Anyway I tried boarding for the first time last year and within 3 trips I was not only addicted but had advanced to actually be able to handle the "Salamander" at timberline really well. Of course my friends (boarder from the french alps) decides to take me to "The Drop" that day. Needless to say I didn't do very well on it but thankfully to the deep snow I survived.
Anyway this year I'm much smarter and wiser regarding a few things and am wondering if anyone has tips on boarding. My current is that I am able to carve satisfactory on a mild Blue slope.
I've personally been snowboarding for 7 years, going on my 8th this season. I did infact ski for about 12 years, and there were a few years when I did both.
If you are able to make carves on blue trails (such as Timberline's Dew Drop) you are probably ready to step it up a notch. You will find that in the beginning going from edge to edge on black diamonds like you do on blue squares will not get what you need to get done... you'll go rocketeering down the trail and probably into the intensive care unit. Instead, at first, you'll want to slip your carves from time to time.
By "slip" your carves what I mean is that you make a toeside or heelside carve and instead of rolling right back into another turn you can push with the uphill foot (push downhill) to give you a speed-check then go into your next turn. It's very similar to skiing very steep terrain where you have to turn and slide a little to remain in control. Eventually you'll grow out of having to do this and will be able to either extend your turns more laterally or vertically against the fall line to keep your speed in check.
So to jump on the subject of body movement here... when you are doing these turns with the short slide at the end you will probably want to turn your upper body some. Later on you can play with putting pressure on your back foot and such and manuvering it to limit upper body rotation. But for now you'll probably want to turn a little to the left for a heelside or a little to the right on a toeside, and if you must, use your arms to counter balace. In chop you will end up on your stomach or behind a few times simply because you'll lose contact with the snow... but this won't need to go on forever.
Aside from riding those blacks... focus on riding switch. You will be slapping your self x number of years later for not being able to ride moderatly well switch. This becomes a big thing if you ever start riding in the park or pipe... or just on random occasions on the hill where you need to get out of a tight spot or avoid something.
Happy Riding! (And avoid T-Line rentals... you really don't want to know what goes on down there with the boards).
PS- Didn't you find Salamander a little flat?
Mainly it took me a bit longer to aquire balance on the board where I would overturn, underturn and either way take nice faceplants in the snow. heh. I am at the point now that when I go down the salamander (yeah it is flat esp at the top) I can do wide side to side carves as well as riding switch. I never intentionally tried to ride switch, the board would continue to loop around when I would try to stop so I had to loop around again. I got quite proficent at that.
*Sigh* I should be giving lessons... I could be making money off this experience. But I'd rather just ride.