Last Updated6 June 2024

Exploring Freestyle looks at a series of tricks to develop freestyle riding both outside and inside the park. A good understanding of park safety and the ATTL model is essential to successfully break down and teach each trick safely.

Freestyle is often one of the main reasons why people start snowboarding. Remember that, whilst extremely popular, freestyle is not for everyone. Be mindful of your students’ interests and do not push them into freestyle if they appear uncomfortable. The tricks featured in this resource are some of the fundamental tricks required to become a well-rounded freestyle snowboarder. Students will need a variety of turn sizes and shapes before learning these tricks. In some tricks, students will require the ability to flat base and ride switch, for the approach and takeoff and/or to perform or land the trick.

Backside 180s

What, Why, How

A 180° rotation in the air, with your back facing in the direction of travel during the spin. This is anti-clockwise for goofy and clockwise for regular riders.

The backside 180 is considered a must-have for any aspiring freestyle rider. It creates a thrill as the rider has their back turned in the air to the direction they are travelling. This is the foundation for all backside spins.

On an easy green run review forward and switch closed turns.

On flat ground with the snowboard off, review the difference between frontside and backside spins. Backside is when the back turns to face the direction of travel when starting the spin.

In an active stance, flex down a little and pre-wind by turning the upper body towards the nose of the board. Now jump up, at the same time unwinding the upper body to spin 180 degrees. Retracting the legs a little while in the air and landing by flexing through the ankles, knees and hips. Looking back at the approach and takeoff throughout the spin and while landing will help with balance and avoid over-rotating. Try the same activity switch. This exercise works well on a slight incline or gentle bank too, as it allows the student to gain the awareness of taking off from the toes and landing on the heels.

Using similar steps and terrain to develop the frontside 180. Traverse forwards on the toe edge, try hopping by extending through the ankles, knees and hips. Gently pre-wind turning the upper body towards the nose, then guide the board through a skidded backside 180 until traversing switch on the heels.

Try a hop off the heels then continue to traverse to finish. Develop landings with switch heelside hops looking in the opposite direction of travel (as long as it is safe to do so). This activity puts the ATTL in sequence.

To ease students into the trick, blend the steps together by traversing across the hill on the toe edge, guiding the board uphill a little, flex, pre-wind and jump the board around 90 degrees to land softly on the heels, skidding the last part of the trick. To perform the full 180, from a toeside traverse, flex, pop/spin, land and ride away. Remember to look back towards the approach and takeoff during the trick and landing.

Now combine the steps in a row, using a toeside traverse, perform a hop off both toes, followed by a pre-wind and skidded 180, followed by a hop off the heel edge in the other direction. This puts the approach, takeoff, trick and landing in sequence. Try this activity from a forwards and switch approach.

Hot Tip

Have students focus a lot more on their surroundings for the backside 180 as visual cues are a powerful teaching tool: “During the approach and takeoff, pick out an object/marker to help keep your eyes up and your body stacked over the edge. During the transition from trick to landing, let’s focus on looking back towards the takeoff and our approach track."

Once all the movements are beginning to blend, find natural terrain that your student can ride into on their toe edge, e.g. banks, cat tracks or bumps to help create some extra airtime for the 180.

Once comfortable with forwards backside 180s, try them switch or integrate switch attempts at appropriate points throughout the progression.

VIDEO: Backside 180s with Greg Samson

Movements & Board Performance

Rotational with Spin

The spin is led with the shoulders. The lower body follows from takeoff and once in the air rotates past the upper body to land. Looking down and back towards the takeoff point throughout the spin will help to avoid over-rotating.

Vertical

Focus on flexing and extending the ankles, knees, hips and lower spine. This is used for pop and to retract in the air. It is also necessary for flexion to absorb the landing.

Lateral

Taking off from the toe edge is more natural for the rotation and will help increase the pop vertically as the rider can utilise their ankle joints. When performing a backside 180 from a toeside traverse it is important to land on the heel edge. When trying it over a park jump, pressuring the toe edge during takeoff and landing will aid the spin and help to stop over-rotation and edge catches.

Longitudinal

A centred stance is the key to taking off and landing on both feet; however, an ollie will be beneficial to those familiar with the movement.

Terrain & Group Management

Begin on a flat area for stationary tasks and then progress to a mellow blue or green run depending on student comfort levels. Take some time to ensure that students are comfortable getting their snowboard off the ground and also with switch riding. As the landing is blind, terrain selection and low traffic is essential to create a calm learning environment.

Corrective Teaching

Student has problems popping off two feet and ends up rolling over the nose:

Focus their attention on springing with the ankles and using them at the same time to generate pop.

Encourage a slightly later rotation just as the board pops into the air.

Student has trouble riding into or out switch:

Review elements of the linked turns progression in switch to increase confidence riding switch.

Reinforce movements fore and aft to aid initiation with the new front foot.

Challenge your student with switch flat base tasks including hops to develop the movements required to take off and land in their switch direction.

Ensure the size of the feature is suitable for their comfort and skill level.

Student reverts on landing:

Ensure that the student is not looking for their landing.

Work on rotating the head separately to the core, only looking in the direction of travel after the board has touched down and they are stable on their edge.

Reduce the amount of upper body rotation used and focus on rotating more through the hips.

Encourage a slight toe edge or flat base landing, before rolling to the heel edge.

Self Reflection

“Is my student comfortable enough to ride away switch, without looking where they are going?”

“Are nerves making my students tense in their ankles and knees, causing instability?”

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