Let’s get this out of the way. Moguls are harder on a snowboard than skis. Anyone who says otherwise is lying (or very flexible).
That said, they’re not impossible. And you don’t need to “just send it” or straight line through them in survival mode either. There’s a way to ride bumps that actually works on a board.
Quick answer
Snowboarding moguls is about controlling speed with short turns, using the sides of the bumps and staying loose through your legs. Don’t try to carve them like a groomer and don’t try to stop on every turn. Pick a manageable line, keep moving and accept that it’s more about control than style.
stop riding them like Groomers
Most problems start here.
If you try to carve moguls the same way you carve a smooth run, you’ll get launched, stalled, or bucked around. Bumps aren’t about clean arcs. They’re about managing speed and keeping the board pointed somewhere sensible.
Accept that moguls are essentially controlled chaos (if you’re lucky). That mindset shift helps more than any trick.
Control Speed with Short turns
The instinct is to slam the brakes every turn. That usually makes things worse. Attempting “skid turns” means you’ll inevitably flex the board into a dip or over a mound.
Instead of long, slow turns, think short and deliberate. Turn across the face of the bump, then redirect in the trough. That naturally controls speed without locking you up.
You’re not trying to stop. You’re trying to keep moving (in control).
Use the sides of the bumps, not the top
This is the biggest practical tip.
Riding straight over the tops is tiring and unpredictable. The sides of moguls are smoother, more consistent, and give you something to work with.
Aim to ride around the bumps, not over them. Let the shape of the snow guide your line.
Keep your upper body calm
If your shoulders are flailing, the board will follow.
Try to keep your upper body relatively quiet and facing downhill. Let your legs do the work underneath you. You don’t need to be rigid or in a permanent state of panic.
If you feel like you’re wrestling the board, slow down slightly and simplify your line.
Flex your legs
Moguls demand leg movement. There’s no way around that.
Absorb the bumps by bending and extending your legs instead of letting the board get kicked up into you. If you stay stiff, you’ll get bucked pretty quickly.
You don’t need perfect timing. You just need to stay loose enough to react.
Pick a line and commit
Indecision kills mogul riding.
Pick a line you can manage even if it’s conservative and stick to it for a few turns. Constantly changing plans mid run leads to awkward stops and worse falls.
Commit first. Adjust later.
Traversing is Allowed
This isn’t a contest.
If you need to traverse out, reset, or catch your breath, do it. Everyone does, including people who pretend they don’t.
Moguls are tiring. Smart riding includes knowing when to pause. But for the love of god snowboarding, rest at the side of the run, not the middle!
Jump When Needed
If your line is naturally taking you over the top of a few bumps, pop that shit. Sometimes you’ll need to ollie into the next mogul. That’s fine. Sometimes you’ll need to “jump turn” around a mound. That’s fine too.
Video Recap
The honest truth
Snowboarding moguls almost never feels effortless. Anyone who tells you it does is probably on skis.
But with the right approach, they stop feeling like punishment and start feeling manageable. That’s the goal. Control over style.
Once you get there, bumps become just another surface, not something to dread.
