Shoulders: parallel vs open ppl

[emchen]

Does anyone else pay attention to who skates with their shoulders super parallel vs. open?

Pretty sure most ppl have their shoulders a little open cuz that feels natural, but some guys keep it really lined up with the board (Clint Walker, Na-Kel, etc.) while some dudes look like they're always setting up to spin frontside.

Here's Clint Walker looking like he's gonna do a switch flip but it's not switch:
https://youtu.be/K6syghcVSz0?t=9m33s

And here's Luan doing a kickflip with his shoulders almost facing completely forward:


Personally, I keep my shoulders just a little open but I need to really line them up for kickflips or else I'll miss and just kick air.

[Baron Samedi]

I think for most people it's open shoulders for regs and closed/parallel with the board for switch. That tends to be the easiest way of telling when someone's skating switch. That's also why it was such a mindfuck when Brian Peacock first popped up - he has open shoulders skating in either stance, so at first glance it's really hard to tell what stance he is.