Surface tricks should be your starting point

ben · 11-04-06, 03:55 AM

Surface Tricks are probably your starting point in the world of Snowboarding Tricks. Before you try complicated tricks like the Cab 540 or the Frontside Rodeo 720, you first have to learn the Basic Snowboarding Tricks. Some of the Simple Surface Tricks are spinning on the surface of the slope then five feet above the slope. What follows are some of the Most Common Surface Tricks increasing in difficulty as we progress:

Riding Fakie

Riding Fakie (switch stance) is simply riding with your front foot at the back and your backfoot at the front. Sounds easy? Well it is not! Everything you have been working so hard to master such as edge control and carving turns is suddenly totally new again as everything you do will be the other way around. Riding Fakie is very important however in Learning Tricks since it is often the starting and/or ending stance of a trick. Furthermore, Riding Fakie will help you when you are unable to finish a trick and must land halfway.

Learning how...
It is best simply to dig deep into your Snowboarding History and go back to where it all started: traversing a slope and slowly learning how to make skidded turns while riding fakie. Simply go back to the Snowboarding Beginner Course as mentioned on this site and do everything with a switched stance. Once you are comfortable with Riding Fakie you can mix it up in your normal riding and take turns in riding/turning fakie and regular.

Ground Spins - 360s

Up 'til now, you have made turns that were probably at most 180 degrees. With Ground Spins 360, you continue turning until you have turned completed 360 degrees and keep on boarding in the same direction.

Learning how...
It is actually the same as any regular toe-sided or heel-sided turn. You just need to keep on turning and as your board turns uphill it will stall at a certain point. At that moment you will need to switch edges and keep on turning until you are completely turned around. As your skills improve you can make ground spins at higher speeds and while riding fakie. Try to master spinning both frontside and backside.

Wheelies

A wheelie is riding with one tip of your board facing up, loose from the surface. Building up the power and technique to lift either your Snowboard's Nose or Tail will prepare you for more advanced Tricks.

Learning how...
Tail wheelies with your nose up on the air are easiest to learn for most snowboarders. On a gentle slope, try to lean backwards and lift your front foot. As you practice you will notice how you are able to pull your nose up higher and keep it from the surface for a longer time. Once you have learned Tail Wheelies you can try to perform them switch stance on your tip.

Variations...
Blunt Nose Slides are wheelies that are performed sideways. Start riding sideways, then put your weight on your front leg and pull your back leg up. You will be sliding sideways on the front third of your snowboard with your backfoot and tail in the air. If you perform this trick on your tail it is called a Switch-stance blunt nose slide.

speedfreak · 16-04-06, 09:22 PM

Great advise, but i don't think i will be able to ever do any of it, i don't have the guts to pull of any kind of tricks. I think general gliding down the mountain is enough for me.

Dizaster · 17-04-06, 06:14 AM

I would try some if I got better , but right now I haven't even started yet so I'd probably kill myself trying something like this.

Khaotic · 17-04-06, 07:26 AM

Hmm wheelie SOUNDS pretty easy, but watch, if I tried, I'd probably fall on my face or something.

Abyss · 19-04-06, 10:00 PM

More basic tricks, I could probably do some of these if I had some practice for a few days, i'll test them out once its winter, so quite awhile.

Michael · 19-04-06, 11:06 PM

Thanks for that! I've always wanted to try some tricks. Where did you find the above info?

11-04-06, 03:55 AM	#1
ben I haven't picked a title Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 26	Surface tricks should be your starting point Surface Tricks are probably your starting point in the world of Snowboarding Tricks. Before you try complicated tricks like the Cab 540 or the Frontside Rodeo 720, you first have to learn the Basic Snowboarding Tricks. Some of the Simple Surface Tricks are spinning on the surface of the slope then five feet above the slope. What follows are some of the Most Common Surface Tricks increasing in difficulty as we progress: Riding Fakie Riding Fakie (switch stance) is simply riding with your front foot at the back and your backfoot at the front. Sounds easy? Well it is not! Everything you have been working so hard to master such as edge control and carving turns is suddenly totally new again as everything you do will be the other way around. Riding Fakie is very important however in Learning Tricks since it is often the starting and/or ending stance of a trick. Furthermore, Riding Fakie will help you when you are unable to finish a trick and must land halfway. Learning how... It is best simply to dig deep into your Snowboarding History and go back to where it all started: traversing a slope and slowly learning how to make skidded turns while riding fakie. Simply go back to the Snowboarding Beginner Course as mentioned on this site and do everything with a switched stance. Once you are comfortable with Riding Fakie you can mix it up in your normal riding and take turns in riding/turning fakie and regular. Ground Spins - 360s Up 'til now, you have made turns that were probably at most 180 degrees. With Ground Spins 360, you continue turning until you have turned completed 360 degrees and keep on boarding in the same direction. Learning how... It is actually the same as any regular toe-sided or heel-sided turn. You just need to keep on turning and as your board turns uphill it will stall at a certain point. At that moment you will need to switch edges and keep on turning until you are completely turned around. As your skills improve you can make ground spins at higher speeds and while riding fakie. Try to master spinning both frontside and backside. Wheelies A wheelie is riding with one tip of your board facing up, loose from the surface. Building up the power and technique to lift either your Snowboard's Nose or Tail will prepare you for more advanced Tricks. Learning how... Tail wheelies with your nose up on the air are easiest to learn for most snowboarders. On a gentle slope, try to lean backwards and lift your front foot. As you practice you will notice how you are able to pull your nose up higher and keep it from the surface for a longer time. Once you have learned Tail Wheelies you can try to perform them switch stance on your tip. Variations... Blunt Nose Slides are wheelies that are performed sideways. Start riding sideways, then put your weight on your front leg and pull your back leg up. You will be sliding sideways on the front third of your snowboard with your backfoot and tail in the air. If you perform this trick on your tail it is called a Switch-stance blunt nose slide. __________________

16-04-06, 09:22 PM	#2
speedfreak I haven't picked a title Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	Great advise, but i don't think i will be able to ever do any of it, i don't have the guts to pull of any kind of tricks. I think general gliding down the mountain is enough for me. __________________

19-04-06, 11:06 PM	#6
Michael I haven't picked a title Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ireland Posts: 391	Thanks for that! I've always wanted to try some tricks. Where did you find the above info? __________________

17-04-06, 06:14 AM	#3
Dizaster I haven't picked a title Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 25	I would try some if I got better , but right now I haven't even started yet so I'd probably kill myself trying something like this.

17-04-06, 07:26 AM	#4
Khaotic I haven't picked a title Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 24	Hmm wheelie SOUNDS pretty easy, but watch, if I tried, I'd probably fall on my face or something.

19-04-06, 10:00 PM	#5
Abyss I haven't picked a title Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 26	More basic tricks, I could probably do some of these if I had some practice for a few days, i'll test them out once its winter, so quite awhile.