The Falling Leaf — Your First Real Move on a Snowboard

The falling leaf is the first proper snowboard move every beginner learns. It's not a turn — it's a controlled descent, zig-zagging down the slope on a single edge. Master it and you can get down any green run safely.

Heelside Falling Leaf

1. Stand facing downhill, weight on your heel edge, board across the slope.
2. Shift weight slightly to your front foot — the board starts sliding sideways toward the front-foot direction.
3. To stop, level your weight. Equal weight, board stops.
4. To slide the other way, shift weight to your back foot. The board reverses direction.
5. Repeat. Zig-zag down the slope on your heels.

Toeside Falling Leaf

Same drill, facing uphill on your toe edge. More disorienting because you can't see where you're going. Trick: glance over the lead shoulder every few seconds.

Why It Matters

• It teaches edge control — the basis of every turn you'll ever make.
• It teaches weight transfer — the basis of every turn you'll ever make.
• It gets you down any green run safely — even before you can turn properly.

Spend an honest hour on each edge. It feels boring. It's not. The falling leaf is the foundation everything is built on.