| It wasn’t that long ago that the little orange | | | | first rule is to know your limits, which is of course |
| ovals posted over snowboard parks worldwide did | | | | necessary if you want to push them. It’s all |
| not exist. When freestyle snowboarding starting | | | | about working way up, taking tricks from flat, to |
| to move further and further mainstream the | | | | small jump, to the kickers. Don’t assume that |
| resorts and the snowboarders decided to create | | | | just because you’ve got one trick then you |
| a method for approaching the features in a park | | | | have the others… make sure you really know |
| and they called it Smart Style. But what does it | | | | the tricks. |
| mean? I know that the orange oval means | | | | People spend hours a day doing hundreds of laps, |
| there’s going to be some fun stuff to hit, but | | | | lifting thousands of reps and snowboarding is a lot |
| what is this ‘snowboarder’s code’ all | | | | like that… except you are going to need to do |
| about? | | | | hundreds of backside 360s to know you can do a |
| There are four parts to Smart Style: | | | | backside 360. That’s the essence of being |
| | | | good at any sport, repetition and easy yet |
| Make a Plan | | | | constant progression. |
| Pretty much common sense, this section is about | | | | Did you know that inverted aerials (rodeos, |
| knowing what you want hit in the terrain park | | | | backflips, etc.) were not even allowed for a while? |
| before you drop. This means not only knowing | | | | If you did one you would be greeted by ski patrol |
| what features you are going for and where they | | | | at the bottom of the run. Crazy! Things finally |
| are, but also the trick you want to do and the | | | | changed and parks use the term ‘not |
| mechanics (speed, approach, take off, execution, | | | | recommended’. Inverted aerials put you in a |
| and landing) involved. This must be why they call it | | | | position where you may not land on your feet, so |
| Smart ‘Style’, because if you took that | | | | you need to know exactly what you are doing in |
| approach to your runs I don’t think you | | | | the air. Get a trampoline first and work your way |
| would ever fall. | | | | from there. Don’t just try a backflip on the |
| This implies a reserved style of riding, a ‘stick | | | | first medium kicker of the day. |
| to what you know’ mentality. On the | | | | |
| weekends or when snowboarding a packed run | | | | Respect Gets Respect |
| this would be a pretty good approach to avoid | | | | Like being in kindergarten all over again. Just |
| hitting or being hit by others. | | | | understand that terrain parks are risky business |
| But what about progression? | | | | regardless of skill. Also note that other people are |
| | | | around you and anything can happen (like being |
| Look Before You Leap | | | | cut off on the freeway you know?). |
| Ties right in with the last point, just know | | | | Calling your start is just a really awesome way of |
| everything about what you hit before you are | | | | letting everyone know who’s next. Ever been |
| hitting it. Also pay attention to conditions. If it gets | | | | caught up at the pipe and you drop but then |
| cloudy then the temperature can drop drastically, | | | | another guy drops and everything just gets |
| colder snow moves faster so never assume that | | | | screwed up? Always call you start on a busy |
| the feature will be the same. | | | | feature to ensure that you and only you are |
| Another really important idea brought up is the | | | | going for it. If you fall and you aren’t hurt get |
| spotter. Especially for bigger kickers, you | | | | the heck out of the way spotter or not. |
| don’t want to be mid 1080 looking down at | | | | You’ll have plenty of time to laugh about it |
| the skier that climbing up the landing for his pole. | | | | later. I have seen people blow right past the |
| Every snowboarder throwing down at the park | | | | spotter (who at this point is screaming and flailing |
| probably has someone spotting him. They not | | | | his arms) only to land on the guy who already is |
| only make sure the only thing you have to worry | | | | having hard time, what with the fall and |
| about is doing your trick, but they make sure that | | | | everything. |
| the new kid behind you doesn’t just assume | | | | So now that I’ve been through it again I think |
| you landed and then land on you. | | | | Smart Style is a pretty good approach to |
| Snowboarding is inherently dangerous, it is | | | | snowboarding in general, not just freestyle terrain. |
| definitely worth it to take the time to check off | | | | The good thing is that after reviewing it I can say |
| all the things within your control that could go | | | | that for the most part we all follow it, whether |
| wrong so you only have to worry about | | | | we knew it existed or not. We are all |
| landing… right? Well said Smart Style. | | | | snowboarders and snowboarders abide by the |
| Easy Style It | | | | snowboarder’s code: Know the code! Smart |
| This is where they talk about progression. The | | | | Style! |