How To Tamedog

While the name Tamedog comes from a snowboarders front flip, as skiers we have taken it and transformed it into it's own beast! Don't get confused, this is not the same as a Frontflip so read on, learn about the Tamedog and get it under control today so you can stomp it tomorrow.

For all our other great flipping tutorials, check out our Flips & Off-Axis Series.

(Narrating/Skiing: Dean Bercovitch. Film/Edit: Vince Emond. Filmed At: Whistler Blackcomb)

The Benefit Of A Tamedog

Other than not biting your hand off, a Tamedog is great because it is a very low risk flip meaning it can be one of your first attempts at flipping on skis. Before trying this trick though, be able to spin 360s and 540s with mellow grabs.

Tramp Ski Tamedogs

Before hitting the snow, give it a go on your Tramp Skis. With Tramp Skis on, make sure your Frontflips are easy. The biggest difference in a Frontflip and a Tamedog is the takeoff and the landing.

Start with finishing a Frontflip with your weaker leg touching the ground before the other, landing forward into your stronger leg. Next, takeoff into your Frontflip with your strong leg in front. The more you kick your weak leg back by pushing off your strong leg, the faster you can get it going. The actual flip in a Tamedog should be quite similar to a front flip. 

To challenge yourself, takeoff the tramp skis, and try some off of a ledge onto a mat. 

Take It To A Cat Track

To learn, find yourself a cat track with a moderately steep and soft slope behind it. To ensure that you won’t hurt your neck, see if you can lean super far forward on your skis and grab your noses. You’ll need that flex to go over your head.

When going for your first attempt, follow these steps:

1. Set yourself up on the edge of the cat track.
2. Now lean forward, tuck your head in like you would for a front roll.
3. Put your hands to the ground, and kick your weak leg behind to get rolling to the back of your head.
4. Try to roll from your neck smoothly down to your lower back to reduce impact.
5. When you land on the other side, your tails will most likely get caught in the snow. That’s normal at first. As you go faster your tails should get less caught up after the roll.

Now that you're going a little faster, with staggered legs just before your roll, lean back on your weak leg and push forward to roll off your strong leg. When you come around flipping, get your weaker leg tucked in to accelerate and to prepare for landing.

Keep going faster and popping slightly so you can get all the way around to land stacked and comfortable.

Taking It To Small Jumps

If you can do it on a cat track, trying one on a small jump isn’t harder but it does require more confidence since you’ll most likely be going faster. Planting your foot against a jump takeoff also creates more resistance than a cat track does. Therefore, your planting leg should have to work harder, but once it’s flipping it should be easier to land!

Be safe with your first flips, going through the steps and choosing the right conditions to go for it is key!

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Alex McCann
Ski Addiction
Helping You Ski Better