8 Tricks You Can’t Do On a Snowboard
Want to challenge your snowboarder friends and watch them struggle? Coach Oscar Blyth breaks down eight tricks that are unique to skis, from airs and grabs to one-footed rail slides: the spread eagle, cossack, screaming seaman, stink bug, back slide, front slide, baby crusher and daffy butter.
1. Spread Eagle
In the air, it is basically a big jumping jack. Be comfortable with the jump and your speed first. Roll in with shins in your boots and hands in front, make a patient pop, and once you clear the lip, spread your legs and arms wide, then bring them back and land.
2. Cossack
Same as a spread eagle with your legs wide, but bring your poles together and through your legs. It takes a bit more coordination and balance.
3. Screaming Seaman
You cross your legs over, which you cannot do on a snowboard. On flat ground, cross your strong leg (usually the one you would kick a ball with) over the other. Build it up in stages from a daffy, then take it to a bigger kicker for more air time, staying patient.
4. Stink Bug
Like a truck driver, but you cross your skis at the back and grab the inside instead of the outside. Use the truck driver as a progression, and try lying on your back in the snow to feel the grab first. Learning it without poles is fine.
5. Back Slide
Slide the rail sideways, then lift your front foot so you balance on your back leg. Practise lifting your front foot on flat, then balancing on your back foot while sliding sideways on snow. Keep your ski base flat without digging an edge.
6. Front Slide
The same idea balancing on your front foot with your back leg lifted. Use the same flat ground and snow-slide progressions. For both slides, speed is your friend: less time on the rail means less chance of falling.
7. Baby Crusher
Instead of popping on at 90 degrees, step onto the rail with your back foot, then pop on to 90. Go slow so you get a solid foot plant.
8. Daffy Butter
A daffy on the snow. Lean on your poles, stand shoulder width and practise the daffy a few times, feeling your tips in the snow. The easiest spot is a roller like the knuckle of a jump, but check nobody is hitting it first, and expect it to be harder in slush where it is easier to catch an edge.
Keep Building Into The Season
For rail basics before you try one-footed slides, read The Ultimate Guide to Skiing Rails, and for more buttering, check out The Ultimate Guide to Nose Butters.
Coach: Oscar Blyth
@oscarblyth