Snowboard Evaluation Comparison

Snowboard Evaluation Comparison
For Candidate and Patroller Evaluations
in the Patrol Environment

From the National Ski Patrol System, Inc., approximately 1995

The following series of lists equate the skiing toboggan skills with the equivalent snowboard toboggan skills. The purpose of this information is to help patrol trainers who are evaluating snowboarding candidates and patrollers on snowboards to ensure that they have the necessary snowboarding skills to operate toboggans. (Note: references to four-handled toboggans are not listed.)

SKIING	SNOWBOARDING
Skiing Maneuvers	Snowboarding Maneuvers
Wedge	N/A
Wedge turn	N/A
Stem Turn	N/A
Sideslip	Sideslip – toeside, heelside
Falling leaf	Falling leaf – toeside, heelside
Moving direction changes	Moving direction changes
Skating	Skating (rear foot out of binding)
Parallel turns	Skidded and carved turns
Traverse, both sides	Traverse – toeside, heelside
Herringbone, side step (up-down)	Climbing
Static direction change (kick turn)	Static direction changes (fakie or hop turn)
Unloaded Toboggan (lead)
Quick check/setup	Quick check/setup
Route selection	Route selection
Traversing	Traversing
Descent	Descent
Moving direction changes	Moving direction changes
Static direction changes	Fakie (riding backwards – switch)
Emergency stop	Emergency stop
Wheelbarrow	Wheelbarrow
Accident Site Management
Approach	Approach
Securing toboggan	Securing toboggan (special measures are needed such as use of cut-off ski poles, patient’s skis, other patroller’s skis)
Anchor skis	Anchor snowboard
Loading patient	Loading patient
Loaded Toboggan (lead)
Route selection	Route selection
Traversing	Traversing
Descending the fall line	Descending the fall line
Moving direction changes	Moving direction changes
Turns – Wedge, Step, Parallel	N/A, N/A, Skidded (brushed and carved)
Sideslip	Sideslip
Falling leaf	Falling leaf
Static direction changes	Fakie
Tail Rope
	Run on heelside only
Descending	Descending
Traversing	Traversing
Moving direction changes	Moving direction changes
Sideslip to wedge	Sideslip
Falling leaf to diagonal falling leaf	Falling leaf to diagonal falling leaf
Static belay	Static belay
Uphill Transportation
Lift carry	Lift carry

Observations about running a toboggan with a snowboard
by the present and past Western Region Snowboard Advisors
(March 1999)

It is acceptable to run in the lead position on either the toeside or heelside.

It is acceptable to transition while in the lead position. Caution: since there is no breaking like there would be from skis in a wedge while transitioning, the lead snowboard patroller and the toboggan may slightly accelerate during the transition.

It is acceptable to switch hand position (from one handle to the other – both hands) while transitioning as long as control of the toboggan is maintained.

It is acceptable to run either inside or outside the handles.

Running through bumps/moguls may be easier on toeside because of the additional leverage available to lift the front of the toboggan while guiding it over the bumps

A snowboarder on the tail may put a slight tension on the tailrope (to assist with maintaining balance).

A snowboarder on the tail may sit down whenever the toboggan comes to a stop.

A snowboarder on the tail may let the forward motion of the toboggan pull them up from a sitting position taken during a stop (they may "water ski up").

Caution should be taken whenever "running-out" on flat terrain with a snowboard patroller on the tail. The tail snowboarder may only sideslip or straight-run during run-out, since they have none of the braking capabilities of a wedge. Sideslipping at high speed is extremely dangerous because of the risk of slams. Slams occur when the leading edge of the sideslipping snowboard catches, and the upper body of the snowboarder "slams" to the snow. Slams are a significant cause of snowboarding injuries. At the same time, If the snowboarder runs straight, their speed will most often be greater than the lead patroller and toboggan. It is important that when running-out, a comfortable speed for the tail snowboarded be maintained.

Caution should also be taken whenever performing sideslip maneuvers on a snowboard, either lead or tail. Sideslipping on flat terrain is extremely difficult and can result in dangerous slams.

A snowboarder should not be expected to do a traverse without some sideslip. The shape of a snowboard causes the snowboard to very quickly turn uphill if a traverse without sideslip (carve) is done. Snowboarders do not have to show a clean edge cut in the snow when doing a traverse.

When evaluating the emergency stop, patrollers are sometimes asked to hold the stopped position for a few seconds. Snowboarders do not have to hold the stopped position because of the difficulty of balancing on a single edge. However, just like skiers they must come to a complete and stable stop at the end of the maneuver.

Maintaining the heelside position while on the tail can be very tiring. To relieve the strain, the tail snowboarder may rock forwards and backwards (from front of the snowboard to the rear). This motion seems to help lessen the fatigue. If the fatigue become too great, it is acceptable for the tail snowboarder to call a stop and to rest briefly.