About Down Un-weighting

Hello,
I read the reference guide,
It seems backward of up un-weighting
I mean... during the turn, we normally maximize the flexion at 3 and 9
However in down un-weighting, boarder maximizes the flexion at 6 and 12.
I am confused that is that a same flexion for Pressure Control skill
or down un-weighting flexion is different then up un-weighting flexion.
if it is different, what makes them different?
I know the guide said "during extension the body...total un-weighting at the top of the extension" in up un-weighting part and opposite for down un-weighting.
I really do not understand that "is the extension and flexion is same but in different timing
or has to feel totally different during those extension and flexion?

Thank you

you pretty much answered your question
the body can move in only so many ways
same skill different application
opposite timing
yup thats it

Think of sucking your legs up to unweight. When done statically up-unweighting is like jumping up from a crouch: down-unweighting is like pulling your feet quickly up towards your body.

Thinking tactically, try riding as if you have a really low ceiling over your head, extending out at 3 and 9, flexing as you do your edge change across the fall line, being careful not to hit your head on the ceiling.

Done right, you'll harness the rebound from your board and use that energy to assist with the unweighting.

THere are a lot of good tactics out there that make the concept clear; ask around!

That was a great description of that particular tactic & I can't wait to try it!!!

Can you start working on all the tactics listed in the back of the manual? I don't have my manual with me, but isn't there a big list of tactics for all 5 skills? I always wondered about them and why a description is so hard to find. Maybe I will look some up that I am interested in and post here.

Thanks
Allen

One of the changes this year in the Reference Guide is the addition of an explanation for all of the tactics that are presented on CASI courses. This will be included in the appendices of the Ref. Guide.

When on the topic of down-unweighting it is often left unmentioned that just because you can down-unweight, doesn't necessarily mean that you should.

I see the maneuver as one that is to be used in certain situations when I want to try to maintain more constant pressure control (bumps, pow or recovery from a "turn gone bad") and not a way of riding all the time.

Down-unweighting does not allow the average rider to create more pressure or get more performance from their board when trying to link turns. Performance can be best achieved through an expert use of up-unweighting with an aggressive compression at the appropriate time in a turn. Check out world cup alpine footage at http://www.fissnowboardworldcup.com/fis_snowboard/. I know not your typical riders, but look at the pros and try to add some of that style into your riding. A high edge angle, and then aggressive flexion before the fall-line to flex the board. Can't do that with down-weighting.

Of course there is no real right or wrong. . . just consequences eh?

thoughts?

Balnee's right. This is an expert level riding manuever requiring a good deal of resultant pressure and expert terrain pressure in oder to create the proper board rebound and timing required to be performed properly. Although a very efficient method of riding, it should be reserved for very specific situations and environments. With that being said I have a number of very effective drills both static and tactical that I have found very helpful in teaching the concept and "feeling" of a down unweighted turn.

Jeff you might be very interested in some of these tactics and want to get a look at them as possible suggested tactics in the afformentioned appendix section of our manual. If anyone would like for me to share my ideas in this forum simply post below or email me and I will explain them to you so you can try them with your own staff in session and gain the same level of success I have had with teaching down unweighted turns!

Hi

This forum is the perfect place for this discussion.
Please share and explain your tactics.

Alex Burr, Quebec-Atlantic TEC

Could take a while lol.

SOME USEFUL STATIC EXERCISES

LEG PUMPERS - Group splits into two... A members and B members. A members lie flat on their back with legs in bent position feet facing up in the air. B members place their hands on the bottoms of the feet of A members and make themselves as stiff as a board placing their body mass against the platforms created by A members feet. (each member of approximate equivilant height and weight for safety) Now when A member extends their legs they will get the sensation of how to APPLY pressure through extension and when they flex their legs back into a ball position with the added weight of their partner's mass against their feet they will feel the sensation of pressure ABSORPTION through flexion.

SWING - Certain resorts have training chairlifts which simply hang free on their own supports providing and excellent tool for beginners to be taught how to enter and exit the chair. If there is not one at your resort see if you can get permission to use the loading area of an non operating chairlift. Again splitting into groups of two A member sits in the chair, B member stands directly in front of them with A member's feet planted in their hands. While in a ball position A member is sitting on the swinging chair in its neutral position. When A member extends their legs they are fighting against the swinging chair desire to return back to its neutral position. This also simulates very well the "feeling" associated with application of pressure through extension and absorbsion though use of flexion.

THREESOME - Now into groups of A, B and C. Group member A stands in between members B and C. B is facing A while C is positioned directly behind them. This is kind of like the game of "trust" between group members. A member starts in a flexed ball position and balanced on either their toes or heels between members B and C. When they extend their legs with some inclination they are "caught" hand in hand by B. Then, in order to simulate a board "rebound" B then lightly PUSHES A back towards the start position into a flexed ball, at this point A quickly extends again towards the oposite direction (towards C) who "catches" them via hands on their shoulderblades and repeats the "rebound" initiave push back to the start/flexed position in the middle between.

MONKEY ON THE BACK - Split into groups A and B here. A's stand with their backs to B members standing directly behind them. I find its important to make certain members are equivilant height and weight with this exercise. B member places their hands atop of A's shoulders applying some slight pressure. A member now performs a series of "squat like" manuevers with flexion and extension. They should feel that flexion (with the added pressure applied by B's hands on their shoulders) is the easier of the two, while extension more difficult. Again the goal here is we are searching for the "sensation" of how pressure is easily absorbed through flexion and applied through extension.

Whew that was a mouthful. :P