How To Stale, Cuban & Christ Grab

So you’ve got your basic grabs and they're feeling super comfortable. What's next? It’s time to tweak'em and add some of your own style and start dialling in the Stale, Cuban & Christ Grab.

(Narrating/Skiing: Dean Bercovitch. Film/Edit: Adison MacDonald. Filmed At: Whistler Bounce)

It All Starts With The Tail Grab

In case you haven't remembered, a Tail Grab where you grab the very tip of your ski is known as a capped or blunted tail. If your skis are crossed or uncrossed on a Tail Grab it doesn’t matter, it’s still called a Tail Grab. To refresh your memory even more, check out our tutorial:

• How To Japan & Tail Grab

Stale

Now, let’s say we’re doing a left hand Tail Grab. If you reach past your left ski and get your hand around the back of your right ski, it’s called a Stale. 

Stale grabs are easiest to do uncrossed.

Cuban

To take your Stale and change it into a Cuban, you simply have to blunt or cap the same ski you would grab for a Stale. 

It has it’s own name because you need precision to get the very tip of the ski making it harder.

Christ Air

Another variation to try from the Tail grab is the Christ Air. A Christ Air is when you grab both tails at the same time.

1. Start by making sure you can do both Tail Grabs on their own as you want to be able to grab each one and tweak it sideways from your body.
2. Next, try and get your Tail Grabs tweaked without looking at your skis.
3. Takeoff with your shoulders leaning slightly back to balance yourself out and let your back arch a little bit in the air to help bring your tails higher up to your hands.

This trick got it’s name because if you can throw it down, you’re getting nailed.

That's how you take the relatively easy Tail Grab and turn it into three completely new, stylish tricks. Enjoy! To try the Stale, Cuban and Christ Air grabs, make sure you grab your own Tramp Ski's now:

• Tramp Ski Package

Alex McCann
Ski Addiction
Helping You Ski Better