insta360insta360
insta360

Snowboarding 101: Analyze and Improve Your Skills With Insta360 X4

A 360º action camera like Insta360 X4 isn't just perfect for capturing the winter action in icy fresh 8K quality, it can also help you analyze and improve your snowboarding skills! Tried and tested by king of the slopes Malcolm Moore, here's some expert advice that will have you S-turning and edge-changing like a pro.

Using these action cameras can help you to identify issues and figure out how to solve them. Check out some classic mistakes and how to spot them with Insta360 X4 and Insta360 X3.

Me Mode

Both X4 and X3 have the perfect shooting mode for snowboarders: Me Mode. Using your 360º cam and the Invisible Selfie Stick, Me Mode keeps you centered for third-person wide-angle videos with your whole body in the frame.

A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick.
  • There's no need to reframe afterward.
  • Records up to 120fps (X4) or 60fps (X3) for quality, slow-mo footage.
  • Gets your whole body in the shot so you can analyze your movements (and mistakes!) clearly.

Simply switch to Me Mode and start recording.

Analyzing Footage: What to Look For

Ask yourself these questions as you watch yourself back:

  • Do I have the correct weight distribution between my feet?
  • Is my weight stacked properly over the edge?
  • Is the board skidding or gripping?
  • Am I getting an early edge change?

An early edge change means the board has rolled from one edge to the other before pointing down the slope. It's an essential skill to have smooth, controlled turns. Imagine an arrow pointing out from you in the direction you're moving (not the direction your board is pointing). The earliest point in a turn you can make any edge change is when your board matches the line of that arrow.

A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There is a green arrow effect that appears on screen indicating an early edge change.
The board is already on the toe edge before reaching the fall line, indicating an early edge change.

Once you've spotted these mistakes, it's time to figure out why they're happening and how to fix them.

Am I getting an early edge change?

  1. Hold the Invisible Selfie Stick out to the side and try to keep it horizontal.
  2. Film in Me Mode and see if you can spot these things:
  • Whether the board is already on the toe/heel edge before reaching the fall line.
  • If the toe/heel edge is cutting into the snow.
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There is a green arrow on screen next to his board indicating the lack of an edge change.
The board doesn't get onto the heel edge until it's pointing down the slope and in the fall line.
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There is a green arrow on screen next to his board indicating the lack of an edge change.
The toe edge of the board is cutting into the snow, meaning there is a lack of an edge change.

Why is the board skidding?

  1. Hold the Invisible Selfie Stick out in front of you. Try to keep it at a 45-degree angle to capture the whole rider and a better view down at the board.
  2. Film in Me Mode and check if the board is skidding:
  • Imagine one arrow sticking out from the center of the board to the nose and another from the center towards the direction you're traveling.
  • If those arrows are 90 degrees apart, you're skidding a lot. If they're closer, you're gripping!
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There are 2 green arrows about 90 degrees apart on the screen indicating the lack of an edge change.
The arrows are far apart, indicating that the board is skidding.
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There are 2 green arrows close together on screen indicating the board is gripping.
The arrows are close together, so the board is gripping.

If you're skidding, check if the upper body is rotating ahead of the lower body and if your weight is over the back foot rather than the front knee.

A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There are 2 green arrows about 90 degrees apart on the screen indicating the lack of an edge change.
Skidding
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There are 2 green arrows close together on screen indicating the board is gripping.
Gripping

How do I S Turn?

  1. Hold the Invisible Selfie Stick out in front of you and film in 360º Video Mode to film everything going on around you.
  2. Film at 60fps so you can play footage back in slow motion. Trust us, it's much easier to spot issues this way.
  3. Once you've finished filming, import the footage into the Studio desktop software and pan around the image. Reframe so the person is in the center, turn Stabilization on, turn Direction Lock off.
Insta360 Studio interface.

Watch out for the following:

  • Check how much you're skidding on each edge. See whether the nose of the board is pointing down the slope or across it.
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick. There are 2 green arrows about 90 degrees apart on the screen indicating the lack of an edge change.
The arrows are far apart, indicating that the board is skidding on each edge.
  • If your board is always pointing down the slope, rather than 90 degrees across the slope, it will continually pick up speed, so you're most likely skidding to slow yourself down. Bringing the board across the slope lets you control your speed without skidding, allowing you to make an early edge change for a smoother turn. A good way to fix this is with an S turn.
A snowboarder snowboarding down a mountain with action camera Insta360 X4 attached to a selfie stick.
The board is always pointing down the slope, meaning the rider is skidding to slow down.
  • Imagine the letter "S" in your head. Start with your board in a traverse going across the slope to get that early edge change, then use the traverse across the slope to control your speed. If you're not pointing down the slope, you're not going to be picking up speed, stopping you from skidding.
  • Once you've made the turn, you can quickly go into the next edge change and cut out that traverse in the middle. If you're still skidding, then you probably have something wrong with your posture or weight distribution instead.

Gear Up for Snow Season

Ready to hit the slopes? Here's everything you need:

  • Insta360 X4 or Insta360 X3
  • Invisible Selfie Stick
  • Removable Lens Guards for X4 and X3 (in case of any biffs or stacks)

Once you're a bit more comfortable holding and using the camera, you can experiment with different mounts. Unlock mind-bending third-person perspectives with the Helmet Extension Rod (included in the Snow Kit), immersive first-person angles with the Chest Strap or GTA-style shots with the Third-Person Backpack Mount.

Check out the Insta360 X4 Snowboard Bundle (US$556) or the X3 Shaun White Snow Bundle (US$486) and get all the essentials for the slopes. Shred, carve, shoot.


Keen to keep up to date on Insta360 stories? Keep an eye on our blog and sign up for our mailing list.

Are you on the list?
Subscribe to receive top stories, tips and news right in your inbox.
WRITTEN BY @Laura Nellis
Was this helpful?
Thank you for your feedback!
insta360
Questions about products? Chat with us now.guide