Snowboard Side Slipping
You'll gain a safety skill that makes steeper beginner terrain feel less all-or-nothing and sets up better edge control for every turn after it.
Controlling a gentle slide down the hill with one edge engaged so you can manage speed and edge pressure without committing to a full turn.
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Watch & Learn
Key Moments
Set the board across the slope and let a small release of edge start the slide.
Use tiny ankle changes to speed up or slow down instead of swinging the upper body.
Keep the body aligned over the edge that is holding you rather than sitting away from it.
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like easing a handbrake on and off
- ✓The board drifts while still feeling under control
- ✓Small ankle inputs create big changes in speed
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Dumping all the edge pressure at once
Release gradually until the board just starts to move.
Twisting the shoulders downhill
Keep the torso calm and use the ankles and knees to manage the slide.
Leaning uphill too hard
Stay balanced over the edge rather than trying to fight the hill from above it.
Practice Drills
Slip-start-stop: start a side slip for two board lengths, stop it, then repeat until the pressure changes feel precise.
Heel and toe alternation: practice the same side-slip control on both edges in the same session.
Feather ladder: aim for three speeds—very slow, medium, and faster—using only edge pressure adjustments.
The full guide
Reviewed October 2026
How to learn Snowboard Side Slipping
Snowboard sideslipping is a controlled slide down the hill with the board across the slope and one edge lightly engaged. You release the edge just enough to move, then add edge angle again to slow down or stop. It is a key safety skill before you commit to full turns.
What it is and when you'll use it
In a sideslip, your board stays mostly across the fall line while you drift downhill on either the heel edge or the toe edge. The board is not running flat across the hill. One edge is always the working edge, and your job is to feather how much that edge grips.
You'll use it when a slope feels too steep to turn confidently, when you need to reset, or when you want the edge control that falling leaf, garlands, and first linked turns depend on. It should feel adjustable, not like dumping the edge and hoping the board slows down later.
Before you start
You should be able to stand in an athletic stance, move around the beginner area, and stop on both edges. If stopping still feels unreliable, practice that first before adding longer sideslips.
Pick a wide, uncrowded beginner slope with soft groomed snow and a clear runout. Start on a very mild pitch, not on icy hardpack or a busy crossing. Strap in where you are visible, keep your arms bent if you fall, and look uphill before moving off again.
Use a centered stance with ankles, knees, and hips flexed. On the heel edge, keep your hips over your feet. On the toe edge, move your shins and hips gently toward the hill while your chest stays quiet instead of twisting downhill.
Step by step
Work at walking speed first. You are learning a pressure dial, so each release and stop should be small enough that you can change your mind at any moment.
- Set the board across the slope on the edge you want to practice, with the nose and tail level and your eyes looking across the hill.
- Start from a secure edge grip. Feel the edge holding you still before you try to slide, and keep your body stacked over the working edge.
- Soften your ankles and knees, then slightly reduce the edge angle. On the heel edge, ease the toes closer to the snow. On the toe edge, let the heels come a little closer.
- When the board begins to move, keep both feet quiet and let the whole board drift downhill. Avoid twisting the shoulders or kicking the tail around to start the slide.
- To slow down, tip back toward the working edge in a tiny amount. To move again, release that edge pressure by the same tiny amount.
- To stop, add edge angle gradually until the board grips and the downhill drift ends. Hold the stop, breathe, look uphill, and repeat.
- Practice both heel-edge and toe-edge sideslips. Stay on the easy slope until you can start, slow, and stop each one without panic.
Why it works
A snowboard edge grips when it is tipped into the snow. Lower the edge angle a little and the grip weakens, letting gravity pull the board into a sideways slide. Increase the angle again and friction slows you down.
The useful part is that edge angle is gradual. Beginners often hold too much edge, then suddenly flatten the board and accelerate. Small ankle and knee movements make the board more predictable because you can adjust speed before it surprises you.
Centered balance matters because the edge works best when pressure is spread through the board. If you lean far uphill, the edge can lock. If you sit away from the edge or twist your shoulders downhill, the board may skid unevenly and feel harder to stop.
How to practice it
Start with release-and-stop drills. From a stopped position, release just enough to slide one or two board lengths, then add edge until you stop. Pause so the stop remains part of the skill.
Next, choose three speeds: very slow, medium, and a little faster. Use only edge pressure to move between them, not arm swings or shoulder rotation. If the faster speed feels rushed, go back to shorter slides on easier terrain.
Then build accuracy. Pick two safe markers and sideslip from one to the other, stopping at the lower marker. Practice heel edge and toe edge in the same session so one side does not become your only escape option.
Once the straight sideslip is dependable, let the nose drift slightly each way to begin a falling leaf pattern. Keep the same rule: stop and speed control come before longer traverses or linked turns.
Common questions
Is snowboard sideslipping the same as falling leaf?
No. A straight sideslip moves mostly downhill with the board across the slope. Falling leaf adds a gentle nose-first drift each way while staying on the same edge. Learn the straight sideslip first because it teaches the stop and edge release that falling leaf needs.
Should I learn heel-edge or toe-edge sideslipping first?
Many beginners find the heel edge less intimidating because they can see downhill more easily, but you need both edges. Practice the easier edge first if it helps, then spend deliberate time on the other edge before steeper terrain.
Why does my snowboard suddenly accelerate during a sideslip?
You are probably releasing too much edge at once or letting the board get too flat for the pitch. Return to easier terrain, start from a strong stop, and make smaller ankle movements so the edge releases gradually instead of all at once.
Why do I keep catching an edge while sideslipping?
A catch often comes from letting the downhill edge touch the snow or twisting the board so one end drops faster than the other. Keep the board across the slope, stay balanced over the working edge, and avoid riding a flat base while pointed across the hill.
Prerequisites
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Your Progression
← Previous
Snowboard Flat-Base Awareness
Level 1
Current
Snowboard Side Slipping
Level 2
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Snowboard Falling Leaf
Level 2