Should I lean back in powder?

Not with your upper body. Shift your weight a little toward your back foot by moving your hips so the nose stays up, but keep your knees and ankles flexed and your shoulders over the board. Leaning back tires your back leg and makes turning harder.

How do I get up in deep powder on a snowboard?

Clear your face first, then get the board downhill of you and across the slope. Pack down a platform with your hands or forearms, push up onto an edge, and point the board slightly downhill to get moving before you sink.

How do I turn in powder on a snowboard?

Keep a steady speed, stay centered to slightly back, and make rounder, smoother turns with a gentle up-and-down rhythm. Avoid sharp pivots, which tend to bog the board down in soft snow.

How do I get out of deep snow when I stop on flat ground?

Try to keep your speed up before flat sections so you do not stall. If you do get stuck, you may need to unstrap your back foot and walk or skate out, remembering that stepping off the board can drop you deeper into soft snow.

Should I set my bindings back for powder?

It often helps, especially on a twin or centered board. Moving both bindings toward the tail while keeping the same stance width lets the nose float with less effort from your back leg. Follow your binding manual and move them back again for firm snow if you prefer.

Is a longer snowboard better for powder?

A board floats because of its surface area, so a longer board can help, but so can a wider board or a shape with a wider nose and a setback stance. For occasional in-bounds powder days, the board you already ride with a setback stance is usually enough to learn on.

Is riding deep powder in trees safe?

Trees add the risk of tree wells, where a rider can become trapped in deep, loose snow. The NSAA says to always ride with a partner within viewing distance. Give trees a wide berth and stay on open, in-bounds terrain until you have far more experience.

Next-level skills

Soft snow, in-bounds

How to snowboard in powder

To snowboard in powder, shift your weight slightly toward your back foot so the nose floats, keep a steady speed so the board stays on top of the snow, and make round, flowing turns instead of quick pivots. Start on open, in-bounds terrain with a partner in sight.

Part of Carving and all-mountain riding