How to Backside a 360 on a Snowboard

After you've mastered the basic jumping tricks on your snowboard, it's time to move onto spins and flips. A good introduction to the harder spin tricks is the backside 360. By practicing this trick off of medium-sized jumps, you'll learn how to control your snowboard's spin in the air and spot the ground for a safe and solid landing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Head straight into the jump carrying a decent amount of speed. Generally, traveling faster means you'll fly higher off the ramp, but know your limits and stay within your comfort zone.
2. Bend your knees and crouch down a bit as you ride up the face of the jump.
3. Jump off of the snow once you reach the top of the ramp. As you do this, turn your shoulders toward your rear foot. For example, a rider with his right foot back rotates to his right, or in a clockwise direction.
4. Continue turning your head and shoulders while you're in the air. If your upper body stops spinning, your legs will stall out and you'll be out of position when you land.
5. Look for the ground as you come out of the 360-degree spin. You should be able to spot your landing after the first three-quarters of the turn.
6. Compress your legs when you land to absorb the jump's impact and stay on balance.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you can nail a backside 180 before adding the extra half-turn to the trick.
• Perform a grab while you're in the air to stabilize your body during the 360.