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Comment by grecy | Hacker News Reader

Here's a fun test - we're all in socks on a slippery wood floor. I'll give you $500 if you can run and slide further than I can.

Close you eyes and really imagine it (or do it right now). Really feel yourself sliding along, that tingly feeling of almost losing control, etc. etc. Going a little further with each try.

REALLY run and slide AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

Which foot did you have in front?

I'm very much right handed and footed in life, but in this test I can really only do it right foot forward (called 'goofy' in snowboarding) - left foot forward feels super sketchy to me even after years of practice, and I can't slide nearly as far.

The vast majority of people (left and right handed) are left foot forward.

(This is the best way to determine which foot a beginner should put forward on their snowboard or surfboard. Do the test without telling them you are doing the test. If they can equally do both, then it doesn't matter)

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I feel I can imagine myself sliding both ways. Actually doing it would more than likely reveal my preference though.

But when I try to imagine myself standing on a skateboard, it gets clear immediately: left foot forward. Right foot forward feels completely wrong.

An easier snowboard test is to tell someone to turn around and tell them you are going to give them a push. Give them a shove to the upper back and see which foot they put forward first to brace.

That is an old myth that doesn't work very well.

Source: I've been a level 3 snowboard instructor in Canada for 10+ years. There are only 4 levels.

It also doesn't work if you're with a group of students because it won't be a surprise after everyone sees you do it to the first student. If you have a "slide on snow" competition but don't say why, you can watch everyone and what foot is forward before you tell them what is going on.

Duly noted!

Right handed, but I pictured my left foot forward. I guess because I'd expect the power to come from my right foot (I'm right footed).

Same but I disagree on the explanation. When in comes to jumps I usually use my left foot but here it's more about balance than power I think and having played handball for a long time, I feel more stable with left foot in front

I brush my teeth and write with the left, dribble and throw with the right.

I kick the ball with the right, and on the boards sports I'm goofy.

Right handed with right-foot-forward as well.

Me too.

Huh, weird.

I tend to default to right foot forward for most things. Sport fencing did it, maybe…

On ice skates I (left handed and left footed) find it easier to come to a prompt stop with the left foot forward, and I naturally slide across ice and such with my left foot forward so, naturally, I thought I'd have the left foot forward while snowboarding.

Everything felt absolutely right, UNTIL I gained some real speed for the first time. Nope! Suddenly everything felt wrong, and I instinctively turned so I had my right foot forward.

So weirdly goofy it is.

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