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Snowboarding Course - Garlands



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After learning how to perform the Falling Leaf, you are now ready to try doing Garlands. These are actually partial or half-turns in which changing edges is not necessary. They are called as such because the tracks that you will leave on the snow are similar to garlands that you see in Christmas trees.


STEP 1: You need a wide area for this exercise. Go to the top of the hill and position yourself across the Fall line. Start with a heelside position. Look towards the direction where you want to go.

STEP 2: When you're ready, decrease the edge angle of your Snowboard. Point your board down the Fall Line and then shift your weight forward by applying weight on your leading foot.

STEP 3: Begin a straight glide. Keep going until you pick up some speed. You will notice that you will gain speed as you point the tip of your board closer to the Fall line. Remember to look towards the direction where you want to go.

STEP 4: After gaining the desired speed, slow down by increasing the edge angle of the board and shifting your weight backward. Get ready to turn sideways to decrease your speed.

STEP 5: Move the tip of your board gradually across the Fall line. Take note that as you do this, you will be slowing down. Maintain your balance as you change the position of the board.

STEP 6: You will come to a complete stop when you turn your board uphill or if its position is already across the Fall line. Repeat the process until you are comfortable doing it on your heel edge. After that, try doing Garlands on your toeside.



To sum it up, these are the important things to keep in mind in doing Garlands: look towards the direction where you want to go, decrease the edge angle of your Snowboard and point the tip down the Fall Line, and turn uphill to slow down or stop. Once you get comfortable in doing Garlands, you will find that doing full turns will be a lot easier.


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Article Comments
Arielle
Monday 1st December 2008 at 10:03:58 AM  

Garlands are also called "J-Turns". I found that it''s defintitely important to learn this BEFORE you learn to link turns. My instructor told me to literally point in the direction you want to go with your full arm outstretched, and to pivot your shoulder too. Hope this helps!

silicone wristbands
Thursday 25th December 2008 at 9:15:49 PM  

Thanks this really helped a lot!

David
Sunday 8th March 2009 at 7:48:52 AM  

These tips are so helpful. I cant wait to go snowboarding next week!!!

Ian
Wednesday 18th March 2009 at 6:11:04 PM  

Pivoting ur upper body moves ur weight over ur board unintentionally and usually causes falling

jostage
Monday 15th February 2010 at 12:32:49 PM  

i will try this i have been trying linking right after mastering falling leaf and think this will help ... i will report back after trying it out

sore bum
Thursday 25th February 2010 at 8:01:30 AM  

Whatever you do, don''t use your arms extended to turn. I know, it''s easier, but completely wrong (and you look like a douche). Learn to turn with your feet and leading knee. That''s all it takes. Flailing your arms out just makes you unbalanced and you''re more prone to fall.

NR
Wednesday 3rd March 2010 at 8:55:47 AM  

Not sure if I agree there... as a beginner who just came down the mountain (beginner side) on my 2nd trip out, the key for me was using my arms to keep balance IN combination with my leading knee... the arms were more of a mental reminder to look where I was pointing and keep good posture...then the board did the work.

alex
Sunday 14th March 2010 at 12:21:43 PM  

just lerned yesterday now im goin down blues really helpful

Tom
Friday 23rd July 2010 at 8:13:46 PM  

Thanks, that was really helpful. I am going snowboarding next week. I will use all these tips. Thanks

Q
Sunday 24th October 2010 at 6:19:33 PM  

Arielle you are close with the J turn thing....but J turns are a completely separate exercise, and should be taught before side slipping... as this gives the student the ability to change direction, and it is useful to the student as the skills they learn when doing j turns are good in floating leaf and traversing...(in fact they are the fundamentals to making turns) after they are dialed in, it is then time for garlands, then c turns and then linked c turns.... presto your snowboarding!!!
PS, if you need to use your arms to get everything in place at the beginning, that is all good.... the point sore bum made is valid, but you have to start somewhere.... and enjoying snowboarding is the reason why we do it....
ride Hard, stay Safe and wear a Helmet
Q

Kieran
Saturday 27th November 2010 at 8:40:34 AM  

Great tips im 12 and im kind of a beginner these helped

sarah
Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 6:16:44 PM  

s turns? i think that was what i was taught this as

Robert
Sunday 13th February 2011 at 11:05:59 PM  

I took more than 20 times of snowboarding execises, and still can not make turks linked in a smooth way. I read this tip, and practice Garlands in 2 hours, than I can link turns.


For me, the fear to fall while changing edges stops me to make any progress in a long time. Garlands make me more confident. BTW, gentle slope, where speed is much slower, do add confidence for beginners.

Great tips! Simple but effective. Thanks you a lot.

snowboard sizing
Sunday 17th April 2011 at 2:32:02 AM  

Great tutorial, I will try this on my next snowboard day, thanks!


 
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Lessons Overview

Below you can find all the lessons of our Learn Snowboarding Online Course:

1: Snowboard Basics
2: Carrying your Snowboard
3: Skating
4: Switching Edges
5: Gliding
6: Moving Up the Slope
7: Sideslipping (Heelside)
8: Sideslipping (Toeside)
9: Traversing (Heelside)
10: Traversing (Toeside)
11: Falling Leaf
12: Garlands
13: Linking Turns

Done? Try our Snowboarding Tricks section.

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