Sometimes, you can lose control while snowboarding, unable to stop your snowboard from turning in one direction. If your snowboard keeps turning, I’ve got some solutions for you.
To fix a snowboard that keeps turning, check and repair damages in the snowboard base and adjust the boot overhang and snowboard bindings. That said, in some cases, the problem may be from a snowboarder who’s yet to master the sport.
I’ll walk you through the steps to fixing a snowboard that keeps turning, from finding the cause to solving the problem. Buckle up!
1. Check and Repair Snowboard Base Damage
Inspect your snowboard base for any damage. You need to repair the base if you find any gouges or scratches.
Depending on the level of damage, you can repair it yourself or take it to a professional (in which case you have nothing to worry about).
If you choose to fix your snowboard’s base, you’ll need to identify what you’re dealing with first. Simple scratches are normal so you can ignore them. However, if they’re prominent, you should repair them by filling the spaces and evening them up – which is the same procedure for fixing a gouge.
To proceed, you’ll need a few materials: a lighter, p-tex stick, cutter, and metal scraper. Here’s what to do next:
- First, clean the base of the board. Remove any dirt and debris hanging or sticking to the board. You wouldn’t want debris to be part of the filling.
- Next, shred any hanging or protruding base material using a box cutter. The idea is to ensure the base is as smooth as possible. However, be careful while cutting so you don’t cut into the base.
- Now, spark one end of your p-tex stick using the lighter. Let it light up until it starts burning and dripping, then fill the gouges with the molten p-tex drops and allow them to cool. If you have to add new layers for deeper cuts, allow the previous one to cool.
- Scrape the base using the metal scraper to get a uniform surface. Again, be careful not to scrape into the base, especially when touching the corners.
The steps above will restore your snowboard to efficiency. However, if your snowboard is currently in excellent condition, we’ll have to check something else; your boots.
2. Check and Adjust the Boot Overhang
Your snowboard is in order, and you have the proper boots, yet you can’t seem to control your turns.
Perhaps, you need to check for boot overhang – how far your boots extend beyond the edge of your snowboard.
Overhang isn’t inevitable, but it’s necessary to help you maintain balance on your board. However, when stretched beyond necessary, it can lead to toe drag, which means exactly what it sounds like; your toes dragging while you are snowboarding.
This can force your board to turn sideways even without you trying.
How much overhang should you have?
Anything between half to three-quarters of an inch (1.27 – 1.91 cm) should be ok for both your toes and heels.
If your boot overhang exceeds this range, position your snowboard bindings correctly across the board to create an equal amount between your toes and heels on both edges of the snowboard.
Otherwise, you may need to check your snowboard binding and your boots. I’ll cover more on these in the following sections.
3. Check Your Snowboard Bindings
Many snowboarders pay little attention to snowboard bindings, but they’re a significant part of the overall experience.
Snowboard bindings directly connect you to the board, so they’re as essential as every other component of your snowboarding kit.
They determine how much grip and control you have over your snowboard.
If you can’t control your snowboard and keep it from turning in a particular direction, checking your snowboard binding is one place to begin.
Often, it may be that you’re using a snowboard binding that’s not adequate for you or your boarding style. Here are a few factors to look out for.
- Quality: Get good quality snowboard bindings. Because most snowboarders overlook snowboard bindings, they go on the cheap, compromising quality. Make sure yours are decent!
- Suitability: Get a snowboard binding that fits your boots. Snowboard bindings come in different types, each suited to a particular kind of boots. For example, plate bindings – a type of snowboard binding – require stiffer boots. So, if you use them on softer boots, you will likely struggle with maintaining control.
Things don’t end with getting good quality snowboard binding and matching boots. Style is also an essential factor. This brings us to the next point.
4. Ensure Your Combination Matches Your Level
If you have an excellent snowboard binding that matches your boots, the next question would be, are they adequate for your snowboarding ability?
Control is key to your snowboarding experience, so losing it defeats the purpose. So, how do you know which snowboard binding suits your style?
First, let’s start with the beginners. Beginners need boots with softer flex for an easy ride. At this stage, you’re trying to learn the ropes, so there’s no need to complicate things.
Softer boots are comfier, which is essential for a newbie’s control and balance. Apart from losing control, a lot could go wrong with your ride as a beginner if you’re not comfortable in your boots.
Harder boots can make it much harder to control the board and put you at risk of harder falls.
5. Improve Your Skill
Sometimes, the issue may have nothing to do with your snowboard, the boots, or the binding. Sorry!
At times, you simply may not be riding well.
Like every other sport, snowboarding requires skill, concentration, and resilience. My advice for beginners learning the ropes is to practice consistently.
Make sure you’ve mastered the falling leaf. This enables you to transition into better board control.
Bonus: Care Tips for Your Snowboard
A good quality snowboard is a substantial financial investment. If you’ve parted with some serious money to acquire one, you want it to last! Good maintenance is key.
Here are some essential care tips to consider.
Give Your Snowboard Regular Hot Waxing
All snowboards come waxed fresh out of the box. But it wouldn’t hurt to wax your snowboard again before launching it into the ice.
Wax helps you move smoother, faster and protects your board from surface damage… which can deteriorate into gouges.
To wax your snowboard, you’ll need an iron (hot waxes are better), a metal scraper, and the wax itself. If you’re unsure what wax to buy, I’ve outlined my recommendations below.
- Super quick to apply
- Safe for the environment
- Available in 3 temp choices
- Made by snowboarders
- Easy to top-up
- Incredible package
- Includes edge tuning kits
- Comes with wax iron
- Wax like a pro!
- Best wax I've ever used!
- Lasts longer than others
- A good sized brick.
- Support small business
Ride Your Snowboard Carefully
Hitting the mountains with your new board is always fun. But if you want to enjoy it for much longer, you must ride carefully.
Don’t get too carried away – look out for stones and avoid them like the plague. Else they’ll cause damage ranging from minor scratches to gouges or deep cuts.
Repair Damage Immediately
Sometimes, no matter how careful you ride, your snowboard can pick up damage to its surface.
Inspecting your board at the end of the day is always advisable.
If you discover any damages, cuts, or gouges at any time, you should fix them immediately.
A repair center for various sports gear will always come in handy, so keep such contacts close by. However, if you’re hands-on and prefer to fix things yourself, follow the steps described earlier in this article.
Smoothen Blunt Metal Edges
Your snowboard has metal edges. After prolonged usage, these edges lose their sharpness and become blunt (from gouges called burrs).
When this happens, your riding will not be as smooth as expected. And apart from that, the edges can pick up further damage. Use a snowboard edge tool to file the edges and restore them to sharpness.
Keep Away From Moisture To Prevent Corrosion
When you’re done with the day’s fun, clean your snowboard, ensuring no moisture remains. Moisture will corrode the metal parts and spoil your snowboard.
Also, store in a cool and dry environment. Avoid hot zones like attics. Your snowboard comprises materials of different temperature tolerance, so it’s better to store it in an environment with moderate temperature.
Final Thoughts
Turning while snowboarding is exciting until you lose control… your snowboard keeps turning, and you can’t stop. Scary huh?
Several factors could be responsible for this. Fortunately, we’ve covered them fairly well in this article, including essential care tips for your snowboard.
Now that you’re ready to ride (in a straight line), check out some of our most recommended snowboard destinations.
Happy riding!
