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: Presses

What, Why, How

Rider lands in and holds a nose or tail press for the duration of a feature.

Presses add style to box and rail riding, and are a natural trick to develop from a 50-50.

VIDEO: Nose & Tail Presses with Claire Dooney

Review ollies, nollies and presses outside of the park, highlighting the differences between just lifting up the nose or tail and efficiently pressuring the nose or tail.

Develop by hopping off both feet into a nose/tail press, moving the board underneath the belly button or zipper line of the jacket.

Inside the park, on a suitable feature, gradually work towards hopping into a nose or tail press. Within the trick phase of a 50-50, create the nose press earlier and earlier. Commit to hopping into the press at the beginning of the feature.

To develop, try to ollie in and ollie out, nollie in and nollie out, or even spin in/spin out of the trick.

To tail press, use the above tasks with the COM pressuring the tail of the snowboard.

Hot Tip

Sounds created by the contact of the board and the feature will help students establish the efficiency of their press. Upon landing, if there are two noises - the initial landing in the press position, followed by another tap - it indicates that the board has rebounded from its pressed position into a 50-50.

Movements & Board Performance

Vertical & Longitudinal with Pressuring (Pop)

To flex the snowboard, the rider must shift the COM over the rear or leading foot. For a nose press, apply pressure to the outside of the leading binding by moving the hips fore and pushing the knee towards the nose. A soft ankle and knee in the leading leg will help with landing in the press and avoid tail tapping unintentionally. Flexing these joints along with the hip joint should also be used to help maintain the press. For a tail press, apply pressure to the outside of the rear binding by moving the hips aft and down towards the tail. A soft ankle and knee in the rear leg will help with landing in the press and avoid nose tapping unintentionally. Hip flexion will likely be used also to further move the COM down and over the rear foot.

Lateral

Should only be used in the lower body to maintain a flat base. It’s important to keep the upper body stacked over a flat board to avoid unwanted tilt.

Rotational

Remain rotationally neutral and avoid excessive movements which may create unwanted pivot.

Terrain & Group Management

Teach presses on easy flat box features to start with, progressing as appropriate to challenge stronger students. Ensure that the group does not conflict with traffic flow within the park, focusing on appropriate timing to call a drop. Hiking features can be very useful for building kinesthetic awareness in students and should be used when possible.

Corrective Teaching

Student can’t land in and hold the press:

Review how to move the COM along the board to create and hold flex in the board.

Focus on shuffling the board fore or aft (depending on the trick) and put the foot under the COM when landing. This will promote stability over a relaxed leg, ensuring that the COM is not rebounded back to centre.

Self Reflection

“Are my students able to maintain flex over the nose/tail outside of the park?”

“Are my students comfortable with the feature to start moving their COM further from the middle of the board?”