing
2. How to Snowboard 101: Linking Turns
3. How to Snowboard 101: Doing Garlands
4. How to Snowboard 101: Heelside Traversing
5. How to Snowboard 101: Toeside Sideslipping