Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
” And for you, living is hitting the slopes and shredding through the snow like a pro. It’s time to take your skill set to the next level and become one with the mountain. In this post, we’ll be laying down the law on ten cool snowboarding tricks that will have you shredding like a real pro. From the fundamental trick to master, the Ollie, to tips and techniques for riding the pipe, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to amp up your freestyle and build your aerial skills. The mountain is calling, and it’s time to answer with style. So buckle up and get ready to master these ten tricks and become a snowboarding legend.
1. The Ollie: The fundamental trick to master
The Ollie is the foundation of all snowboarding tricks. It’s the first trick you should master before moving on to any other tricks. With an Ollie, you can jump over obstacles, carve through the air, and perform a variety of other cool moves.
Before attempting an Ollie, it’s essential to understand the right body position. First, bend your knees and crouch down. Then, push down on the tail of your board with your back foot while jumping off your front foot, lifting the board into the air. While in the air, level out the board, aligning both the front and back to the ground with your feet.
It’s important to practice your Ollie in a controlled environment with enough space. Start slowly, gradually building your confidence, and remember to stay relaxed throughout the motion – tense muscles aren’t ideal for snowboarding. Additionally, ensure that your board is balanced, and don’t forget to land correctly. Landing with your board positioned at an angle could result in an injury. Instead, aim to land with the board flat on the ground.
Once you’ve mastered the Ollie, you’ll be ready to take on more challenging tricks with ease. Remember, it’s all about muscle memory and practice. With enough repetition, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
2. Jibbing: Learn how to slide on rails and boxes
Jibbing is all about adding some swag to your ride. Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to learn how to slide on rails and boxes like a pro. But where do you start? First things first, you need to make sure you’ve got the right gear. For jibbing, a soft-flex board is recommended, as it’s easier to bend and maneuver for those tricky spins and turns. Also, ensure that you’ve got sturdy bindings that provide excellent support and flexion for your feet.
Next up, it’s time to learn the proper technique. To slide on rails and boxes, you should approach the obstacle with speed and confidence. As you’re just starting, make sure to look for smaller boxes or rails to practice on. Start with the basics, riding straight towards the obstacle and jumping onto the feature with both feet at the same time. Once you land on the obstacle with both feet, lean back, and shift your weight onto your back foot to evenly distribute your weight between your board and the rail.
From here, it’s all about balance and control. Keep your knees bent, lean into the rail or box, and maintain your weight distribution as you slide across the feature. As you approach the end of the rail or box, prepare yourself to jump off and land with both feet. Remember to keep your knees bent and absorb the impact to prevent any injuries.
The trick with jibbing is to practice, practice, practice. Start with the easy features, and gradually work your way up to more challenging obstacles. With time, you’ll develop your own unique tricks and style, making every run down the mountain an adventure. So get out there, grab your board, and start sliding on rails and boxes like a pro!
3. Buttering: Add style to your ride
When you’re shredding down the mountain, it’s not just about getting from point A to B. It’s about adding some flair to your ride and making it your own. That’s where buttering comes in. A combination of press, tweak and spin, buttering is all about fluidity and style.
Start off small by practicing a simple press on the board. Gradually, you can add tweak and spin to get the perfect butter. The key to buttering is all in the knees and hips movement. Keep your knees bent and your hips loose to get the needed flex in your board.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start hitting features and changing it up. Take a few runs through the park, finding rails and any objects in your path. Try to add buttering to your approach by pressing around features or building up spins off of them.
Remember, buttering is all about flow and feeling. It’s not about performing the “perfect” trick, but rather expressing yourself on the mountain. So, get creative, try different variations of buttering, and add some style to your ride.
4. Riding switch: Improve your versatility
Riding switch is a skill that every snowboarder should aim to master. It involves riding with the opposite foot forward, which can be challenging at first, but it’s well worth the effort. Not only does it make you a more versatile rider, but it also opens up a whole new world of tricks and techniques.
To begin, start by practicing the basics. You’ll need to re-learn how to traverse and turn on your board, as well as how to apply pressure to your edges. It might feel awkward at first, but with practice, you’ll start to feel more comfortable.
One useful tip is to start small. Try riding switch on easy terrain, such as gentle slopes or easy runs. This will help you build confidence and get a feel for the technique without putting yourself in too much danger.
As you progress, start experimenting with different tricks and techniques. You can try riding switch while performing grabs, spins, or even riding halfpipe. The possibilities are endless, and the more you practice, the more you’ll unlock your creativity.
Remember, the key to mastering riding switch is practice, practice, practice. But don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come easily – snowboarding is all about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and embracing the challenge. Stick with it, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you progress.
5. Carving: Gain better control of your board
Carving is a crucial technique for any snowboarder, as it enables you to have better control of your board while gliding down the slopes. It’s a technique that requires a bit of practice and skill to master, but the payoff is well worth it. When you carve properly, you’ll notice that your turns are smoother, your speed is more consistent, and your overall riding experience is greatly enhanced.
To carve, you’ll need to shift your weight from one edge of the board to the other. It’s a simple maneuver, but it takes a bit of finesse to execute correctly. Start off by picking up some speed and then put pressure on your toes or heels (depending on which direction you want to turn). Doing this will cause the board’s edge to bite into the snow, creating a curved path that follows the edge. This curved path is what we refer to as carving. Once you get the hang of it, you can start carving on steeper slopes and increase your speed while maintaining control.
As you carve, be mindful of your body position. Keep your hips and shoulders facing forward and your knees slightly bent. This will help you maintain your balance and control your speed. Also, try to keep your arms and hands relaxed, as tensing up can throw you off balance.
One thing to note when carving is that it can be very hard on your knees, especially if you’re doing it for an extended period of time. To minimize the impact on your knees, make sure you’re using the right technique and that your board is properly tuned. A well-tuned board can make all the difference in the world when it comes to carving.
Overall, carving is a simple but essential technique for any snowboarder. It takes practice to master, but once you do, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your riding ability. So keep at it, and soon enough, you’ll be carving your way down the slopes like a pro.
6. Flatland tricks: Amp up your freestyle
The beauty of snowboarding is that you can express yourself and your unique style through your tricks. Flatland tricks are a great way to add some flair to your freestyle. They are all about creativity and improvisation; the only limit is your imagination.
One popular flatland trick is the tail tap. This involves tapping the tail of your board on the ground while you’re riding. It may sound simple, but adding some variation to your tail taps can make them look stylish and complex. For example, try tapping your tail in a circular motion or adding multiple tail taps in a row.
Another exciting flatland trick is the manual. This involves riding on only your back leg with your front foot lifted in the air. To achieve a manual, you must shift your weight back and use your core muscles for balance. Adding some variation, such as changing directions or doing a manual over a small jump, can make this trick more interesting.
One more flatland trick that can really impress your friends is the hand drag. This entails dragging your hand on the ground while you’re riding. To do a hand drag, you need to lean back and use your momentum to keep going. This is a great trick to show off your balance and control.
The key to mastering flatland tricks is to practice and experiment with different variations. Once you feel confident with a basic trick, try adding your own unique style to it. Remember, flatland tricks are all about creativity and improvisation, so don’t be afraid to try new things and see what works for you.
7. 180s and 360s: Build your aerial skills
When it comes to aerial tricks, 180s and 360s are some of the most basic, yet essential tricks to master. These tricks will not just improve your style, they will also enhance your overall snowboarding skills. To execute a 180, start with a solid approach, bend your knees and initiate a quick spin by moving your shoulders and hips in the opposite direction. Land the trick by absorbing the impact with your knees and ride away clean.
The 360 requires a more aggressive approach. You need to build more speed and pop off the lip of the jump to gain enough air time to complete the spin. Keep your eyes focused on the landing, spot your landing early, and initiate the rotation with your shoulders and hips. You need to rotate your upper body while keeping your legs and board below you.
Apart from the techniques, it’s important to have confidence and commitment when it comes to aerial tricks. Start small and work your way up gradually, mastering the lower jumps before trying the bigger ones. Remember, aerial tricks are not just about spinning in the air like a madman. You also need to learn how to land and ride away smoothly. Respect the snowboarding park and learn the rules of etiquette to avoid accidents and injuries.
Finally, practice makes perfect. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t nail these tricks on your first few attempts. Keep practicing, and over time, you’ll get better and more comfortable. You’ll soon find that performing these tricks will be second nature to you, and you can move on to more advanced tricks with confidence.
8. Grabs: Learn how to do stylish tricks with your hands
Want to add some flair to your snowboarding? Grabs are a great way to impress your friends and show off your style. There are many different types of grabs, each with their own unique name and variation. Here are a few of the most popular grabs to get you started:
- Indy grab: Reach down with your back hand and grab the toe edge between your feet.
- Stalefish grab: Grab the heel edge between your feet with your back hand and extend your front leg.
- Mute grab: Grab the toe edge with your front hand and mute your back leg by grabbing it with your back hand.
- Tail grab: Reach back and grab the tail of your board with your back hand.
When attempting a grab, it’s important to remember to stay balanced and centered over your board. Start with a small jump and work your way up to larger ones as you become more comfortable with the grab.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, get creative and try combining different grabs together or throwing in a spin. The possibilities are endless! But remember, safety always comes first – make sure to wear your helmet and other protective gear when attempting any new trick.
9. Bonking: How to hit obstacles with your board
Hitting obstacles with your board, or “bonking,” is a thrilling aspect of snowboarding that takes your skills up a notch. It can seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a pro. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you’re bonking. First, you need to find a good obstacle to hit. Start with something small and simple, like a small box or rail. Make sure you’re comfortable riding up to it and that you have enough speed.
As you approach the obstacle, press down on your front foot and pop up off the snow with your back foot. When you’re in the air, aim your board toward the obstacle and give it a gentle tap with the nose or tail. Keep your weight centered over your board and stay relaxed. Once you hit the obstacle, try to land smoothly and ride away cleanly.
Remember, bonking requires a bit of trial and error, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Practice makes perfect, and after a few tries, you’ll be able to add this cool trick to your snowboarding repertoire.
10. Halfpipe riding: Tips and techniques for riding the pipe
Riding the halfpipe is both exhilarating and daunting, especially if you’re a newbie. The halfpipe is the place where snowboarding really becomes skateboarding, with riders taking to the air and performing tricks that seem to defy gravity. But the halfpipe can be intimidating if you’ve never ridden one before, so here are some tips and techniques for getting started.
First of all, make sure you have the right equipment. You’ll need a snowboard with a short or medium length, as well as bindings that fit snugly but not too tightly. You’ll also need a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and a back protector. Once you’ve got your gear together, find a halfpipe that’s suited to your skill level. Beginners should look for small halfpipes with gentle transitions, while more advanced riders may want to try steeper and deeper halfpipes.
Before you start riding, it’s important to warm up properly. Spend a few minutes stretching your muscles and getting your blood flowing, and then start with some basic halfpipe riding. Begin by riding up one side of the pipe, keeping your weight centered over your board, and then dropping down onto the other side. As you get more comfortable, start adding some small ollies and jumps.
As you ride the halfpipe, keep your weight centered over your board and your body facing straight ahead. Look where you want to go, and use your arms to stabilize yourself. To gain speed, pump your board up and down the transition – this will help you maintain your momentum and allow you to carry more speed into your tricks.
Finally, remember to be patient and stay persistent. Halfpipe riding is a challenging skill that takes time and effort to master, but with practice and dedication, you’ll be tearing up the pipe in no time!
Tips and Tricks: How to progress and keep improving your snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that requires a lot of practice and dedication in order to master. Even if you have learned all the tricks on this list, there is always room for improvement. Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you progress in your snowboarding:
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Keep practicing: The more you snowboard, the more comfortable you will become with your board and the better you will get. Try to hit the slopes as often as possible, even if it’s just for a few runs.
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Watch others: Observe other snowboarders, whether they’re professionals on YouTube or fellow riders on the mountain. Pay attention to their movements, body position, and how they execute certain tricks.
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Take a lesson: Consider taking a lesson with a qualified snowboarding instructor. They can help you identify any bad habits or areas that need improvement, and provide you with tips and techniques to help you progress.
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Visualize: Before attempting a new trick, visualize yourself doing it successfully. This can help you build confidence and get in the right mindset before trying something challenging.
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Keep your gear in good condition: Make sure your board, boots, and bindings are in good condition and properly maintained. This can not only improve your performance, but also keep you safe while riding.
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Train off the mountain: In addition to hitting the slopes, there are other things you can do to improve your snowboarding skills. Strength training exercises, such as squats and lunges, can help improve your balance and stability on the board.
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Have fun: Finally, remember that snowboarding is meant to be fun! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect, and enjoy the ride. The more you enjoy yourself, the more motivated you will be to keep improving.