The Gaper Guide to Snowboarding Style Faults and FailsAnd How To Fix That Whack Form, Function, and Flow
Welcome to the tribe. This guide post isn’t about gatekeeping; it’s a public service announcement designed to foundationally onboard you into snowboarding. When the sport was smaller, an inherent awareness of etiquette and technique—across the mountain—was learned through observation and modeling among tight crews, heckling and happenstance correction. As the general populous at-large takes over the base area, extending and upending the lifts and lines, it’s the responsibility of the collective advocates, arbiters, and enforcers to ensure these unspoken standards remain, now outwardly shared and impactfully clear. The sport is truly inviting of all, but for the shred scene to retain its established and aspirational quality in continuum, a certain adherence to decorum and unwritten law is absolute necessary. After all, when anything goes (’cause nobody knows) and everything’s cool … in fact, nothing, no longer is. The difference between a rider (Shred) with flow and style—and a Gaper (Kook, Jerry, or Noob), is defined by easily avoidable habits that compromise your composure and control, and those many intermountain interactions that make you apparently awkward, an on-hill distraction to be avoided, dissed, and dismissed. Moving past the Gaper status isn’t about talent … it’s more about ditching these inefficiencies and unawarenesses, that will then lend much to evolving one’s play, presence, performance, and prowess. Let your riding make the statement, command attention, not your short comings and wrong doings. The Number One Gaper Fail: Sitting Down to Strap InThis is the numero uno habit separating the Kook from the Shred. The practice of sitting down to strap into your board kills momentum, bottlenecks the mountain, and is completely unnecessary. The Gaper Trap
Shred Status: Mastering the Standing Strap-InThe goal is to clear the lift, out of traffic, pulled over to prep, accordingly.
Caveats: When Sitting is Less Gaper-y (But Still Not Shred Status)While the goal is to master the standing technique, certain real-world concessions exist:
Ultimately, commanding the Standing Strap-In technique is the definitive move that eliminates the need for benches, saves energy, and keeps your kit dry. The Flow Hack: Step-In or Step-On BindingsGapers sit down. Shreds learned to strap in standing up. But some alternate Masters of Flow use the new FASE system bindings, among other offerings, designed to eliminate the pause entirely. Step-in and step-on systems are the technological shortcut, whether you subscribe or not. Read more: Step In or Step On The Set-Up Fail: Swapped Anatomical BaseplatesWhen mounting your bindings, the left and right baseplates are not interchangeable, yet many Gapers unknowingly mount them up backward … positioned not duck-footed in stance, but instead fuck-footed in orientation, like a little kid who puts their feet in the wrong shoes. (This can also be a result of set-up done by the Jerry at the box store where you bought your board at discount. The Gaper Trap: What Happened StanceIf erroneously attached, it turns your stance into a disoriented ergonomic hiccup. (Now, if you’re running something dated and universally shaped in baseplate, but still functional, probably picked up at some yard sale last summer … binding straps attach from immediately inside your stance outward, so that they can be fastened / unfastened on the outer sides of your feet.) Shred Fix: Knowing Right From WrongMost modern bindings now feature anatomical molding — a quite obvious curvature denoting left and right. (Out of the box, on the board, and if/when in doubt, ask don’t assume.) Read more: Support Your Local Snowboard Shop The Oversized DaypackCarrying a massive, half-empty pack on groomer runs is a classic Gaper move. These packs are designed for backcountry safety, academia, or a trip to the beach … not resort riding essentials. (Leave the half-rack of PBR in the Subaru for a parking lot après.) The Gaper Trap: Too Much Stuff
Shred Fix: Light Is Right For Resort RidingIf you need to carry essentials (water, tool), use a small hip pack, leg bag, or a minimalist hydration vest. Otherwise, use the locker. Read more: WTF is in your Backpack / Equip-To-Rip The Pant Leg Faux PasYour outerwear is a key indicator of your experience level, particularly how you handle your pant cuffs. The Gaper Trap: Flossed and Flooded Pants
Flossing your pants guarantees that when you fall (and you will bail), the inside of your boots will fill with snow, leaving you with wet feet, blisters, and an early exit. Shred Fix: Just Don’t Do ItSnowboard pants are designed with a cuff gaiter (a secondary elastic band, some often fitted with a lace hook as an added failsafe) that goes over the boot to create a seal. The main pant cuff should then drape loosely over the boot for a clean, natural look that keeps the snow out. The Selfie State: “Look mom … no clue.”Prioritizing documentation over flow and safety is a modern, high-visibility Gaper fail. The entire mountain is not your personal content studio, and dangerous pauses expose everyone’s safety. The Gaper Trap: Not Everything is Worthy of DocumentingThis is the rider who stops suddenly, often right after a feature or halfway down a busy run, to check their edit, adjust their angle, or set up a “complicated” shot.
Shred Fix: Safe Capture, Maximum FlowShreds understand that the best footage is captured by paid professionals or in the minds’ eye. The Three-Step Rule: If you must stop to film: 1) Pull over completely, off the main line of the run. 2) Stop above the intended filming zone so you can spot incoming traffic. 3) Keep the pause brief.
Read more: Unplug and Ride The Mid-Run Menace: Stopping in the Danger ZoneThis is the most critical and unforgivable safety and etiquette violation, somewhat cited in the above section but highly repeatable. Never stop where you are not clearly visible from above. This is true for general runs, but mandatory for the terrain park. The Gaper Trap: Static ObstructionThe Mid-Run Menace stops to rest, text, or adjust their gear right after a roll-over or in a dip in the slope where they become an invisible roadblock.
Shred Fix: Always Spot, Always Clear
The Boombox Blunder: Bluetooth SpeakersRiding is a personal experience, and the mountain is a shared space. Blasting music from a portable speaker is a violation of shared etiquette. The Gaper Trap: Main Character SyndromeThe rider using a speaker assumes everyone around them appreciates their taste in music (they don’t) or wants their personal soundtrack forced upon them (they definitely don’t).
Shred Fix: Keep it PersonalKeep your soundtrack confined to headphones or helmet speakers that are audible only to you. If you’re riding with a group, the only acceptable volume is one where the speaker is barely audible to riders immediately next to it on the lift. When on the run, turn it off or down completely. Read more: New Sounds From The Way Back The Fabric Fail: Cotton KillsThis isn’t a style issue; it’s a fundamental failure of mountain safety and layering that screams inexperience. The Gaper Trap: Soggy Sweatshirts and JeansCotton absorbs and holds moisture, whether it’s sweat from exertion or snow from a fall. Once wet, cotton loses all insulating properties and acts like a freezer pack strapped to your body.
Shred Fix: The Rule of WickingNever wear cotton on the mountain. Everything that touches your skin—your socks, base layers, and mid-layers—must be made of materials that actively manage moisture.
The Padded Paradox: Butt ArmorThe use of padded shorts or “butt armor” is the clearest non-verbal announcement that you’re new to this (and not true to this). You can and should expect to fall and to take certain precautions in your awareness, accordingly. However, your ass is probably well-enough cushioned to get spanked on occasion. The Gaper Trap: “Rectum … Damn near killed ’em!”While protective gear is practical, the padding often creates an unmistakable, awkward bulk (like you’re carrying a load, giving you the appearance of wearing a thick, oversized diaper). This look instantly invites heckles and unwanted attention because it telegraphs inexperience and, possibly, turds. Shred Fix: Ok then! Safety First, Style Second
The Lazy Setup: Loose Gear LiabilityA true Gaper is easily spotted by poor attention to kit, fit, and setup, which directly impacts safety and performance. Gaper Trap: The Sloppy Boot LiabilityLoose boots are one of the fastest ways to compromise your riding. This leads to heel lift, where your heel rises inside the boot as you apply pressure to the board’s toe edge. This causes a delayed response, making your turns sloppy and inefficient. Shred Fix: Crank It Down
The Vision Fail: An Absence of EyewearThinking you don’t need to run goggles is an obvious oversight and a classic beginner mistake that compromises eye health and visibility. Gaper Trap: The No Goggle BoondoggleRiding without proper eye protection is dangerous and uncomfortable. High-altitude sun exposes eyes to intense UV radiation, risking painful snow blindness (photokeratitis); cold air at speed blasting your ocular orbs will make dryballs out of your eyeballs. Shred Fix: Optics Aren’t Ever Optional
The Headwear HaphazardA kinda critical safety and style component often overlooked is proper headwear, which protects against injury and the elements. (Helmets, for any parent reading this, are a non-negotiable, IMHO.) Gaper Trap: The Bare-Head or Bad-Beanie Gaper
Shred Fix: Thinner is a WinnerFor warmth, use a thin technical balaclava or a skullcap liner that doesn’t add bulk. If you’re only wearing a beanie, ensure it is low-profile, snug, and doesn’t flap around or impede your peripheral vision. The Toe-Edge Tussle (Flat-Ground Folly)This call-out and tip is perhaps a mere matter of personal preference and will likely be cause for comment and criticism. However, from my own perception, it smacks of skateboarding “goat” (the practice of pushing with your front foot, instead of your back) . When pushing on a snowboard, leaning your weight over the toe edge of your board is a habit to break stat, as it’s clumsy and counterproductive to control and glide. The Gaper Trap: Pushing GoatLeaning on and over the toe edge causes the board to dig into the snow, whereby you’ve got to constantly self correct to keep from falling forward, the board washing out behind you, with the likelihood of “Wilson-ing” on the track (the split-legged disaster where one foot stays on the board and the other slips out, a sure fire way to strain or tear your MCL). Why the Heel is the Only WayWhen you skate, your unstrapped foot should be positioned behind you for proper form. This prevents you from catching that toe edge, bashing into binding strap,s and offers more keen and clean control. Shred Fix: Heelside AlignedKeep the board perfectly flat and use your back foot, again positioned behind you, to generate quick, explosive pushes for momentum. The Flat-Track Fail: When In Doubt, Skate AboutFlat sections and lift lines are where a rider’s efficiency is truly tested. Gapers waste energy and momentum in these zones. Gaper Trap: The Hand-Pusher or “Clawer”This occurs when a Gaper, unable to generate speed, drops their hands and attempts to push themselves along the snow or the ground like a crab. This move is intensely inefficient, soaking your gloves, wasting energy, and causing you to lose all forward momentum. Shred Fix: What Would Lupe Fiasco Do?If the slope is truly flat, unstrap your back foot, and kick, push, kick, push, coast. The Riding Fail: The Backseat HunchThis is the ultimate failure of form and the source of immense frustration. It’s the most common technical flaw among beginners attempting to link turns. The Gaper Trap: Leaning BackwardsThe Backseat Gaper is terrified of catching their front edge, so they compensate by leaning their body weight aggressively over the back foot and tail of the board.
Shred Fix: The Balanced StanceYour weight should always be centered and balanced over the middle of the board. Think of a gentle, athletic forward lean, bending your knees and ankles to keep your chest facing slightly down the hill (over your front binding). This puts pressure on the front edge, allowing you to actually control the turn initiation. Control comes from the front, not the back. The Outerwear Uniform: The Dope Snow TellWhile style is subjective, the brand you wear can be a powerful non-verbal indicator of your mountain literacy. The widespread adoption of Dope Snow as the mass-market brand has made them the outerwear du jour for the general public. The Gaper Trap: Dope is NopeThese kits are characterized by highly visible, matching color schemes (often monochromatic pastels or loud colors), prominent oversized lettering, and a focus on social media aesthetic over technical, multi-condition performance. Wearing a completely matching, high-visibility outfit immediately telegraphs that the rider is more focused on making a visual statement than on technical mountain navigation and layered utility. It screams, “I bought this entire outfit online last week.” Shred Fix: Many Other Alternatives …Shreds favor established, technical shell brands that prioritize Gore-Tex or similar high-end waterproofing, durability, and a classic, low-profile look. Focus on layering (shell over insulation) and subtle, earth-toned colors that blend with the mountain. A slightly mismatched, durable kit shows an understanding of fashion and funcition and suggests years of accumulating proven, reliable gear. Read more: The Case for (and Against) Dope Snow The Fashion Fails: Jerseys, Starter Jackets, and Loud AccessoriesYour outerwear should speak to technical function, not team loyalty or throwback nostalgia. Snowboarding is its own a culture and while independent non-conformity and questionable attire are usually celebrated, dressing like you just left a sporting event isn’t. The Gaper Trap: Jock Twitch, etc.
Shred Fix: Ride More Schlock LessLet your riding do the talking, not your gear.
The Confidence Clause: Intentional IronyThis is the singular, highest-level exception to all fashion and style rules. When a highly proficient rider employs a seemingly “Gaper” uniform—such as a ridiculous costume, non-technical jersey, or neon snowsuit—it’s not an accident or a technical flaw. The Uniform of Ironic MasteryThis choice is known as The Confidence Clause. The outfit is a stylistic declaration of ironic intent, turning a technical foul into a piece of performance art.
The Lingo Litmus TestTerminology is often the first indicator of experience. While language evolves, the old school guard still recognizes when someone is talking the talk, or just talking. The most authentic and time-honored term is “Riding” or “Shredding” (as in “shredding the gnar”), which refers to snowboarding. While this term originated and held strong in the core lexicon, it has since been widely adopted across all board sports—from wave to concrete. Although it remains an authentic term, its widespread usage means it carries less unique distinction than it once did. The term “Boarding” had traditionally been a clear sign of a Gaper, as it’s often used by outsiders. While it has become somewhat acclimated due to mass adoption, I still cringe when I hear it. Boarding is the equivalent of “Sarfing”. This is an iteration of “Surfing,” used specifically to denote a prevalent kook-dom and the absolute lack of etiquette and style similarly invading saltwater line-ups. The Queue KillerThis is the failure to maintain flow and momentum right before entering the lift line, creating a bottleneck that affects everyone behind you. The Gaper Trap: The Unstrap Choke PointThe Gaper comes to a halt right in front of or just inside the lift queue entrance, usually sitting down here to now, you guessed it, unstrap. This sudden obstacle forces everyone behind you to halt while you struggle with your binding, completely killing the flow of the line and wasting precious minutes on a busy day. The Shred Fix: Properly Prepared for UploadSimply unstrap well before the queue begins and skate in with your back foot already freed or glide on through the entrance at a mellow pace, bend over, unstrap, and step out. Ditching the Gaper GameMoving from a Gaper to Shred isn’t about stomping sevens; it’s about addressing and eliminating all the gangly shit that squashes your steez. The points in this guide—from the simple act of strapping in while standing to correcting the crippling backseat hunch—are all focused on making your fit and flow smoother, safer, and more fun. Again, this has been a public service announcement brought to you by That Snowboarding Blog. Our mission is to elevate and elaborate on mountain connection and culture for the everyday rider. Flow is the final goal: momentum that requires minimal energy. And if any above the above traps had you hamstrung or harangued … you’ll be amazed how quickly these small altered states unlock huge improvements in your evolution and enjoyment.
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Selasa, 07 Oktober 2025
The Gaper Guide to Snowboarding Style Faults and Fails
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