snowboard... changing dominant foot

[tambo]

#1 son wants to swap feet from natural to goofy.. he is pretty much equal on both feet, but kicks a ball with left...
Is it easy for me to swap the bindings over to the other footed stance or do I need to take the board into the shop..
It's just that there's no shops open here yetm and there is enough snow for the boys to get a bit of practice in.
Thanks all

[ 02.06.2007, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: Paul Oberin ]

[dopestyle]

easy. just a matter of unscrewing then screwing back in. send me a private msg if you have any questions.

cool. let him ride both ways. it will be to his advantage. might i also suggest giving him a duck stance (negative angle on the back foot). try something like 15,-6... something subtle first and let him get adjusted.

[tambo]

Thanks dopestyle, will give it a go

[Fresheez]

Duck stance is hard on the back knee. Be wary of this.

[dopestyle]

rubbish.

its actually a more natural stance. do you walk around with one foot pointing outwards and one foot pointed straight?

the best thing for your knees is to ride both ways and work all your muscles instead of just one side.

[Fresheez]

That is why slalom riders are riding duck because there is so much more control over your carves???? Great for riding fakie. I found the advantages minimal.

Just my opinion and personal preferance. You keep those knee surgeons driving Mercs.

[dopestyle]

why are you bringing slalom riders into this? what does what stance they are using to carve have anything to do with the knee comment you made?

yes. slalom riders use huge positive angles for racing. yes that gives them power and precision in their turns. i agree. so what? that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

i only suggest duck stance to people that have progressed enough to warrant the stance. for those riders, duck stance is very beneficial and most people find it much more comfortable. not only for riding switch but you get better fore and aft pressure control... and comfort.

[SA]

Equal with both feet eh...make him put them side by side!

graemlins/outtahere.gif

[ 01.06.2007, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: SA ]

[dopestyle]

also the only reason i suggested a duck stance for his son... he is equal on both feet. let him ride both ways. the sooner he learns switch the better, and he already has a natural advantage. work it.

[Fresheez]

I brought slalom riders in as an example of what real carvers are using in regards to stance. If it was of any benefit to them they would be using it.... they are not. The knee comment was from personal experience. The discussion is about changing bindings over. Do you think suggesting duck stance to a kid from QLD warrants the stance. :D

As i said great for riding fakie if that's what floats your boat. Just my opinion and personal preferance. Each to their own.

[dopestyle]

slalom racing is a very small minority of snowboarding. get one of those clowns to go over a jump or hit a rail or ride switch with their stance. however any good snowboarder can carve great with a duck stance... and they can also carve switch. terje won the mt baker banked slalom switch.

[snowman]

Originally posted by dopestyle:
slalom racing is a very small minority of snowboarding. get one of those clowns to go over a jump or hit a rail or ride switch with their stance. however any good snowboarder can carve great with a duck stance... and they can also carve switch. terje won the mt baker banked slalom switch. I agree i cant ride with a o rear stance hurts my knee at negative 12 its sweet ive heard of a lot of people complain about 0 stance couple back makes all the difference..

[tambo]

This boy is just starting on a board, and is trying to figure which way he wants to go. Rides a skateboard goofy but a surfboard natural.
Love the advice.. I have no real idea what Duck is.. imagine that is where both feet point out a bit and are same level on the board?
He is a pretty good skier and rides world cup head skis, knows the snow reasonably well.
He will get this full season, but after that, prob back to a week a year till he can pay!!

[John Deere]

Originally posted by SA:
Equal with both feet eh...make him put them side by side!

graemlins/outtahere.gif http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/9963/img4101ur3.jpg

[tambo]

certainly will remain first love! Because I said so!

[dopestyle]

yeah duck stance is when both feet point out to some degree. having 0 on the back foot is what most beginners have as a setup. it is recommended for most entry level riders. but, your son is the exception as he has 2 dominant feet. he rides a skateboard goofy, a surfboard natural, and kicks a ball with his left foot. this is great! (and highly unusual). you will probably find he can and will ride both ways. encourage this. he will progress much faster and he will probably have more endurance to ride longer, as someone who can ride both ways will be able to rest sore muscles by switching it up. anyway, i think to make his setup more versitile for him, put a slight negative angle on his back foot. something like -6 degrees is quite minimal, not drastic at all, but the advantages are there. ask him how he likes it. as he rides both ways more, consider puting a bit more angle.

[tambo]

Thanks ds, I just swapped them over, and put 15 and 0... see how that goes next time there's snow. That's how it was set up, so figured that could be ok for the start. I'll let you know how it goes

[chris y]

duck him , most hire places put your bindings at +15 front and 0 rear , new burton binding setup instructions tell you to use +15 front and -3 rear until you work out what you like , i ride +18 front and -15 rear and have done for years with no problems but have shifted my stance to wider settings in that time .

[tambo]

bring on the snow so we can try it all out.

[dopestyle]

thats it. the best thing to do is try different stances to see what works and what he likes.
15,0 is the standard starting point.

[Caboose]

Originally posted by Fresheez:
Duck stance is hard on the back knee. Be wary of this. never had this problem, but my feet are naturally "ducked" ;)

[SA]

oh...you said ducked... graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Tobi]

Tambo - I'd go 15 & -3.

If you have any trouble with changing the settings on the bindings head up to Freezer across from Hotham Central. The boys there will fix you up!

If they aren't open yet, head into the Genny and one of the guys behind the bar will be able to help you out also. A great way to meet some of the locals on the hill also. smile.gif

[John Deere]

Originally posted by Caboose:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Fresheez:
Duck stance is hard on the back knee. Be wary of this. never had this problem, but my feet are naturally "ducked" ;) </font>[/QUOTE]You've gotta go fast to put pressure on your knees!

graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Princess]

I've changed my stance to duck this year. Started out riding duck (+15, -3) then for some reason went to +15, +6 and have ridden like that for 3-4yrs. I've now changed the rear foot from +6 to -6 and it feels alright while standing in the loungeroom at home!!

Will be carrying a tool with me when riding the first day this season just incase I want to change back.

[John Deere]

Originally posted by Princess:
Will be carrying a tool with me when riding the first day this season just incase I want to change back. Your carrying Caboose! Sweet, that'll give us a rest for a while :D

[Tobi]

graemlins/big_laugh.gif

But Tambo getting your little one a board tool is a great idea. He can then mess with his settings himself on the mountain and change the settings as he feels.

[Caboose]

Originally posted by John Deere:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Princess:
Will be carrying a tool with me when riding the first day this season just incase I want to change back. Your carrying Caboose! Sweet, that'll give us a rest for a while :D </font>[/QUOTE]graemlins/cold.gif graemlins/cold.gif

[SA]

I hope Princess has been hitting the gym!

[Princess]

graemlins/big_laugh.gif Nice one JD!! However unless Caboose folds up small and compact in my pocket, then I'm afraid you have the wrong tool!!

[Caboose]

Originally posted by Princess:
graemlins/big_laugh.gif Nice one JD!! However unless Caboose folds up small and compact in my pocket, then I'm afraid you have the wrong tool!! nah only SA comes in the compact size ;) :D

[SA]

I'll ride with Princess...hey, how you doin'? ;)

[Silence]

tell him to get his feet a bit apart, say 30cm or so, jump and see the angles his feet land in..its more often than not more of a duck stance than enything else..re: setting bindings - there are certainly different levels of agressiveness, but i would definitely set a negative around 6-8 on the back foot - considering his ability to ride both ways..
One of the major barriers to progression on a board is the ability to ride equally natural and fakie..Setting a negative angle on the rear will certainly promote his all round progression..

[Definition56]

Some old school dominant foot tests -:

1. Get him to slide on a timber floor in socks - whatever foot he slides with in front mostly will be dominant.

2. Make him step down (or up)stairs one at a time starting with both feet level - whatever foot he predmoninantly steps up first should mirror the results from Test 1 above.

If none of the above is conclusive, then he is probably a freak (definitely not a bad thing!). As for the binding stance angles, just make small incremental changes at first in case there is potential for physiological impact from changing. Patience is the key word. It will be obvious to him what is most comfortable AND makes him feel like he is riding well.

PS Very jealous you are already up there.

[Tamsy]

I ride goofy, with +15 front foot and +6 back foot but i dont particularly like ( cos im cr@p at it) riding fakie. smile.gif

[jorgo]

Having +6 on your back foot wont do your switch any favours.

[jorgo]

Having said that Terje rides 21 +6 without too many probs.

[SDJ]

i set mine to about +18 on the front and about -15 on the back foot. (natural not that that matters) i found having my back foot squarer or in a + position actually put more pressure on my knees so hence why i changed.

my suggestion would be to send him up the mountain with a small screwdrive or snowboard tool so he can play around with the settings himself till he is comfortable