Snowboarding - Confused what stance to use

rahtkennades

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anybody can offer advice. I'm off snowboarding in a few weeks to Switzerland. I've done it twice before, once for 1 day in NZ about 6 years ago, and last year for a week in Austria.

What's confusing me is what stance would be correct for me to use. Last year I did the week (including 3 days of lessons) with my right foot forward. The time in NZ I spent the day (incl a half-day of lessons) with left foot forward.

I'm naturally completely left footed, I kick a football with my left foot and when I've tried surfing or windsurfing, I led with my left.

However last year when I started lessons, the instructor used the test of pushing me in the back, and I fell forward with the right foot.

I'm not sure what the best thing to do is. I read somewhere that if you slide on ice with left foot forward, this is the way to stand for snowboarding. I'm not sure if I should change now though.

Anybody got any advice?

Cheers

Des

Rhymenocerous

Try both regular (left foot forward) and goofy (right foot forward) and go with what feels best. Bindings are pretty easy to adjust, but if you're unsure ask someone else who knows what they're doing.

Yeah, there are ways to find out whether you're regs or goofs, but they're not 100%. I always suggest ride both, and go with that suits the best.

robinph

rahtkennades wrote: »

However last year when I started lessons, the instructor used the test of pushing me in the back, and I fell forward with the right foot.

Not a tray user myself but that is the method that I've seen used to determine which way round people go when they are unsure.

Overflow

robinph wrote: »

Not a tray user myself but that is the method that I've seen used to determine which way round people go when they are unsure.

Haha never heard of a snowboard referred to as a tray before

But i would go with whatever feels the most comfortable and natural to you, if both stances do then just pick one so you can have your board setup for that stance and stick with it.

paulharte

Overflow wrote: »

But i would go with whatever feels the most comfortable and natural to you, if both stances do then just pick one so you can have your board setup for that stance and stick with it.

^^^^^^^^
This is solid advice

When I was instructing last year I encountered lots of people who unsure if they were regular or goofy (reg=left foot forward, goofy=right). In all situations it is best to simply pick a direction and stick with it, as changing between the two will hamper your progress.

I've found that even if the 'tests' (there are many) say you are regular, you will be pretty much equally as good at learning to ride goofy, if you learn that way from the start.

So basically my advice is to go with whichever way you have done the most boarding and most importantly, stick with it.

rahtkennades

Thanks all. I think I’ll try to start one way (regular - left foot forward) and then if that’s not working, I can always switch. It feels like it will ‘feel’ more natural.

BTW the 'regular' v 'goofy' thing. Where did that come from? Is regular more common?

edmund_f

think it is a surfing reference..

Rev. Kitchen

rahtkennades wrote: »

Thanks all. I think I’ll try to start one way (regular - left foot forward) and then if that’s not working, I can always switch. It feels like it will ‘feel’ more natural.

BTW the 'regular' v 'goofy' thing. Where did that come from? Is regular more common?

Goofy is a skating / surfing term if you ride with your right foot foward you are goofy and right foot back your natural.

I kick a ball with my right and im natural ( right at the back ) i would think that since you kick with your left you are goofy so right foot foward. As your stronger leg is your control leg its stronger and easier to control the board ( try kick a ball with your right leg and see how much harder it is to control the ball. ) some people can use both feet.

rahtkennades

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

Goofy is a skating / surfing term if you ride with your right foot foward you are goofy and right foot back your natural.

I kick a ball with my right and im natural ( right at the back ) i would think that since you kick with your left you are goofy so right foot foward. As your stronger leg is your control leg its stronger and easier to control the board ( try kick a ball with your right leg and see how much harder it is to control the ball. ) some people can use both feet.

Hmmmm...maybe this is why I'm no good at surfing!!!

rahtkennades

Hi all,

sorry to reactivate this, but just to give a bit of feedback. I changed my stance this year from goofy to regular, and the difference was instant and amazing. Snowboarding suddenly felt 'natural'. I was able to turn without thinking about it, and I'd say I progressed vastly over the last time.

I guess my point is to anybody who's found it difficult the first time, maybe look at changing foot. It might make a difference!

Cheers for the advice all!

FruitLover

If you're planning to get into freestyle boarding then it doesn't matter, as you'll need to be able to ride both ways. I use a 10,-10 stance for easy switching when freestyling (changing to around 15,5 for deep powder freeriding)