For Those Who Struggle with Steep Slopes

"I suddenly can't ride as soon as the slope gets steep."
I think many people have had that experience.
But just because it's a steep slope,
it doesn't mean you suddenly need complex techniques.

First, what I want to clarify is what actually changes on a steep slope.
The biggest change isthe force of gravity.

As the gradient increases, your body is pulled downward more strongly.
In other words, it's not that your own muscle strength has suddenly weakened, but simply that the external force you are facing has become greater.

That is why on steep slopes,
before focusing on "turning techniques,"
it is important to create a "structure that prevents falling."

For example, are your edges firmly gripping the snow surface?
We tend to think the cause of the board slipping is "lack of personal skill," but
if the edges aren't catching the snow,
no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to stop.

Furthermore, are your bindings in a state where they can firmly transmit your movements to the board?
Just by having the wrong strap tightness or
incorrect settings,
the energy created by your body will escape along the way.

In short, what you need on a steep slope is not to "try harder," but to create a "system that doesn't succumb to external forces."

Another important point is that because the force of gravity is so great on steep slopes,
the idea is to minimize other external forces as much as possible.

As speed increases, centrifugal force and inertia also increase.
The force of gravity is also high. The speed is also fast.
It is only natural that this makes things difficult.

Therefore, at first, please think about riding at as low a speed as possible.
For that, I recommend not starting with a straight descent.

If you try to turn after falling straight down a steep slope, your speed will increase all at once, making it harder for yourself.
If you start with a traverse, you can enter the turn with composure while keeping your speed down.
Just by changing your line a little bit, a steep slope becomes surprisingly gentle.

Just because you are not good at steep slopes,
you don't need to suddenly acquire new techniques.
Review your equipment.
Be creative with how you start your ride.
Control your speed.
Organize the external forces.

Even with just these adjustments, you can fully conquer steep slopes.

Improvement is not just about learning how to use your body.
It is about being able to organize "why it is difficult" and
think about "what to change to make it easier."
I believe that accumulating these things leads to true improvement.

This was Rei Aoki, the master of verbalization.