Tight Turns

[vista3722]

I've been riding for awhile now, but I'm really starting to get into Speedboarding. The steeper hills Im going down, the more I feel the need to use my (homemade) sliding gloves to turn. However, when I go into the tight turning position+extending my hand out to slide, I find my uphill foot in an awkard position. Should it be flat facing one direction, facing downhill? Maybe I phrasing this wrong, anyhelp would be great.

[skatardude10]

I've been riding for awhile now, but I'm really starting to get into Speedboarding. The steeper hills Im going down, the more I feel the need to use my (homemade) sliding gloves to turn. However, when I go into the tight turning position+extending my hand out to slide, I find my uphill foot in an awkard position. Should it be flat facing one direction, facing downhill? Maybe I phrasing this wrong, anyhelp would be great.

Naw, it's fine if it feels good. Lots of guys have their rear foot in a very awkward position.

About taking very tight turns with your hand extended, that works and feels good usually, but you can take tighter turns faster if you don't extend your hands. Next time you try tight turns, try to keep your hand close to your body as apposed to extended, because the more you extend it, the more you slide.

This picture is a good example... Look at how alex's (in the front) hand is extended more. This caused him to drift just a tad more, he ended up crashing. The other rider kept his hand closer to his board giving him much more grip. He entered the turn faster and gripped the inside no problem. It really does work! P.S.... Alex is a great rider, I think he just took a nasty line. Notice the awkward foot placement also!

[Rabid Skunk]

Naw, it's fine if it feels good. Lots of guys have their rear foot in a very awkward position.

About taking very tight turns with your hand extended, that works and feels good usually, but you can take tighter turns faster if you don't extend your hands. Next time you try tight turns, try to keep your hand close to your body as apposed to extended, because the more you extend it, the more you slide.

This picture is a good example... Look at how alex's (in the front) hand is extended more. This caused him to drift just a tad more, he ended up crashing. The other rider kept his hand closer to his board giving him much more grip. He entered the turn faster and gripped the inside no problem. It really does work! P.S.... Alex is a great rider, I think he just took a nasty line. Notice the awkward foot placement also!

Oh shut the #### up, I didn't drift at all, I just wasn't able to turn enough to get out of there thanks to SOMEONE. Bah, you know what happened on the practice run that you passed me in the corner. It would have been a good line if I did it right, I started way too far inside.

[confusious]

that is a bitch of a corner to take and all of us were diving in too early...........

as to the slide glove thing, i usually have my hand farther out than you dane, and i dont slide too much, ive found that with me, that if i pull on my board hand more it makes me slide(unweights the outside wheels) but if i put more weight on my slide hand for balance, and dont pull hard on the board, it grips better(grab the board just for a little stability)

try it, and the more you practice the more comfortable youll get

[Rabid Skunk]

Yeah, that's why I tried an outside line in that picture.

[Longbord1]

its not about how far out your hand is but about how much weight is on that hand.

[skatardude10]

Oh shut the #### up, I didn't drift at all, I just wasn't able to turn enough to get out of there thanks to SOMEONE. Bah, you know what happened on the practice run that you passed me in the corner. It would have been a good line if I did it right, I started way too far inside.

lol, I know, I was just messing around with you.

[skatardude10]

that is a bitch of a corner to take and all of us were diving in too early...........

as to the slide glove thing, i usually have my hand farther out than you dane, and i dont slide too much, ive found that with me, that if i pull on my board hand more it makes me slide(unweights the outside wheels) but if i put more weight on my slide hand for balance, and dont pull hard on the board, it grips better(grab the board just for a little stability)

try it, and the more you practice the more comfortable youll get

I know what you mean... It's sketchy taking a turn not grabbing your board. Seems like the more you pull on your board hand, the more you want to weight your extended hand... and like longboard1 said, the more you weight that hand, the more you slide... and generally the farther you extend your hand, naturally the more it's weighted... all that stuff causes you to slide. The closer your hand is to your board, the less inclined you are to add aditional weight to it... which helps with grip alot. Taylor smith (tsmith) came to the same conclusion.

[SteveC]

its not about how far out your hand is but about how much weight is on that hand.

True. every gram on your hand is not on your wheels, making it more likely you'll slide.
sometimes you want this.
Mostly I try to have my hand 'just there' instead of actualy leaning on it.

[Rabid Skunk]

Yeah, I've been trying to take corners with no hand now. It's much more fun to drift like crazy unless you're racing though.

[tsmith25]

i kinda like to get way out as i come into the corner then pull my hand back to my board thus making it regrip. sorta drift a little to kill some speed then grip from the apex on possibly sooner.

Dane and i were talking about it a month ago when we were riding in clermont and both of us have noticed that when we drift we start the drift with our hand close to the board then slide it away from the board to start/hold the drift then pull it back towards the board to end it. this method make it really smooth. even on truck/wheels combos that are rather choppy you can still control it using this technique.

another thing is the lower you can get your body the more traction you will have because you dont have to lean as far to counter the forces pulling you out of the corner so more of your weight is directed down rather than sideways.

[skatardude10]

another thing is the lower you can get your body the more traction you will have because you dont have to lean as far to counter the forces pulling you out of the corner so more of your weight is directed down rather than sideways.

Thanks for putting that into words... I never knew why, but getting down as low as possible and leaning into a turn with your hands tucked behind your back is soo much fun, I just couldn't put 2 and 2 together as to why I would rarely slide in that position.