Any top notch snowboard instructors out there?

[Big Game]

Me: 38 years old. I can carve pretty when conditions are good. I love the bumps and woods. I am petrified of getting air. I spend 0 time in the parks. My stance is unilateral. After a chance meeting with an instructor out in Beaver Creek with the curious name of Bubbles (he was working security at the Vail Oktoberfest) he sold me on changing my stance to duck and got me all hot and bothered to get some lessons to (1) make me be able to ride switch (2) make me comfortable getting air (3) make me carve when conditions aren't so stellar (4) improve my technique so I don't get so worn out.

I have mid-week pass at Stratton and Okemo. But will probably be hitting K before they open. Want to improve my game. Hit my plateau on my own. Anyone out there can help me out?

 

[BigJay]

I don't believe in "duck stance"... I can carve switch with 18f / 9b. To me it's more a question of bio-mechanics when it comes to duck stance and how it puts your joints in tension. I want to keep my knees in shape and the idea of having that joint twisted the other way while i ride down the hill isn't fun to me.

Laying down carves w/ softboots is about weight transfer and alignement of the your body's weight. Look at how skiers do and how they control their boards. A lot can be transfered to snowboarding even tough your moves should be more inspired by surfers.

The best thing is to experiment on bad snow days. Try and do a run with your body weight slightly over the front foot. Then to a run perfectly centered. Then another run with your weight more on the rear foot. Then try and balance the weight as you go down. Check out what happens when you pop between turns. How does your body reacts?

Look at snowboarding videos from a mechanical standpoint and see how your favorite riders play around with their boards. You'll learn more that way i'm sure... Plus, if you mountain bike, you'll find the same principles apply when you carve your bike in the sniggle between the trees.

 

[Geoff]

I have mid-week pass at Stratton and Okemo.

So why not simply sign up for a midweek group lesson? If you go on a dead day like a Wednesday, chances are good that it will be a private. You'll get plenty of 1-on-1 at a great price. Don't forget to tip. Instructors get paid squat.