Reef Layer 2
Slide Chains
P endulum slide
Slide Arc- itecture
Layer 1 Parts
Twist slide bs
Counter slide bs
Check
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Pendulum slide: backside twist 180 in, opposite rotation counter out
The pendulum slide is a slide that connects two 180s like a 360 combination, only unlike the 360, one 180 goes one direction and the second 180 reverses back. So the two connected 180s go in opposite directions of rotation. This pendulum slide will start with a backside twist, to cw, then end with a counter 180, to ccw.
This is another example of the counter rotation exit. It's always easier to use this rotation in combinations, because it's easy to control and lots of times leads right out of the last move. It's just hard to practice by itself, as a basic slide. Now that you've seen it used, you can go back and take it apart, studying the Arc counter rotation slides.
If you don't like the counter rotation slide or find that you have to rotate twice to get one rotation, you can substitute the twist rotation. The counter can be slow to set up and is not right when quick reactions are needed. In this slide, I actually think it's cool to take the time between slides to set up the counter rotation twist out. I have to do the whole transition blind, and it takes poise and control to do it. Like I say, if it's too technical, then twist right out for the second part and don't wait around in blind stance.
Backside twist 180
In this backside twist, it will be possible to see me using some up unweighting. The first position is facing forward. My left arm is comfortably forward.
Next I go into my twist, rotating slowly. As I twist, I lower my weight, bending my knees. This is in preparation to rise up in the next couple of frames as I twist father.
As I skate across the fall line, I twist firmly to cw, drawing my left arm across my body and pressing back hard with my right arm. The slow twist will build up pressure until inevitably, the rear wheels give and break into a slide.
With less resistance to press against, the twist then relaxes. I have risen up, showing some up unweighting to aid the slide. I ride the backside slide, looking backwards.
Backside counter rotation 180, opposite direction
This is the transition between the two slides. It's interesting that they are both backside slides.
I'm riding backwards straight downhill. It's a little confusing which arm is which, but my right arm is facing uphill in the direction I'm looking. My left elbow is beginning the twist preparation by reaching back toward downhill. Notice there's not much chance to look in the direction I'm going for some time. I need to do both slides blind to get enough twist leverage.
I've straightened my left arm and now have gotten a good preparation twist. The twist is led by my left arm, which points downhill. My shoulders go ccw. The board is already swinging back to ccw underneath. This suggests I've gotten some twist rotation and this isn't completely a counter rotated turn.
Now I've "switched arms". I've brought my left arm across my body and now it points uphill. My right arm presses back, and now points downhill. My shoulders rotated cw, while the board turned ccw, in counter rotation. My shoulders moved against the board, yet I brought it almost 180 degrees ccw underneath me. So I was able to get a whole 180 just by twisting my shoulders and hips the opposite way. My head pretty much stayed in place. You can see how compact the counter turn is, for turning a big board, and that's its strong point.
After the check, my shoulders are unwound and I return to a rest position. There is kind of a rebound feeling from checks like this. It would have been very easy to take that rebound right into another rotation, starting another slide.
The action of twisting the hips against the shoulders is very powerful. It works especially well for linking turns or slides that are 180 or less. Pay attention to this twisting back and forth feeling when you are skating, and see if you can work out combinations of your own. Think about which rotation will work after a certain twist that you have done. See if you can torque, twist, or counter rotate the slide in the same situation. Try to develop three slides out of every one slide combination you come up with. Sometimes one or another will stand out, and those will become your stand bys.
