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.
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.
Prerequisites
Level Up Next
Your Progression
← Previous
Snowboard Flat-Base Awareness
Level 1
Current
Snowboard Side Slipping
Level 2
Next Up →
Snowboard Falling Leaf
Level 2