How to Do a Front Flip on Skiboards

The front flip trick for skiboards requires an athlete to his body forward as soon as he loses contact with the ramp. Like other skiboard tricks, the front flip requires a full awareness of every move your body makes to avoid lost momentum. By sticking to the right techniques, you can do a front flip on skiboards in the near future. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Skiboards
• Jump area
• Trampoline

Perform a Front Flip on Skiboards

1. Work at building up speed before you hit the top of your ramp or jump. Beginning skiboarders make the mistake of building momentum as they go up the ramp without considering the importance of technique. The key to gaining speed quickly is leaning forward on your skiboards while keeping your feet squared with your shoulders.
2. Contract your knees into your chest as you leave the ramp and begin your trick. Your legs need to be brought closer to your body to prevent drag and decrease the amount of space your body covers during the front flip.
3. Execute the front flip by pushing your body weight forward before you hit the peak of your jump. Start the flip by moving your head forward quickly and bring your shoulders along at the same speed. It is important to commit fully with your upper body in order to complete the front flip and avoid a long fall.
4. Focus on keeping your body in the right position as you complete a full rotation with the front flip. Inexperienced skiboarders get excited by completing the trick and head into their landing position too early. Keep your knees close to your body and your arms tight to your body to create a good landing.
5. Prepare your legs for an effective landing to finish off your front flip. You should first extend your legs completely, square them with your shoulders and make sure your skiboards are parallel with one another. Bend your knees slightly to brace for the impact of landing.
6. Move your skiboard tips together after you land to completely stop. This move is called the snow plow and requires a great deal of practice to make it a habit instead of a chore. Do not make contact between your skiboards to prevent damaging the boards or tripping on the ski hill.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice your front flip technique on a trampoline before you set foot on your skiboards. The use of a trampoline allows you to perform proper technique while avoiding the physical harm that comes from hitting the snow. Once you do enough front flips to make it second nature, strap on your skiboards and head to a small ramp.