The 3 Mistakes That Steal Your Grip
When your board washes out mid-turn, it rarely comes down to bravery or strength. More often, it’s a few small habits that stop the edge from doing its job.
You don’t need a total rebuild. You need clarity on what’s happening, why it happens, and what to do instead.
What ‘grip’ actually is
Grip is your edge holding a clean line through the turn, especially during the transition and early part of the new edge.
When grip is working, you feel:
The board tracking cleanly (not sliding sideways)
A smooth build of pressure through the arc
A finish that feels controlled, not rushed
When grip disappears, it’s usually because one of these three mistakes shows up.
Mistake #1: You rotate the board instead of letting the edge do the work
What it looks like
The board pivots or skids at the start of the turn
The tail feels loose
You feel like you have to ‘force’ direction changes
Why it steals your grip
If you rotate the board, particularly at the start or end of the turn, you’re asking the base to do the work. Bases slide. Edges hold.And when the board pivots, it can’t run cleanly along its length.
The fix
Prioritise a clean edge change, then shape the turn.
Cue:
Edge first, then shape.
Drill:
On an easy slope, ride across the hill.
Make a gentle edge change.
Hold the new edge briefly before you start shaping the turn.
Aim for the feeling of the board tracking cleanly.
Mistake #2: Your edge angle and lateral movement aren’t progressive
What it looks like
You drift to the outside of the turn
You get grip sometimes, but it’s inconsistent
You feel stable in the middle, then lose it as speed and forces build
Why it steals your grip
For the board to grip, edge tilt needs to build progressively through the turn. As speed increases, the forces increase too, so you need enough edge angle, and you need your centre of mass inside the turn enough to balance against those forces and find a strong platform.
The fix
Build edge angle gradually and move inside the arc, without collapsing.
Cue:
Progressive tilt. Quiet upper body.
Structure:
Start with a moderate edge angle.
Increase it smoothly as the turn develops.
Stay balanced against the board so the arc stays clean.
Your marker:the board feelsmoresecure as the turn develops, not less.
Mistake #3: Your posture isn’t stacked, so you rely on tension instead of alignment
What it looks like
You feel like you’re always catching up to the board
Your upper body gets busy (twisting, bracing, or leaning)
You lose grip when it gets steeper, firmer, or faster
Why it steals your grip
A posture with good skeletal alignment relies less on muscular tension to resist the forces in the turn. When you’re not stacked, you often compensate by tightening up. Timing and accuracy suffer, and grip becomes inconsistent.
The fix
Get stacked, then stay stacked.
Cue:
Zip up your jacket — stacked over the middle of both feet, neutral spine, light core.
Check:
Can you keep your upper body quiet and relaxed?
Can you let the board move underneath you, rather than throwing your body across it?
Put it together: a 10-minute grip session
Next time you’re on your snowboard:
1 focus: edge first, then shape
3 linked turns with full attention
Stop, reset, repeat for 10 minutes
Your marker:10 turns where the board tracks cleanly and the finish feels unhurried
You’re not chasing perfect turns. You’re collecting proof.
Want faster progress? Use feedback
Grip issues are hard to feel accurately in real time. That’s why video helps so much: it turns ‘I think I did it’ into ‘I can see it’.
If you want a clear plan and personalised feedback, we can build it with you:
One-to-One Coaching for high-focus progression
Group Coaching (max 4 riders) for a supportive environment with plenty of individual feedback
Choose your next step:1:1 Coaching or Group Coaching (max 4).
