How to Do a Caveman on a Snowboard

Performing a "caveman" on a snowboard poses an interesting challenge for riders. The caveman is a classic and somewhat beginner-level skill for skateboarders, yet successfully mastering this trick on a snowboard is a bit trickier than it may seem. The challenge isn't due to the amplitude, speed or life-threatening consequences of the maneuver. Rather, timing, flexibility, balance and, above all, the technical ability to comfortably ride with only one foot elevates the caveman from a beginner skate trick to an intermediate/advanced snowboard trick.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Equipment- snowboard setup (includes of board, boots and bindings)
• Elevated terrain or terrain park feature (e.g., lip of quarter-/half-pipe, wall, box, tree stump)
• Confidence in your "one-foot" ability

How To Do a Caveman On a Snowboard

1. Before attempting any maneuver on a snowboard, it is advisable to observe the trick demonstrated by a rider able to successfully perform the maneuver already. This will provide visual cues you can reference when attempting the trick. Since the caveman is traditionally a skate-oriented maneuver, watch skateboarders on the street, in a skate park or in a video segment (e.g., YouTube) to gain familiarity with the technical nuances of the trick.

2. After becoming familiar with the trick by observing others, start on flat ground with your front foot strapped into your binding. Place your rear foot behind your board--that is, closest to the heel-side edge as if you were going to begin skating (e.g., pushing yourself toward a chair-lift).

3. Keep flexion in your knees and ankles with weight distributed over your rear leg (the one not strapped into the binding). In a controlled manner, slide the board aft (away from your intended direction of movement) while raising your knee to your chest. Sink at your hips, creating more flexion in your rear leg, then rapidly swing and extend your lead leg fore (toward the intend direction of movement) while simultaneously springing off your back foot. As your lead leg and board nearly reach the most extended segment of the motion, attempt a nose, mute (middle toe-side edge with lead hand) or melancholy (middle heel-side edge with lead hand) grab.

4. While in the air (which won't be long when attempting this on flat ground), level your board under body while bringing your free foot up against the inside portion of the rear binding, Land with your weight distributed evenly over both feet and center of mass over the middle of the board.

5. After practicing the trick on flat ground, find an elevated feature from which to drop (preferably with a transition to prevent too much compression when landing). Start the maneuver from very close to the edge of the terrain feature, with the nose of your board overhanging the edge and rear foot (free foot) as close to edge as possible to prevent your tail from clipping the ledge upon entry.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you feel comfortable riding with one foot before attempting this trick from an elevated obstacle. However, beginners can easily give it a try on flat ground. In essence, your lead leg works like a pendulum. Likewise, use your upper-body (shoulders/arms) flows in unison with your lower-body in order to keep your balance centered and create the amount of force necessary to spring upward and outward. With reference to the grab in this trick, the more time you have in the air (i.e., the higher the obstacle you drop from), the more options you will have. It is actually slightly more difficult to perform a successful grab for this trick without time in the air.
• Be conscious of your weight distribution when experimenting with different grabs. Your center of mass slightly shifts away from the middle of the board when grabbing in different areas which could create instability when landing. Make sure you perform the pendulum maneuver in a controlled manner so as to prevent slicing the shin of your rear leg. Be a competent "one-footer," or serious leg injury is probable.

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