Step-by-step guide
First runs on Snowlord.
Objective: to be able to hit the green or blue slopes with confidence, find your balance, control your speed, and link your first turns on a Snowlord. Half a day to a full day depending on your ease.
Before leaving: equipment and posture.
Don't be afraid of that initial feeling of unsteadiness when stationary. The Snowlord is like a bicycle. Even the greatest experts aren't comfortable when stopped. There's a strange story involving force vectors, sines, and cosines that explains why a cyclist is very stable on 1 cm wide tires at 10 km/h, but not stable at all when stopped. The Snowlord is the same, just without the wheels.
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Sticks
Use both poles during your first outings. They provide stability, assist with starts, and offer reassurance on flat sections.
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Weight forward
Keep about 60 to 70% of your weight on the front of the board. The skwal is ridden with an engaged front, not in a reclined position.
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Shoulders
Always keep your shoulders facing downhill: they guide your axis and ensure trajectory control.
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Alignment
Gradually bring your back knee toward your front knee to stay aligned and find stability.
01Étape
First beating until stiff.
Soft or flat zone
- Straight GlidingOn near-flat terrain, glide a few meters while looking ahead and keeping your shoulders facing downhill.
- Gentle BrakingTo slow down, slide the back of the board: with your back foot, push gently to make the tail drift. The movement comes from the foot.
- Controlled StopRepeat this motion until you can stop smoothly, without straining your legs.
The front remains stable, the back foot controls the slide.
That's perfectly normal. During the first few descents, you tend to turn unintentionally to one side, or you can't go straight. In this case, tuck your back knee into your front knee, keep your shoulders facing downhill, and continue to put weight on the front of the board. This helps you get back on track and immediately stabilizes the board.
02Étape
Slide the rear.
Priority #1
On a gentle slope, a green run:
- Straight slide for a few meters, then use your back foot to make the tail drift sideways.
- Keep your upper body facing downhill and stable.
- Return to your original line, then repeat. This movement helps you learn to control your speed without losing balance.
- Try it on the other side. It's harder, and works your abs a bit.
The secret: the back foot controls the drift, the front steers.
03Étape
Go out of bounds.
When drifting becomes natural, switch to carving.
- Weight on the frontLoad the front foot heavily and lean into the slope. The Snowlord demands clear upper body engagement.
- Shoulders toward the slopeThey steer and prevent the board from catching an edge.
- InclineLet the board lean onto its edge naturally, without forcing it. The turn happens naturally through pressure on the front.
- ReboundFor small turns, a simple leg movement engages the board on the other side. The board rebounds, not your body.
Don't fight your board, trust it. Think "attack from the front": the more you load the front, the more fluidly the board follows.
04Étape
Your first combos.
- GazeFar ahead, in the direction of the turn.
- ShouldersFacing the slope at all times, even when exiting the turn.
- InitiationWeight forward, back knee tucked into the front to maintain the line.
- RhythmAlternate between skidding the back to control, then carving to turn.
Ski lifts.
Chairlift and ski lift
Chairlift — remove your front foot
- When boarding, unclip your front foot: the board rests on the footrests and there's no tension. It's much more pleasant than snowboarding.
- Upon arrival, your free front foot allows you to skate away to clear the area before re-clipping.
Ski lift — keep both feet attached
- Keep your feet fixed, board in line, and relax.
- Grasp the pole smoothly, with your body weight well forward.
Common mistakes.
Too far backThe board becomes unstable.
La correctionMove your hips forward, load the front. You may also need to move the bindings forward.
Shoulders turnedIt's a reflex snowboarders often have: their shoulders turn sideways, and they lose control.
La correctionFace down the slope.
Support on the hipsCommon mistake.
La correctionThe movement comes from the feet, not the hips.
Need advice
Snowlording starts when balance becomes natural. Take your time, stay flexible, attack from the front.