Getting the bounce back
Back in canada!
It’s good to be back riding again. I definitely underestimated how busy things would get once I returned, which is why some of this is still being written on a Friday night. With a later start to the season, I’ve been spending time cleaning up my turns, and this idea has been front of mind over the last few days on snow—still a little unpolished, but already proving useful.
The Problem We’re Solving
Many advanced riders describe their goal in transitions as “unweighted” or “releasing the edge.”
In practice, this often turns into:
unnecessary vertical movement,
delayed pressure into the new turn, or
a brief loss of board availability.
What we’re actually after is earlier readiness—the ability to redirect the board without disconnecting from the snow.
This session reframes the release phase as a redirect, with ankle deflection acting as one of the primary cogs that allows it to happen.
Reframing the Release: Deflection as the Mechanism
Rather than thinking of release as an unweighting event, we treat it as a redirection of pressure.
In this context:
Deflection is not the goal
Redirecting the board is the goal
Deflecting through the ankles is one of the mechanisms that allows the legs to move under the body while the centre of mass continues its line
This keeps the system connected and the board immediately available at the top of the next turn.
Skill Focus for the Session
To keep the session clear and intentional, we define three elements:
Skill component: Actively redirecting pressure through the release phase
Body part: Ankles
Motion: Allowing the legs to deflect and move under the body to get earlier grip and/or help achieve a mid-weighted turn.
The cue becomes simple and repeatable:
Deflect through the ankles to redirect—don’t lift to release.
Mid-Weighted Means Continuous Contact
A high-quality mid-weighted transition maintains continuous interaction with the snow.
When executed well:
pressure rolls smoothly under the foot,
edge change occurs without a dead spot, and
grip is available immediately if required.
This does not mean the movement lacks range or intensity—it simply means pressure is utilised, not abandoned.
Terrain Choice: Green?
A green groomer isn’t chosen for lack of challenge—it’s chosen for clarity. (More advanced riders can get to the meat in harder terrain and use these ideas as a reminder.)
On low-angle terrain, riders can:
feel pressure migration without speed masking errors,
explore ankle deflection without urgency, and
develop timing before increasing intensity.
It’s worth noting that this same movement can be used dynamically and powerfully—but intensity is not the first progression if the movement pattern is new.
The Drill: Redirect, Don’t Lift
Choose a consistent green pitch
Ride with the intention of staying mid-weighted through edge change
Focus on ankle deflection as the board changes direction
Allow the legs to move under the body as pressure redirects
A useful self-check:
Could I apply grip instantly right now?
If yes—the board is available.
If no—pressure has been lost somewhere in the redirect.
Progression: Rhythm Before Power
Once the movement is established:
increase speed gradually,
introduce subtle terrain variation,
keep the same quality of pressure, even as forces rise.
The progression is not more movement—it’s better-timed movement.
Only once rhythm is consistent does added intensity enhance performance rather than disrupt it.
Why This Matters at a high level
For high level riders, performance isn’t limited by knowledge of movements—it’s limited by how precisely those movements are applied.
This focus:
refines the release/redirect phase,
improves early engagement at the top of the turn, and
removes unnecessary vertical strategies.
More importantly, it gives riders a functional lens:
not what to do, but how and why it works.
Closing Thought
When pressure is redirected rather than released, the board is always ready.
And when the board is always ready, performance becomes intentional instead of reactive.
While this all can be true when looking for that intentional early grip, sometimes it can be fun and beneficial to redirect into the air on purpose.
