I've stuck to the beginner trails of course, but I still fall a lot because my heel edge catches (i really try to avoid catching my toe edge ouch). I haven't taken a lesson so maybe that has something to do with it, but any suggestions for keeping better control of the board and not catching the edges ?

I just starting learning on my own how to snowboard. I've stuck to the beginner trails of course, but I still fall a lot because my heel edge catches (i really try to avoid catching my toe edge ouch). I haven't taken a lesson so maybe that has something to do with it, but any suggestions for keeping better control of the board and not catching the edges as much?

I've stuck to the beginner trails of course, but I still fall a lot because my heel edge catches (i really try to avoid catching my toe edge ouch). I haven't taken a lesson so maybe that has something to do with it, but any suggestions for keeping better control of the board and not catching the edges ?

Make sure to keep your weight over your front foot, and let the back foot "guide" the board.

A good visualization is to imagine that you are holding a box over the tip of the board.

Check out this article I wrote for TransWorld Snowboarding:

All You Need To Know: A Beginner's Guide To Snowboarding (http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com/snow/howto/article/0,26719,245330,00.html)

Take a lesson...it'll do you a world of good. It's all just a matter of learning when to transfer your weight. It's feeling it, not knowing it.

Please do not cross-post. I'm combining your two threads.

You need to either be on your heels or toes, hard. If you are flat footed, ever, your chances on catching edges are increased.

I've stuck to the beginner trails of course, but I still fall a lot because my heel edge catches (i really try to avoid catching my toe edge ouch). I haven't taken a lesson so maybe that has something to do with it, but any suggestions for keeping better control of the board and not catching the edges ?

Make sure to keep your weight over your front foot, and let the back foot "guide" the board.

Take a lesson...it'll do you a world of good. It's all just a matter of learning when to transfer your weight. It's feeling it, not knowing it.
:nod: to both of these. Snowboarding is all about learning to transfer your weight. Once you get it down, you never forget how to do it, but learning to feel it is the hardest part. Keep working at it and you'll figure it out. :tu: A lesson can be a lot of help.

Also, if you're in powder, you'll need to keep the weight much closer to the back foot, rather than the front foot, or else the nose will bury itself.

Don't lean! Use knee bends and heel/toe raises to transfer your weight.
Try raising your arms to shoulder height and parrellel to your board (so they're over either side of the board, like a starman!). When you want to turn all you do is follow your front hand - just slowly twist your body and you'll do a nice leisurly curve.

Also when you pick up speed and are keeping your weight nearer your front foot, try not to use your back leg to jerk the board back and forth to turn. It's a bad habit that most people pick up unless they take lessons.

And take one lesson. Just one and you'll improve a lot!