Do the Turtle Roll for Your Knees

Old folks are more likely to have bad knees.

Snowboarding enthusiasts like to say that riding is easier on the knees than skiing is.

But face it, there is one place where riding puts a strain on the knees that you won’t ever face on skis.

While skiing, you can often stand on the ground with two feet out of the skis, step into one binding, and then another. No strain on the knees.

If you fall, you might be able to repeat this process. If you don’t want to step out of the bindings–say, if the terrain is too step for simply stepping in–you can use the poles to help, diverting some of the weight from the knees and legs to the poles and upper body.

But what happens when you are riding, and fall on your behind? You could look downhill with your butt on your heels, and then stand up. Doing so puts a lot of strain on your core muscles, your legs, and your knees. Ouch!

There’s an alternative. Do the turtle roll. It’s hard to describe, and looks silly, but here’s what happens: instead of standing up, roll one shoulder (right if you are goofy, left if you are regular) into the hill, stick your feet into the air, and then land your feet back to the ground–with your toes now facing uphill.

It’s surprisingly easier to get up this way, and easier on the knees.