Let’s Talk Turning… Tavo Style
Riding big mountain faces is nothing like turning on predictably smooth groomers. Freeriding big mountains takes it to another level where the turning needs to be effective, if not efficient. The mountains are safe until they are not and that’s why it’s so important to have your turning skills completely dialed before shredding these areas.
Watching freeride athletes cut loose in these situations had me asking, ‘how did they to pull that off?’ Without immediate answers it left me wondering and wanting more. So in a deep fog of disbelief I inquired, ‘what does it take to rip turns down these monster faces?’
In pursuit of my answer and grateful for the special opportunity this season, I turned my question over to pro snowboarder and junior freeride world champion Tavo Sadeg for his take. (For the record, I used to snowboard and loved it! However, chronic inner ear/balance issues have helped me finally decide that two boards are more suitable than one.)
Before we get to that, I thought it might be valuable to kick off the discussion with advice from another turning expert, international split/snowboarding guide Neil McNab. McNab sure knows a thing or two about turning a snowboard. He’s one of the world’s pre-eminent backcountry experts and has run his own international guide company for over 25 years.
In his article, “The Art of The Arc: Part 2” McNab explains the factors that go into turning a snowboard. (I would highly recommend it with even to those the least bit of interest.) I won’t bore you with the many details here but only summarize a few key points which we’ll bring to Tavo’s attention.
According to McNab, master these three essential elements and you’ll make a successful turn everytime.
The Physics of the Arc
The Technology of the Board
The Perfect Stance
McNab’s Fundamental Laws of Turning
“An object traveling forwards with speed changes direction most efficiently in an arc.”
This is a fundamental point in his discussion. Imagine trying to ride a bike downhill with no brakes. Instead of sharp or abrupt turns, you would need to make sweeping arcs and finishing each turn across the fall line in order to control your speed.
“The more you finish your turns, the more you’ll control your speed. This is the link between control of speed and the line you ride.” This advice becomes more important in big mountain areas where the snow and terrain are constantly changing. You really need to connect with the mountains and choose lines that help manage your speed.
“Not all arcs are the same size and shape.” Positioning, balance, edge pressure, board stiffness, and natural sidecut are all major components of successful turning.
In summary, “… the practiced snowboarder uses a combination of subtle foot movement to apply pressure along the length of the edge of the board along with a combination of precise edge tilt can accurately define, control and shape the arc.”
Then talking about turning on steeps in another interview with Teton Gravity Research McNab said, ““If you get it right, you’ll be able to ride a fast, fluid line that works with the terrain and allows you to get creative with the natural features of the mountain”
Next week we’ll share with you Tavo’s take on turning! Here’s a preview of the action, I hope you enjoy…
Tavo Demonstrating Some Applied Physics!
Tavo Sadeg bending the laws of physics on early morning groomers, Alpine Meadows Resort, December 2022.
We’d like to extend a special thanks to Tavo’s sponsors for their amazing support on this journey!