First runs on Snowlord
Step-by-step guide

Objective: confidently ride a green or blue slope, find balance, control speed, and link your first turns on Snowlord. Half a day to one full day depending on your comfort level.

Before you start: equipment & posture

Don’t be afraid of the initial feeling of imbalance when standing still. Snowlord is like riding a bike. Even the best riders are not comfortable when stopped. There’s a strange story of force vectors, sine and cosine that makes a cyclist very stable on 1 cm-wide tires at 10 km/h, but not stable at all when stationary. Snowlord is the same — without the wheels.

• Pole use: Use both poles during your first sessions. They help with balance, starts, and provide reassurance on flat areas.
• Weight forward: Keep about 60–70% of your weight on the front of the board. Skwal is ridden with an engaged front foot, not in a back-seat position.
• Shoulders: Always keep your shoulders facing downhill. They guide your axis and ensure trajectory control.
• Alignment: Gradually bring the rear knee toward the front knee to stay aligned and find stability.

1. First snow contact (gentle / flat area)

1. Straight starts: On nearly flat terrain, glide a few meters keeping your eyes looking far ahead and shoulders facing downhill.
2. Gentle braking: To slow down, skid the tail of the board using the rear foot. Apply light pressure to let the tail drift sideways — the movement comes from the foot.
3. Controlled stop: Repeat until you can stop smoothly without forcing your legs.

Tip: The front stays stable; the rear foot controls the slide.

2. Learning to skid the tail (top priority)

On a gentle slope (green run):

• Glide straight for a few meters, then use the rear foot to make the tail drift sideways.
• Keep your upper body facing downhill and stable.
• Return to neutral, then repeat. This movement teaches speed control without losing balance.
• Try the other side — harder, and a good core workout.

The secret: the rear foot controls drift, the front leads.

3. Progressively engaging the edge

Once skidding feels natural, move to edge engagement:

1. Weight forward: Load the front foot decisively and lean downhill. Snowlord requires clear upper-body commitment.
2. Shoulders downhill: They steer direction and prevent the board from “locking up.”
3. Inclination: Let the board tip onto its edge naturally. The turn happens through front pressure, without forcing.
4. Transition: For small turns, a simple leg movement engages the board to the other side. The board rebounds — not your body.
5. Don’t fight the board. Trust it.

Think “lead with the front” — the more you load the front, the smoother the ride.

4. Your first linked turns

• Look far ahead in the direction of the turn.
• Shoulders downhill at all times, even at turn exit.
• Initiation: Weight forward, rear knee coming toward the front to keep alignment.
• Rhythm: Alternate tail skidding to control speed, then edging to carve/turn.

6. Chairlifts & drag lifts

Chairlift (unstrap the front foot)

• At loading, unstrap the front foot. The board rests naturally on the footrest with no tension — much more comfortable than snowboarding.
• At unloading, the free front foot lets you skate away before strapping back in.

Drag lift (both feet strapped in)

• Keep both feet strapped, board aligned, and stay relaxed.
• Hold the pole gently, with body weight clearly on the front.

7. Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

• Too far back: The board becomes unstable → Move your hips forward, load the front. Binding adjustment may be needed.
• Rotated shoulders: Common snowboard reflex → loss of control. Stay facing downhill.
• Hip steering: A frequent mistake → Movement comes from the feet, not the hips.

❄️ Snowlord pleasure begins when balance feels natural. Take your time, stay relaxed, and lead with the front. ❄️