Snowboarding: How to Do a Leaper

Leapers are a technique that’s used to change edges quickly by getting your snowboard off the ground. Learning to do a leaper is a key skill in riding through soft snow and down steep terrain. In this REI Expert Advice Video, Lauren Barnes, from the American Association of Snowboard Instructors, explains how to initiate and land leapers. Shop REI’s selection of snowboards at REI.com/c/snowboards

Transcript

My name is Lauren Barnes. I'm with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. Leapers are a great tactic to use for soft snow, steeps and ungroomed soft terrain. The main focus of a leaper is to be changing edges off of the ground. So as I initiate my turn, I'm going to get nice and low and I'm going to flex my ankles, knees and hips. As I'm getting ready to change edges, I'm going to pop up and extend hard so my snowboard comes up off of the snow. That's when I'm going to change my edges. As my new edge comes in contact with the snow I'm going to flex down to make for a nice soft landing so my snowboard can ride out smoothly and I don't put too much impact on my body. I'm going to continue that flex down into the new turn so I'm ready to initiate the next one.