Linking S-Turns

1Goal

By the end of this lesson you can link skidded S-turns down a green run, heel-side to toe-side and back, without stalling out on a traverse or stopping between turns. You can hold a steady rhythm for at least 5 linked turns in a row.

2Why it matters

This is where separate turns become one continuous run. Linking turns forces you to manage weight transfer through a flat base at every edge change, since there is no flat traverse to rest on, and to hold a consistent rhythm turn to turn instead of resetting each time. Rushing through the fall line or stalling on a flat base is the single biggest reason beginners feel stuck between turns, so this lesson is entirely about smoothing that transition.

3How to do it

1. Finish the last turn into the next one. As one turn ends with the board across the fall line, do not stop, keep gliding into the edge change.
2. Flatten through a quick, active base. Extend your legs to bring the board briefly flat, weight centered over both feet, for well under a second.
3. Steer the front foot to the new edge. Immediately twist your front foot and knee toward the new edge, same as a J-turn, right through this flat moment.
4. Flex into the new turn. Bend your ankles and knees as the new edge engages, feeling pressure build the same way it did in your garlands.
5. Be patient through the fall line. Let the turn run its full shape as the board points downhill, resist the urge to rush or yank it around early.
6. Finish across the fall line, then repeat. Let the turn finish, and immediately start the next edge change, aiming for the same rhythm every time.
7. Count your turns out loud. Say each turn number as you finish it, one, two, three, to keep your pace even instead of speeding up out of nerves.

Coach's note: the edge change should feel boring. If it feels dramatic, an abrupt hop or a hard stall, you are doing too much with your upper body and not enough with your feet.

4Common mistakes

Stalling on a flat base. The board goes flat between turns and just sits there, losing rhythm, sometimes losing all speed. Fix: keep steering the front foot through the flat moment instead of pausing on it. Rushing the fall line. The rider yanks the board around as soon as it points downhill, cutting the turn short. Fix: stay patient, let the edge hold and the turn shape finish before you start the next edge change. Turns getting smaller or stuck. Each turn shrinks until the rider is basically traversing with a wobble. Fix: commit fully to crossing the fall line every turn, same as a single J-turn, do not shortcut it. Inconsistent rhythm. Some turns are fast, some are slow, with no clear pattern. Fix: count turns out loud or in your head to lock in an even tempo.

5Drill

Five-turn ladder. Terrain: green run, consistent gentle slope. Link exactly 5 S-turns without stopping. Focus on the edge change feeling smooth, not the turn shape being perfect. Move on to more turns once you can do this twice in a row without a stall. Rhythm count drill. Terrain: same green run. Say one, two, three, four, five out loud as you finish each turn, aiming for even spacing between numbers. This exposes rushed or stalled turns immediately, since the count will speed up or drag.

6Self-check

• I can link at least 5 turns without stopping or stalling on a flat base.
• My edge changes happen quickly, without a pause or a hop.
• I let each turn finish across the fall line before starting the next edge change.
• My turn-to-turn rhythm feels roughly even, not rushed then slow.
• I can do this on a green run without falling.

7Verify it on video

Film from the side or a 3/4 rear angle, far enough back to see the whole run and at least 5 linked turns in one clip. Make sure the edge changes and the shape of each turn are visible, not just the finish.