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Rotate! Get your front & backside threesixty degree rotations nailed with these pointers from Senδr Kirkman... Hopefully you've got 180's under your belt and are used to going big in the air. If so, it's time to get a full rotation in. Check your tech first: check bindings, bolts, wheel nuts etc. Also, you may want to stiften up your trucks a bit to avoid any potential wobble upon landing, specially if you’re doing it switch! Warm up with smaller tricks first and always wear protection while learning new stuff... Big FS 360
1. The run in
Before you even start rolling down the run in you should picture the trick you’re going to do clearly in your mind. Think it through step-by-step and be confident. Check your feet are firmly strapped in and go. Once you’ve started rolling there’s no time to change your mind. For a frontside 3 you should pre-wind your arms (in the opposite direction to your intended rotation) on the run in to help momentum spin you the whole way round. This means that you can float your 3’s rather than hucking yourself round.
2. The take off & mid-air When you’re at the lip of the kicker, pop off it and let your arms unwind quickly to give you the start of your rotation. Make sure not to take off at the same angle as the ramp. Level yourself out in mid-air, this will make you go forward rather than going straight over the back. With your arms unwound and the rotation already started, bring your legs up and look over your left shoulder ( or right for goofy stance ). Use your arms to keep you stable. Try to keep your board as flat as possible and keep looking over your shoulder until you spot your landing. This will make the trick flow smoothly and prepare you for contact with the ground.
3. The landing You will either be landing on the flat or on a slope. If you are riding a jump without a landing, wait until you have spun about 270 before putting more pressure on your front foot and angling the board into the downslope. Try to land all 4 wheels at the same time. If you are landing on the flat just kep spinning the whole 360 then compress when you land. Flat landings can be really harsh on your knees, so always try to find a jump with a landing slope.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Now backside!
Big BS 360
1. The run in Make sure you’ve got your mind set on a backside 3. Try to hold a straight line on the run-in to ensure a smooth take off. Just before you reach the ramp, pre-wind your arms in the opposite direction to your intended spin.
2. The take-off & mid-air As you hit the lip of the ramp, unwind your arms so that they are spinning in the direction you wish to rotate, in this case, back side. Make sure you follow the spin with your head, keep looking where you are spinning to to keep the spin flowing. This will also help you complete the full rotation and also spot your landing. Remember, if you tuck your arms in during the spin, you will spin faster but be less stable. When you first start practising the bs 3 it is advisable to open your arms up, which will make you spin slower but give you more balance in the air. The same occurs with your legs- if you straighten your legs in mid-air it will speed the rotation up. Tuck them right in and you’ll spin slower.
3. Landing The landing can be the hardest part of the trick as you’re landing switch. If you’re riding a jump with a bad landing it is more difficult to ride away looking good. It is important to spot your landing as you’re coming round to complete the full 360. As soon as you spot it, straighten yourself up to hit the landing as smooth and straight as possible. If you don’t land straight and have to correct your board as you ride out it’ll look and feel well sketchy or you may just stop altogether, depending how straight your board lands. You may find it easier to land looking back up the landing; it can make the trick feel more flowy but can make it disorientating for some riders.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Progression
Once you have practised your front and backside 3 and are confident with the spin and landing, you can introduce a grab, ie, melon, indy, mute etc. This will help bring style and technicality to your trick and boost points in comps. If you include a smooth landing and good run out, you will have soon dialled stylish and tech backside 360’s. You could also…
SWITCH IT!
A switch 3 is a lot harder than regular 3’s as you are taking off AND landing in switch. Only attempt it having mastered riding switch and switch 180’s, as well as dialling your regular 3’s, fs & bs, and if you can do those you probably don’t need me to tell you how to do it! Here’s a short breakdown though to get you going…
Run in & take-off Roll down to your kicker in your switch stance, pre-winding your arms & body opposite way to intended rotation. As you hit the lip, pop off your back foot and start to look around. In the air You’ll be able to watch for your landing for most of the time that you are in the air, the first 180 will go without any effort so just keep looking round. Make sure your board rotates to about 360 degrees and dip your front leg before you land. Landing Compress as normal and ride away switch.You may actually find it easier to land looking back up the landing as this can make the trick feel more ‘flowy’ but can make it harder if you’re not used to riding looking back where you’ve come from. Something else to practise there then! Have fun…
Photos by Paul Crilley & Decreate, illustrations by Decreate
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