This is done by tilting the body to either side of the board or flexing the joints to produce pressure on an edge. Movement around the vertical axis is achieved through rotary movements in which the body is twisted to control the amount of torque on the board. As the stance angles get higher with the rider's toes pointing more to the front of the board, as in a racing stance, the roles are somewhat reversed. As the body twists about the vertical axis, movements on these two planes are blended to control both the edge angle and leverage. Freestyle and racing are general terms to help you to visualize the way different stances change how a rider moves.
Freestyle riders tend to have wider stances as well as low stance angles.
This gives them the ability to twist the board with power and to finely control low edge angles but does not offer an effective way to provide the leverage needed for high edge angles. However, they don't have the leverage to rotate the board with power in slow-speed skidded turns. By twisting about the vertical axis a rider can enhance balance as well as edging and pressure control skills, but the main skill associated with movement about the vertical axis is rotary control. Counter motion isn't turning power, but it can be used in preparation for a turn. For instance, if the upper body is still, the lower body might be moving to the left or right.