Snowboard Heel-Side Turns
You'll feel safer and more stable on the heel edge, which gives you the confidence to control speed and commit to linked turns.
Using your heel edge to shape the board into a controlled turn while staying strong, stacked, and secure over the uphill side.
Watch & Learn
Key Moments
Create pressure through the heels while keeping the hips open enough to stay balanced.
Aim your eyes and chest where the board should finish instead of staring at the nose.
Let the turn complete across the hill so it naturally controls speed for you.
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like standing taller and stronger against the hill
- ✓The edge grips because your whole body is aligned behind it
- ✓A finished heel-side turn automatically calms the speed down
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Folding at the waist toward the snow
Stay stacked and let ankle and knee flex do more of the work.
Bailing out before the turn finishes
Hold the heel edge a little longer until the board points more across the hill.
Letting the back hand drag behind you
Keep both hands quiet and your chest more centered over the board.
Practice Drills
Heel-edge J turns: start in a traverse and finish one controlled heel-side turn to a stop, then repeat.
Hold-the-finish drill: count one extra second at the end of each heel-side turn before changing edges.
Slow linked heel exits: on easy terrain, prioritize clean heel-side finishes over making many turns quickly.
Prerequisites
Level Up Next
Your Progression
← Previous
Snowboard Falling Leaf
Level 2
Current
Snowboard Heel-Side Turns
Level 2
Next Up →
Snowboard Toe-Side Turns
Level 2