How to Do a 180 on a Wakeboard

A 180 on a wakeboard is the most important fundamental in boarding and will lead you to neighborhood fame in record time. The 180 is the foundation of all other spinning tricks. There are four different styles to the 180 spin called the "base 180s." Once a boarder masters the 180s, he can move on to 360s.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Wakeboard

1. Learn the four variations of the 180. First, there is the edge--toeside and heelside--then the rotation--frontside and backside.
2. Start with the heelside/frontside 180. You must wait until you are in the air, then let go with your front hand and pull with your back hand. If you pull to the right, you turn to the left, and vice versa.
3. Make sure that you aren't turning your hips to initiate a rotation. If you use your waist, it will cause you to go into rotation too early and result in some very hard landings. Use your handle to control your rotation.
4. Improve on your toeside wake jump by practicing the toeside frontside 180. In the wake jump, your body is contorted perfectly to move into the toeside frontside 180. Untwist your body in the air and you have completed the second 180 jump.
5. Try the heelside backside 180 next. With this jump in the air, you let go with your back hand and pull with your front hand.
6. Teach yourself how to pass the handle. The easiest way is to pull the handle to the small of your back. When you land blind, the handle is behind you and you have passed the handle successfully.
7. Elevate your jumping with the fourth variation of the 180. Practice the toeside backside 180 as much as possible to perfect the technique of rotation and contorting. This last and most difficult variation requires a handle pass.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear head gear and wrist, elbow and knee pads at all times.