Last Updated25 October 2024

Advanced Freestyle takes a wider look at freestyle both in and out of the park, with a view to develop versatility and creative riding. This chapter shows a selection of tricks that are commonly performed at an advanced level and can be categorised into all-mountain, jumps, boxes/rails and halfpipe riding.

Boxes & Rails: 50-50 with Spins In & Out

What, Why, How

50-50s with a spin before landing on the feature or when leaving it.

To add more technical variety to your box/rail trick bag.

50-50 with 180-out:

Outside the park, on flat ground, explain how to create separation between the upper and lower body. Develop by explaining how to activate the muscles from this separated position to utilise counter-rotation to create a spin out.

Try in flat base tasks from an on-snow 50-50 focusing on feeling the entire soles of both feet when extending at takeoff.

Inside the park, choose a suitable feature and focus on creating separation during the trick zone of the 50-50. The timing of this is dependent on feature size and this position can be held into the landing.

Commit to the full trick by utilising counter-rotation when transitioning from trick zone to landing to spin the board 180 out.

Develop this trick by trying it from a switch 50-50, taking to a new feature, spinning out from a press or spinning a same-ways or pretzel 270 out from a boardslide (see Slopestyle in Competitive Snowboarding for more detail).

180 into a 50-50:

Outside the park, at a comfortable speed, practise the desired 180 (frontside or backside) in the fall line focusing on landing flat base (50-50). Try to keep the body as still as possible upon landing with the flat base.

From takeoff to trick zone, lead into the 180 more with the upper body and slightly delay the 180 with the board. This is beneficial for unwanted over-rotation of the body or board.

Develop the approach line by using drawings of features in the snow and ensure that flat base tracks are left on the snow upon landing.

Inside the park, choose a suitable ride-on feature and focus on the approach to ensure that students slide the length of the feature without drifting off the side. Explain where to look and then commit to the trick.

Develop by trying switch, adding a spin-out, taking to a new feature, landing in a press on the feature or spinning a frontside or backside 270 in (see Slopestyle in Competitive Snowboarding for more detail).

Landing Switch:

The focus shifts from use of counter-rotation to whole body rotation during the trick zone.

Similar tasks as above can be used for a boardslide-out-switch. Simply, change the use of counter-rotation to the whole body rotating together, with the back hand pointing at the landing as they exit the feature. This will allow the board to continue to pivot smoothly so it exits the feature in the switch direction.

Hot Tip

Just like playing with bar magnets in physics at school, the snowboard can repel, spin and lock onto or repel and spin away from the takeoff or feature, based on polarity. To spin on, the snowboard is one bar magnet that is repelled from the takeoff (the other bar magnet) to spin 180, so its polarity matches the feature and is attracted to it to lock in. To spin off, the feature repels the snowboard to spin 180 off and be attracted to the landing.

Movements & Board Performance

Vertical & Lateral

Extension should be used evenly from the ankles, knees and hips to avoid too much lateral movement of the COM at takeoff. For 180s-out, flexion used in the ankles, knees and hips to prepare for the transition from trick zone to landing zone must be done so in a proportion that keeps the board flat. Extension from this position should be used evenly from the ankles, knees and hips to avoid any lateral movement of the COM at takeoff. With appropriate speed and the right feature, minimal extension will be needed as the student can coast off the feature into the landing with enough time to spin in the air.

Rotational

When spinning on to a feature, a slight upper body rotational lead can be useful to help with spotting the transition into the trick zone. By leading into the spin with the upper body, a slightly separated position is created from which counter-rotation can be applied to help control the amount the board rotates in the air before landing on the feature. When spinning off a feature, the use of rotational separation and counter-rotation to create rotational momentum is key to success for any spin out. The head and upper body will always separate from the lower body in the direction of the spin out. The core muscles used to create counter-rotation will largely dictate the speed of the spin. The amount that the upper body can separate and lead into the spin will largely dictate the amount the lower body and board can spin out of the trick.

Longitudinal

A longitudinally centred stance will promote a stable takeoff and allow an optimal range of other movements to be used when needed throughout the complete trick.

Terrain & Group Management

Ensure that students can 50-50 a variety of features, switch 50-50 the feature being used and spin frontside and/or backside 180s depending on trick preference. It is beneficial if a student can boardslide (frontside or backside) out switch. Starting small is key with feature selection to build confidence in the movement patterns and where to look for spinning onto a feature. With any spin-out trick, ensure that taking it easy is the focus as it’s common to think that power is a key component to spin out. This can promote explosive movements over a flat base from a flat surface which when timed poorly can result in slip outs and unwanted edge catches. Instead, focus on efficient range of rotational movement explained with adjectives that promote smooth, predictable and calm movements.

Corrective Teaching

Student drifts left/right too much at takeoff causing them to miss the feature:

Develop the use of a minimal edge set for approach and takeoff to avoid travelling left/right from takeoff.

Review the approach line relative to the length of the feature.

Student edges on the feature as they transition from trick zone to landing:

Review how to create rotational separation over a flat base.

Focus on feelings under the entire soles of the feet to promote a flat base.

Lower the COM to reduce the effect of any unwanted lateral movements.

Student under-rotates the spin out:

Explore individual natural range of rotational separation on flat ground or simple tasks.

Establish individual fitness levels and develop awareness of core strength.

Focus on using a larger range of rotational separation during the trick zone and review where to look.

Self Reflection

“Can my student show discipline by landing on a flat base on-snow?”

“Can my student perform backside/frontside 180s with minimal edge set?”