Snowboarding · Beginner · Technique
Heelside is the long edge of the snowboard under your heels. On the heel edge you stand facing down the slope and press this edge into the snow by pushing through your heels: increase the pressure and you slow down and stop, ease it off and you slide. Most beginners learn speed control and stopping on a snowboard on the heelside first.
Written by: Outdoor AcademyTechnical review: Mustafa Kaya · 27 October 2026Published: 5 min readKIS-027
A snowboard has two long edges. The edge under your heels is the heelside (heel edge), and the edge under your toes is the toeside (toe edge). Every braking movement and every turn on a snowboard is made with these two edges.
| Heelside | Toeside | |
|---|---|---|
| Which way do you face? | Down the slope | Up the slope |
| Where is your weight? | On your heels | On your toes |
| Body | Hips slightly back, as if sitting on a chair | Knees towards the snow, upper body upright |
| For beginners | Usually learned first | After heelside |
The reason heelside is learned first is simple: you can see the slope, and if you fall, you fall backwards onto your bottom. On the toeside your back faces down the slope, which feels more intimidating at first.
In a side-slip the board only goes down. The falling leaf, on the other hand, lets you travel left and right while staying on your heel edge:
The result is a zigzag across the slope, like a leaf falling in autumn. This drill teaches you to steer with your front and back foot without changing edges, and it is the bridge to your first linked turn.
| Mistake | What happens? | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pushing your hips too far back, sitting down | Your weight shifts from your heels to your bottom, the edge does not hold, you fall | Keep your chest upright, bend your knees, feel your weight on your heels |
| Letting the board go flat | The downhill toe edge catches in the snow, a hard fall forwards | Stay on your heel edge at all times, never let the edge angle drop to zero |
| Looking at your feet | Your upper body hunches forward, your weight moves onto the toe edge | Eyes ahead, arms forward |
| Locking your legs | Every bump jolts you, the board bounces | Soft knees and ankles |
| Using only your back foot | The board starts to turn, you lose control | Equal pressure on both feet, short weight shifts to steer |
Once you can slide and stop comfortably on the heelside, the next step is to do the same movements on the [toeside](/outdoor-akademi/snowboard/toe-side-parmak-kenariyla-kayma), and then combine the two edges into an S-turn (linked turn). The full beginner roadmap is in our guide How Do You Start Learning to Snowboard?.
What makes heelside stick is repetition on consecutive days: edge control learned one day is consolidated on the slope the next morning. That is why Doğadayız winter activity holidays are built as a slope programme of several days with an instructor; progressing together with friends at the same stage is the most enjoyable part of a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız Packages
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
Doğadayız social adventure holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Most beginners learn heelside first. Because you face down the slope, you can see where you are going, and you usually fall onto your bottom.
There are two common reasons: pushing your hips too far back and taking your weight off your heels, or letting the board go flat so that the downhill toe edge catches in the snow. Keep your chest upright and your knees bent, and never let go of your heel edge.
Keep the board across the slope and press through your heels to increase the edge angle decisively; the board slows down and stops. Keep your weight on your heels until you have stopped.
BeginnerLearningSnowboarding · KIS-021
You start snowboarding by finding your stance (regular or goofy), with a beginner lesson with an instructor and with rental equipment. On day one you learn to push with one foot and to side-slip on your heel edge (heelside) and your toe edge (toeside); then you change direction with the falling leaf, and usually on day 2–3 you make your first linked turns.
Read the guide →GeneralSafetyWinter Sports · KIS-081
The FIS 10 rules for conduct are the rules of behaviour set by the International Ski Federation for skiers and snowboarders: respect for others, control of speed, choice of route, overtaking, entering the piste, stopping, climbing and descending on foot, respecting signs, assistance and identification. They are not law; however, around the world they are used as a benchmark when assessing liability in skiing accidents.
Read the guide →
