Freestyle Technique

Jumping

Jumping and "getting air" can be as simple as riding off a ramp or jumping as you would in real life. The main thing for a beginner to remember when jumping is to launch with the board completely flat. Launching from the heel edge often leads to a straight-backed "windmill", where the rider spins the arms at the shoulder in an attempt to maintain an upright position.

In order to get "massive air", you will need to use a technique known as the ollie. This move, like many snowboarding terms, comes from skateboarding. To ollie, simply put your weight on your back foot as your come off the jump. As you reach the lip of the jump, quickly lift your front foot (not a rough jerk, just a lift), and immediately, jump hard from your back foot, using the tail (or nose if you're riding switch) of the board as a spring.

To land, simply angle your board so that it is parallel to the steepness of the ground you are landing on. It is helpful, however, to slightly lean back. Centre your weight over the middle of your board and slightly bend your knees. As you hit the ground, crouch down to absorb the shock, gain your balance, and ride away.

It takes a while to perfect the ollie for huge airs or even to balance as you lean back, but as always, practice makes perfect. The main thing you should keep in mind is not to panic, no matter what. One technique that helps many people is to "stomp" your landings, applying some force through your legs down onto the snow as you land, which will help you maintain stability when you land.

Spins

There are two kinds of spins, frontside spins and backside spins. A frontside spin is when your front foot moves backwards, and a backside spin is when your front foot moves forwards. Because this tends to confuse so many people, backside is sometimes also known as "blindside", meaning that when you turn this direction, your head will actually be turning uphill, and you'll have to turn it to see downhill again, whereas with frontside, your head does not need to move. To do rotations while soaring in the air, all you have to do is swing your hips for a easy 180. Anything above 180 will probably require more technique however.

To make a 360 degree spin or higher, you must set up the jump perfectly. First, as you approach the jump, rotate your arms and hips against the direction you plan to spin. This may throw off your balance so be sure to have your feet ready to offset the shift in weight. Then, as you approach the jump, throw your hips and arms around and then wrap them around you for as little centrifugal inertia as possible (or take a grab you feel comfortable with). Keep your head facing the direction you spin. Once you think you have spun enough, hold your arms out to slow down and spot your landing. Stomp the ground, tuck in a bit to absorb shock, and ride away.

Rails

Before riding rails, be sure to wear some protection, at the...