Posts on 'Coleman' slides
On 1/26/97 Randal wrote in from :
Basic 'Coleman' slide:
Cliff Coleman, the legendary downhill skater from Berkeley originated this move and has developed it into an artform. If your speed is getting away from you, or traffic is coming, or you need to come to a stop for whatever reason, just lay out a Coleman slide. This move can be a lifesaver. First, you need to cut a piece of UHMWPE (cutting board plastic) about 4" square by 1/2" thick and shoe-goo it to the palm of your left glove (this is written for regular, if you are goofy just reverse everything). Now, with a bit of speed, carve a frontside drop-knee g-turn (crouch down fully and be sure to roll your back foot), as you carve plant your left hand and let it drag. Pull the carve tighter and keep your weight forward - you want to push the nose and keep the tail from sliding out. As the board breaks into a full-on powerslide allow your sliding hand to support some weight. Hold your position as you slide (don't extend your legs or you'll end up sliding on your butt) and bring your free hand around smoothly as if to wave to someone back up the hill. This is important as swinging the free hand controls the slide direction and stops the 'pendulum' swing from over-rotating. From here you can stop and get off, or stand up and kick-turn back down the hill, or whatever. This may sound a bit complicated but it is a natural move and easy to learn. These slides are a lot of fun and safe to do, even with real speed. The only drawback is that these slides will chew up wheels fast!
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On 3/28/01 Cliff Coleman wrote in from 209.162.xxx.xxx:
hc, pendulum slides are easier to learn with one hand down first. Here's why, with two hands down your uphill hand stops your body from rotating. Although your board still slides, you end up behind the board. This usually doesn't cause injury but does take the fabric off of the back of your pants. To learn this slide properly, place the downhill hand on the ground and use your uphill hand to help steer. Do this by reaching the uphill hand in the direction of the slide, in the air across your body. This turns your body and weights the inside rail of your board. After completing the first 180 just stay put! With your hand still across your body the board will naturally swing back another 180 to your starting point. If you think about it, the inside rail you weighted to start the first 180 is now on the other side and still weighted. This is what causes the board to swing back around.
You do need the right amount of speed to complete a pendulum slide. Too slow and you won't make it all the way back. To be able to do it with two hands down takes even more speed. J M Durran and many others do use two hands down but they have been doing slides at speed for many years. By the way, I usually only use one hand down for pendulums.
Good Luck,
Cliff Coleman
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On 3/29/2002 Cliff Coleman wrote in from 165.247.xxx.xxx:
Andy,
There are two reasons you are failing to complete the slide without the rail grab.
1. It is important to roll both knees forwards in the direction of the slide. This helps weight the inside rail and initiate the turn/slide.
2. You must reach forward with the arm/hand that is not on the ground. This controls your steering! If for instance, you don't reach forward with the free arm, you will end up behind the board and on the ground sitting on your butt. Many who first start to learn this slide are fearful of falling and feel more comfortable putting both hands on the ground or keeping the free hand near the ground in case they happen to fall.
By keeping the free hand back and not in the direction of the slide, you stop the upper body from rotating. It is this rotation that weights the inside rail and starts the slide. KEEP THE FREE HAND IN THE AIR, REACHING IN THE direction of the slide! If you do this, you won't have to extend you back leg to make the board slide. Just by rolling your knees forward and reaching in the direction of the slide with your free hand you should have fewer or no problems. If this doesn't work, get back to me. Another point, make sure you are all the way down in your crouch before you put your downhill hand on the ground.
Cliff Coleman
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(on pendulums)
On 3/30/2001 Cliff Coleman wrote in from 216.224.xxx.xxx:
Leo,
Step 1.
If you are regular footed, left foot forward the you place your left hand on the road and swing your right hand across your body. This will help rotate your upper body in the direction of the slide. Drop your back knee toward your front foot. You will have to roll the back foot to the inside of it's shoe. The front foot will roll slightly forward also. All of this will weight the inside rail of your board. This will result in the first 180 slide.
Step 2.
Do not rebalance to the toe side on your deck, do not move your right arm back to it's starting position, just STAY PUT with your left hand on the ground and your right arm across your body and in the air. After the first 180 slide is completed the left hand rail of your board that was weighted is now on the right hand side of your board. If you still have any speed left you will automatically slide back around to your starting position completing the second 180. This is a pendulum slide. Any heel side slide followed immediately by a toe side slide would be a 360 slide. Any toe side slide followed immediately by a heelside slide is also a 360. Any heelside slide followed immediately by another heelside slide is a pendulum slide. Any toeside slide followed immediately by another toeside slide is also a pendulum slide. The only difference between the two is that one starts heelside and the other starts toeside. To get a great view of this slide check out the "Monkey" video and watch John Dread do them.
Keep trying,
Cliff Coleman
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(on drop knee stance)
On 5/1/2002 Cliff Coleman wrote in from 68.7.xxx.xxx:
Gavin, semi long post of help.
I can see how you get confused about the difference between a drop knee turn and the position needed to carve a turn with your gloved hand sliding on the ground. Picture a weight lifter who is squatting the weight. Stand with your feet at least shoulder width apart. Then squat down completely until your butt is on your heels. Once you are bottomed out and all the way down in your squatting position, roll the back knee forward in the direction of your carve and let it rest on your front shoe. You will have to roll the front foot just a little also. Now both knees are dropped and pointing in the direction of travel. Don't grab the rail, this will stop you from dropping the back knee and may keep your upper body from rotating in the direction of the slide. This may prevent you from sliding the board, or if the board slides you will not go with it. Back to basics, once crouched all the way down, place your lead gloved hand on the ground and practice a simple circular carve letting the glove slide on the ground. At the end of the carve, while looking where you are going/rotating, exagerate reaching the trailing hand across your body in the direction of the carve and your board should start to easily slide. You won't have to push out with the back foot. If you push with the back foot you may end up behind the board.
Good luck,
Cliff Coleman