The Duration of Movement
Riding through Duration
One of the biggest shifts in my riding over the last few seasons has been learning to slow movements down — not in speed, but in duration.
Every movement in snowboarding takes place over a time frame.
Flexing to absorb. Rolling an edge to build pressure. Locking onto a rail.
These aren’t just positions we hit — they’re actions that unfold.
The difference between a movement that feels harsh and one that feels smooth and powerful is often just how long the movement takes.
I started calling this idea dragging out duration — giving the movement more time to happen instead of rushing to the end of it.
Avoiding the Dead Spot
Most riders try to complete the movement as fast as possible:
Flex → then stop
Set edge → then freeze
Land → then brace
This creates a dead spot — a moment where the body stops moving, pressure isn’t managed, and balance shuts off.
Good riding keeps the movement alive the whole way through.
So instead of finishing the movement quickly, move through the duration.
Matching Duration to Space
The second part is matching the duration to the environment, task, and outcome:
More space → longer duration → longer range of movement
Less space → shorter duration → same movement, just more compact
It’s not about slowing everything down — it’s about choosing how long the movement deserves in the context you’re in.
This is what separates riding that looks quiet and intentional from riding that looks fast but disconnected.
Rail Example — “Landing for a while”
Most riders land on a rail all at once — quick, abrupt, unstable.
But when you land for a while, it’s different:
The knees keep flexing after contact
Pressure builds gradually instead of instantly
Balance stays alive instead of locked
It feels less like slapping onto the rail and more like settling into it.
This keeps:
Pressure management alive
Your stance adaptable
The slide stable
Also… it just looks better.
You’re not just landing on the feature — you’re connecting with it.
Carving Example — Duration Through the Arc
A lot of riders (not all) are able to find edge grip at the top of the turn.
The issue comes after they feel the board load.
Once pressure shows up, many riders stop moving and just hold the edge.
This is the classic park and ride.
When the movement stops:
Pressure stalls instead of developing
The board stops gaining energy through the turn
And when it’s time to release, there’s no duration left to move your mass across the board to the new edge, because you have had to brace against forces trying to hold on.
So, the transition becomes:
rushed
late
clunky
The Skillful Version
Skilled riders:
Get grip early
Keep moving through the arc
Let pressure build gradually through top of turn
Allow the release to deflect them into the next turn
This gives them time in the transition
so, they arrive at the next edge ready, not late.
They aren’t working harder —
they’re just not static in the duration of the movement.
Timing, Not Just Technique
This idea isn’t about changing what you do —
it’s about changing when and how long you do it.
This is what gives high-level riders that quiet power —
the appearance of effortlessness, even when the riding is intense.
Coaching Cues That Hit This:
“Don’t park and ride.”
“Keep moving after you get grip.”
“Give yourself time to cross the board.”
“Land for a while.”
You’re not giving a mechanical correction —
you’re adjusting timing intelligence.
Takeaway
Snowboarding isn’t made of static positions — it’s made of continuous motion.
The more you match the duration of your movements to the space and task,
the smoother, stronger, and more adaptable your riding becomes.
When you stop rushing to finish the movement, your riding opens up.
There’s more space, more feel, more flow.
— Cam
