Riding Switch: Remember Old Lessons

It can be unnerving to ride switch. After all, you’ve got a rhythm down, and then when you go switch, everything’s changed. But some of the rules from “normal” riding apply. Among them, turn first, then edge.

If you try to turn without experiencing that moment of terror when the board is pointing straight downhill, you’ll probably have trouble making a turn. In short, you’re actually making things more difficult than they have to be.

As I struggled to make turns while practicing switch riding, I thought, “Why is it so hard to make this turn?”

True, my binding settings played a part. By riding switch, I ride with my back binding at a 20 degree angle, instead of 0 zero degree one that I’m used to.

But I knew there was more than that at work. It was as if I had to forcibly move the board by trying to lift my weight off the ground. It wasn’t going to work.

And then I remembered the need to turn before edging. I had a much easier time after that.

Riding forward, riding switch. It doesn’t matter. To make turns, point the board down the hill, and apply some heelside or toeside pressure, and trust the sidecut of your board to see the turn to completion.