by James Streater @maverixsnow
The backside 180 is an iconic snowboard trick. It feels great and always looks stylish when performed well. However, a number of things can go wrong, as this trick as it’s often attempted without the key foundation riding skills. In a previous article I help iron out some of those common issues, but if you’re up for building the right skills progressively then this is the place to start.
Stage 1 — Static Backside 180 Task
Performing a static backside 180 will give you a true feeling of the movement and your body alignment in preparation for your piste and kicker work.
A Backside 180 is a blind rotation so the level of trust and confidence to understand where you are in the air and how best to land does need to be built up over time. The priority with this static task is to tighten your core and initiate the rotation with an even weight pop and a slight opening of the back shoulder. Aim to take off with your shoulders aligned over your toes, then land again on your toes and sink down maintaining the shoulders over the toes posture to allow effective balance and control on the landing. The head can often block the rotation so move it with your shoulders or follow your front foot as you rotate. That will allow you to view the landing and track where you are…
