True Vs. Orbital Flat 360
You wouldn't be alone if you said that a Flat 360 was one of your favourite tricks to watch or throw down on skis. Taking this intermediate trick and dialling in the True or Orbital Flat 3 will give you a new variation and a heap of style.
As effortless as the Flat 3 looks, it doesn't come without practice. If you are new to these, check out How To Flat 360 to dial in the basics first.
(Narrating/Skiing: Dean Bercovitch. Film/Edit: Vince Emond. Filmed At: Whistler Bounce & Whistler Blackcomb)
What's The Difference?
When getting into Flat 360s it's a common mistake to flip on the wrong axis, achieving more of a side flip or back flip. Finding the axis that sits exactly between the two is crucial to getting this spin down!
What Is A True / Orbital Flat 360
True and Orbital Flat 360s are a far less flippy variation whereby your legs rotate fully around you. It's as if you are sitting in a chair with your legs up and spinning around you.
Dean showing off the perfect True Flat 3!
Patience Is Key!
The more wobble or spin in any trick, the more patient you need to be during take off. Take off with your shoulders exactly upright like you would for a straight spin then throw yourself into a piked position. Remember, you need to bring your legs up to get into that piked position rather than leaning your chest down! Sounds easy, right? Time to break this into easy progressions and master it.
Without the Tramp Skis on, start with some simple seat drops. Ensure that you're able to maintain that seat drop position while in the air as well as when landing.
Good on ya Dean!
From here, progress into throwing 90s in both directions through to 180s. Golden rule: Keep your feet up high, it's common to see those legs dropping below the waist when rotating!
A textbook 'What Not To Do'.
A textbook 'What Not To Do'.Right, back onto your feet. Remembering that golden rule of keeping your legs high, start by jumping 90s and landing them into seat drops both ways. Keep this going until you're able to do the same to 180s and then to 270s.
In order to maintain that flat spin axis, allow yourself to travel back slightly on take off. Many people make the mistake of getting forward on take off which will throw you into more of a bio axis.
Travelling back on take off to keep axis.
To finish it off, bring back the Tramp Skis so you can dial it in and get familiar to the swing weight. The awesome thing here is that you'll also have something to grab onto that is higher than your feet. Be prepared to over-rotate to begin with as this axis has more spin to it.
Happy Tramp Training!
Ollie Barbour
Ski Addiction
Helping You Ski Better