How To Switch Handplant

How To Switch Handplant

So you've mastered Magnus' last tutorial on How To Handplant and now you're back for more, eh? Well luckily for you, Magnus is here to walk you through the ins-and-outs of Switch Handplants!

Nervous about starting on snow right away? Check out our Handplant Tramp Tutorial first so that you can master the basics with the Tramp Skis.

(Narrating/Riding: @SkiManGuy - Magnus Granér. Filming/Editing: @SkiManGuy - Magnus Granér.)

What Is The Switch Handplant?

Much like the name suggests, the Switch Handplant involves initiating the Handplant while skiing in switch. This super versatile trick can easily be thrown down all over the mountain from tiny rollers up to XL knuckles and everywhere in between.

Before learning this trick though, it's important that you feel comfortable with your regular 180's, switch 180's and the forward handplant as we're about to build on these skills!

Where To Start?

To practice this trick, start by finding an open, flat area so that you can go over the motions while stationary. There are three main moves involved in nailing this trick:

  1. Popping off your noses and bringing your torso forward and towards the ground. You'll find that popping while stationary isn't easy, just work through these basic motions at this point.
  2. Initiating your spin to get you on your way around to 180.
  3. Bringing your hand down to the ground to get that Handplant!
How To Switch Handplant 180
Looking good Magnus

Getting Moving

So now you know what's involved, let's get moving on the snow and go for the first attempt.

Find yourself a small roller that you'd feel comfortable trying this over. As you roll into your first attempt, a good method is to just aim to do a switch 180 and get a feel for getting your hand brushing along the snow. 

How To Switch Handplant
The baby park is usually a solid spot to head!

As you start to feel more confident with spinning while getting your hand on the floor, remind yourself of the 3 main motions. Begin to emphasise the popping off your noses as this will help you to get your skis higher off the ground.

Additionally, it's now important that you are able to get a more solid handplant rather than just brushing your hand along the floor as this will help you to slow your rotation and push you back onto your feet once you've come around.

How To Switch Handplant
Get those skis up! 

Time To Step It Up

If you feel like you're throwing Sw Handplants on small feature smoother than a fresh jar of skippy, then you're ready to take it to the next level and hunt out some bigger knuckles.

As you move onto bigger features, having the basic motions really dialled in becomes even more critical. It's especially important to get the right pop when initiating your Sw Handplant over bigger features because if you pop too little, you'll be dragging your ass over the knuckle. On the otherhand, if you pop too much, you might find your hand struggling to connect to the snow causing you to loop out and land at the bottom with a bruised ego.

How To Switch Handplant
Your pop is everything!

Getting this trick locked in though will allow you to become the steeze champ that you've always dreamed of being!

How To Switch Handplant
So much Steeze Magnus! 

Is there a trick that you're dying to learn and that we haven't covered yet? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Ollie Barbour
Ski Addiction
Helping You Ski Better

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