foot / binding angle

Deyeme · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 36 City: Troy

What angle should my feet be? In martial arts, I learned to have my "front" foot facing my target, and my rear foot facing perpendicular. The "old habits die hard" thing plays in here, too, I suppose.

Anyway, my steering sucks. I'm working on holding the rope at the proper angle, but my feel kinda feel "awkward" at straight sideways (both feet perfectly perpendicular to either board direction). I pointed each binder out a notch from that ( \ / ) but now my wife says it's more troublesome for her. So, what seems to be the "right angle" for everyone here? Beginners and other newbs' opins appreciated!

Oh, and I'm right-foot-forward, but my wife and son are both "normal". Go figure!

Nooga678 · Posted: Aug 28, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

As you get better you will want to ride switch (your other foot forward), and for this it is best to have the binding set at the same angle so it doesn't feel any weirder than it will already feel. It seem the consensus on the board from the topic I have read regarding the subject is 8 to 10 degrees angled out. My bindings don't have angle marks, and I don't have a protractor so I just went with what felt good. One post said to jump off the couch and how your feet land is how you should set the board up. If you are sharing a board with people that ride normal and you ride goofy, I would go ahead and set the bindings up semmetrical and just find the amount of outward angle you all can agree on.

Another solution is I have seen quick release binding screws that work like a quick release on a bicycle. You would have to make sure these work with your bindings, but then you could just pop the bindings off, and reattached them for each persons preference.

Last bit of newb to newb advice: Go ahead and start learning to ride switch now!!! For me it was easier to learn to get up switch than to try a surface 180 at first.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

It's best to have them even for when you ride switch. I set mine at 16 degrees but it depends on how wide your stance is. When you bend your knees they should be over your toes. That is the natural position for the most support to prevent injury.

SeaLyon · Posted: Aug 28, 2006 2:14 pm Post subject:

The way I was taught was to just stand natural, then place your binding in the same angle.

Justin 25 · Addict Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 797

I ride with both of my bindings the same angle... like \ /. I only do that so i can ride switch though, just experiment till you find something that feels right for you.