Snowboarding (reference image)The hand closest to the tip of the board, the hand closest to the tail of the board — for a regular-foot rider, this means a left turn, but for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a right turn. For a regular-foot rider, it’s a right turn, but for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a left turn.
Front hand Fronthand
The hand closest to the tip of the board. For a regular-foot rider, this is the left hand; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s the right hand.
Back hand Backhand
The hand closest to the tail of the board. For a regular-foot rider, this is the right hand; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s the left hand.
Front foot Front foot
The foot closest to the tip of the board. For a regular-foot rider, this is the left foot; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s the right foot.
Back foot Back foot
The foot closest to the tail of the board. For a regular-foot rider, this is the right foot; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s the left foot.
Toe edge Front edge
When your stance is determined (whether you ride with your left or right foot forward), the edge of the board facing the direction you're moving is the front edge.
Heel edge Back edge
The edge of the board facing away from the direction you're moving when your stance is set (left or right foot forward).
Fakie
Riding in the opposite direction of your stance. For example: a regular-foot rider riding forward with their right foot.
Ollie
Originating from alpine skiing moves. After lifting the front foot, the back foot uses the board’s flex to achieve an airborne motion without jumping.
Nosebone
The front leg kicks sideways while the back leg bends at the knee, forming a lunge position.
Tailbone
The back leg kicks sideways while the front leg bends at the knee, forming a lunge position.
Frontside turn
For a regular-foot rider, this is a left turn; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a right turn.
Backside turn
For a regular-foot rider, this is a right turn; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a left turn.
Frontside rotation
For a regular-foot rider, this is a counterclockwise rotation; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a clockwise rotation.
Backside rotation
For a regular-foot rider, this is a clockwise rotation; for a goofy-foot rider, it’s a counterclockwise rotation.
Grab Grab
Can be done with one or both hands, simultaneously or in sequence, grabbing either edge of the board.
Straight legs
A type of aerial move where both legs are straight.
Stiffy Air
Both legs are straight while incorporating a grab. Usually involves the back hand grabbing the front edge between the bindings.
Caballerials (AbbreviationCab)
Start with a Fakie takeoff, rotate 360 degrees in the air, and land riding Fakie.
Straight Air
Simply put, it’s a straight ride through the air without any tricks. Aim to go as high and as far as possible. Straight Air serves as the foundation for learning all aerial maneuvers, so its importance should not be underestimated. The key is maintaining flow. Try to stay airborne for as long as you can. Keep your center of gravity low with knees bent while in the air. When landing, lean your body and board forward together. Absorb the impact and continue riding with the momentum.
Invert Flip
This refers to a position where your head is closer to the ground than your feet, and you use your hands to maintain balance. This trick often occurs in snowboard parks, is highly difficult, and very risky.
Falling Leaf “Z” Turn
Keep your arms out for balance on the slope, and you can learn this move either by riding regular (facing downhill) on your heel edge or switch (facing uphill) on your toe edge. This movement resembles autumn leaves drifting from left to right and then right to left. The key is using your head turn to lead your body drift — that is, when you slide toward the left edge of the slope (with your head facing left), immediately turn your head to the opposite right direction, and your board will drift right due to the head turn. Then continue swinging your head in that manner to slide down the slope in a pendulum-like motion. This is very important for beginners who want to learn turns and other moves later on.
Switch Riding (Riding Backwards)
Everything is the reverse of riding forward. Controlling edges and turning while riding switch is actually quite simple, but any sudden change may make it feel brand new again — as if you need to relearn it. That’s exactly what makes riding switch a skill worth re-learning. It's a very important technique because it helps you land safely when you’re unable to complete a trick and need to stop. Go back to the beginner area to practice. Start by crossing the slope sideways, and gradually learn how to execute continuous turns while riding switch. Once mastered, you can incorporate it into your regular runs.
Turning
This part is very important, so pay attention. Begin by riding straight down the slope with your board perpendicular to the incline, then gradually reduce the pressure on the board’s edges — notice how it feels? When your front foot starts sliding downhill and the board becomes parallel to the slope, you’ll begin to speed up. To initiate a turn, press down with your heel — this switches you to heel-side riding. If you press with your toes, you’ll switch to toe-side riding. During the edge transition, wait until the tip of your board is pointing directly downhill. Keep your eyes focused on the direction you want to go. Your body — especially your upper body and hips — will naturally follow your head. This allows you to reach in the direction you’re looking, aiding shoulder rotation. Don’t look at the ground in the direction you’re turning, especially when riding toe-side.
Tip: When you really want to turn, let your shoulders follow your head, and your hips and feet will follow. That’s it.
Slob Air
Front hand grabs the toe edge near the front of the front foot.
Crail Air
Rear hand grabs the toe edge near the front of the front foot by reaching over the front of the body.
Mute Air
Front hand grabs the toe edge near the front of the front foot or between the bindings, while extending the rear leg.
Mellanchollie air
Front hand grabs the heel edge between the bindings.
Indy Grab
Rear hand grabs the toe edge between the bindings, but must reach in from the outside of the rear foot.
Tip: A common mistake is actively reaching for the board with your hands — don’t do that. First pull the board close to your body, then grab it. But pulling in with both feet at the same time is also incorrect. Instead, grab the board at the peak of your jump — when you're at the highest point. That means the front foot lifts the board, the rear foot follows, and you grab it at that instant.
Indy Nosebone
Building on the Indy Grab (where the rear hand grabs between the bindings from the outside of the rear foot and the front leg is kicked forward), this grab is considered a bit more stylish than the Indy.
Boneless
This trick might sound complicated, but it’s not. I suggest practicing a few times on flat ground first, then taking your rear foot out of the binding and resting it on the stomp pad. When you’re ready to descend, jump slightly, then quickly grab the board with your rear hand at the right moment before letting go. Putting your foot back on the board is the tricky part. Try landing on just the foot still in the binding — it’s challenging because it reduces your balance control. Wait a moment until you’re as stable as possible before landing. It takes time to learn, but once you’ve done it a few times, it gets much easier. Practice on flat ground first to get used to moving with one foot, then try it on a slope when you’re confident.
Stale Fish
This is a very classic grab. The rear hand grabs the heel edge between the bindings, reaching over the rear leg, while the front hand is naturally lifted.
Tip: As you reach back with your rear hand, don’t lean backward. Keep your center of gravity over the center of the board. The highest point of your jump is when the board is pulled up to hip level. After the trick, return your hands to neutral to regain balance before landing.
Roast Beef
After a low-center-of-gravity jump with knees bent, use the board’s rebound to pull it close to your body. The rear hand reaches between the legs to grab the heel edge between the bindings, while the front hand is naturally lifted upward.
Tip: Keep your body balanced and prepare for landing. Don’t lean.
Japan Air
The front hand grabs the toe edge near the front of the front foot from the outside, with knees bent. The rear hand is lifted backward. Balance is crucial here for stability in the air. Keep your weight on the front leg to aid landing. Often the rear leg is kicked back during this move. Also, avoid riding parallel to the ground — it can pull the front hand down and look unappealing. This trick is very similar to Mute Air, except the latter grabs the toe edge near the board’s tip.
Method Air
The front hand grabs the heel edge between the bindings from behind the body. This move requires a high jump and long hang time. Find a suitable slope for a good takeoff. After jumping, bend your knees and pull the board up to your hips with your heels. Swing your rear hand toward your front shoulder, rotate your upper body to the right, and grab the heel edge between the front and rear feet with your front hand from the outside of the front foot. Release your hands, lower your center of gravity, and land. If the grabbing hand can pull the board up to hip height, it’ll be a nearly perfect Method Air.
Tweak
Whenever you complete any trick, add a slight variation to your ending posture — for example, after a move where you push your feet forward, extend them even further just before finishing.
Tail Grab (grabbing the tail of the board)
This is a basic grab move. After jumping, use the rebound force of the board to pull the snowboard closer to your body with your front foot leading and the back foot following. As you land, keep your back leg pulling the board toward the rear of your body. Kick your front leg forward to press down on the tip of the board, while extending your front arm forward—this will make it easier for your back hand to grab the tail.
Tips: The best time to grab is just as you begin to descend after reaching the highest point in the air. Also, shift your center of gravity to the center of the board for a safe landing.
Sad Air
Use your front hand to grab the heel edge between the bindings. Kick your front leg forward.
Nose Grab (grabbing the nose of the board)
After jumping, use the board’s rebound force to pull the snowboard closer to your body with your front foot leading and the back foot following. During landing, keep your front leg lifting the board toward your side, and kick your back leg forward. Press down on the tail of the board and extend your back arm backward—this makes it easy for your front hand to grab the nose.
Lien Air
Bend your front knee slightly and grab the heel edge near the nose—the part just in front of the front binding. Then extend your back leg, which will instantly lift the board via the grabbing hand. Lean your upper body forward. Your body will tilt toward the heel edge at the nose. Once you’re confident in the tilt, bend both knees simultaneously—you’ve essentially completed a Lien Method move. This one is fairly advanced.
Tai Pan Air
Bring your front hand from inside your front foot, through between your front and back foot, and reach forward to grab the toe edge of the front foot.
Suitcase Air
Bend both knees outward as much as possible until your back heel touches your buttocks. However, unlike the Method, where the board is lifted upward, this movement differs. Then, grab the toe edge of the board from underneath with your front hand.
Canadian Bacon Air
Bend your knees slightly and lean your upper body forward. Then, have your back hand grab the toe edge between your legs from behind your back leg. Now lean your body toward the nose while extending your back leg to form a tailbone.
Nuclear Grab
Start with a Crail grab, then slightly bend your front knee—your body naturally mimics the grabbing motion. Then, have your back hand grab the same spot as in the Lien Air, passing in front of your body. By extending your back leg to form a tailbone, you complete the grab. When you extend the heel edge of your back leg while pulling the board toward the toe edge during the grab, it looks quite stylish. But when tilting toward the heel edge, keep your gaze forward. Otherwise, the move will look awkward—as if it's a poorly executed heel-edge spin.
Seatbelt Air
Start with the Canadian Bacon Air, but instead of leaning toward the nose and extending your back leg into a tailbone, bend your knees and arch your back backward as far as possible. Of course, maintain your balance throughout.
Chicken Salad Air
Have your front hand grab the heel edge between the bindings by reaching between your legs. Rotate your wrist inward to complete the grab.
Mute Stiffy
After jumping, bend your knees to pull the board close to your body, similar to the Japan Air. At the peak, straighten both legs or just the back leg. Since the back leg pushes the board to a horizontal position, the front leg naturally straightens to lift the board. Then, bend your upper body and grab the toe edge with your front hand.
Tips: Maintain your balance when extending your legs in the air.
Corkscrew
This term usually refers to relatively fast and effortless rotational movements. It can apply to freestyle skiing or halfpipe riding. It can also describe any rotation without an axis.
Grasser
A variation of the Method grab, except in the Grasser, you grab the nose of the board, lifting it forward so that the nose points downward.
Revert (switching stance)
Switching from regular (forward) to switch (backward) stance, or vice versa.
Swiss Cheese Air
Have your back hand grab the heel edge near your back heel by reaching between your legs, while kicking your back leg forward.
Misty Flip
Perform a 540-degree front flip (also called a McTwist 540) in a straight line while airborne. Take off while moving forward and land in a switch stance.
Nose Bonk
Tap an object with the tip of the snowboard and then ride away.
Nose Slide
Ride solely on the board’s tip, either on the ground or on an object.
Nose press
Press the nose of the snowboard against a rail or the ground and ride.
Backflip
This is one of the simplest tricks. It requires quick reflexes and courage. Before learning this trick, here’s a tip: try diving or trampolining—or other relatively safe activities that give you a sense of being airborne. Of course, you can also practice in soft snow.
Visualize the move—it’s crucial before learning. And remember to imagine yourself executing the trick successfully. The more you visualize it, the better.
Take off at full speed without needing to Ollie.
Lower your center of gravity and relax your body before jumping. This helps with balance and reduces the chance of a failed takeoff.
Adequate pop. That’s the most important part. More than once, I’ve seen people hit their heads when they take off. If you rotate too quickly, you’re likely not to jump very high. Bend your knees, look back over your head, and thrust your hips. Hip movement is essential in any sport. In this move, relying solely on your head and upper body might not generate enough momentum, so you need to engage your hips. Use physics to help solve the problem!
In the air, you might want to tuck your body. It depends on how big your jump is. I should point out that if you over-rotate, landing on your back is much better than landing on your face.
Keep your eyes on the landing spot. Start looking for it while you're still in the air. Doing so also helps your trick look cleaner. That’s why bending your knees and looking back over your head is so crucial. Your eyes guide the direction of your landing. Once you spot the ground, keep your focus there—no looking around. It’s human instinct, but you may need to adjust your rotation if necessary. As mentioned earlier, if you’re rotating too fast, open up your body to slow down; but if you’re rotating too slowly, tuck in tighter.
Land where your eyes are fixed. Due to momentum, you might slide forward a bit after landing. Since it's a backflip, the tail of the board will touch down more than the tip. This technique is still being refined.
Backside Rodeo (backside flip)
This trick looks like a spiral when viewed from behind and is quite difficult but very eye-catching. Completing it requires a long hang time. Start with a low-center-of-gravity ride, jumping as high and far as possible. Lean forward as you take off, then use the board to rotate your body backward while bending your knees and pulling the board close. Grab the tail edge of the board with your front hand. Stay in a crouch throughout the air and tuck your body as much as possible to reduce drag and speed up rotation. Once the rotation is complete, immediately focus on your landing spot. Due to the large rotation, pull the board slightly closer to your body upon landing to reduce impact and prevent falling, aiming for a smooth touchdown.
Overview of Rotation:
Regarding frontside and backside rotations, let’s first clarify the difference between the two, as they’re often confused. For a regular-footed rider (left foot forward, which most people are), a frontside rotation is counterclockwise, while a backside rotation is clockwise. For a goofy-footed rider (right foot forward), it’s the opposite. Many people—around 90%—think backside rotations look cooler and are easier. I don’t agree. Backside rotations are just easier to land. Try both on flat ground to see which feels more comfortable for you!
How to Spin – To learn spinning, you first need to master rotating. A 180-degree rotation is easy—you just jump and twist your body 180 degrees. But to truly spin, you first need to master the 360-degree rotation; otherwise, you can’t perform more complex spins. How do you execute larger rotations? Start rotating the moment you leave the ground, pointing your fingers in the direction you want to spin. This skill is essential!
But how do you start rotating the instant you leave the ground? There’s one key: when rotating, point your upper body or arms in the opposite direction of your spin. We call this PREWIND. Let’s look at a frontside spin (for a regular-footed rider). Your upper body and arms should first rotate clockwise. When you pop off the lip, you’ll have enough space and power to point your arms in the direction of the spin, enabling a quick rotation. The harder you push with your arms, the faster you’ll spin. The perfect takeoff is when your body is perfectly centered over the board the moment you leave the ground—not too early, not too late. This ensures a smoother spin. Take your time; practice makes perfect!
Takeoff
Now you’ve probably noticed that with good PREWIND, you feel more in control of your board—it follows your movements more easily. But this also makes it easier to land too far forward from your takeoff. To avoid this, shift your weight to your back edge when preparing for a frontside spin. For a backside spin, shift your weight to your front edge. You’ve probably seen people catching an edge during takeoff—that’s because they shifted too much weight forward or backward. Shift only as much weight as needed, not too much or too little, to maintain balance.
Spin
To maintain balance during the spin, keep your eyes focused over your shoulder in the direction of the rotation. No matter how hard you initiate the spin, keep it within your line of sight. Bend your arms across your chest to help with balance.
Landing
To land safely, the first thing you need to do is stop spinning. If you’re not a beginner and you’re comfortable with spinning landings, you can land without slowing the spin. But for beginners, landing mid-spin is nearly impossible. So you need to slow it down. Stop focusing on the rotation and look at your landing spot instead. If that’s not enough, extend your arms to help decelerate. You might still feel like you’re spinning. Remember this when you land. That way, you’ll land at the peak of your rotation, with your landing spot in view. Land with a bit of force to absorb the impact.
180 Rotation (including FS-180 frontside 180 and BS-180 backside 180)
This trick is great for beginners. You can jump as high as you want—or not very high at all. Before reaching the lip, if you’re regular-footed and doing a frontside 180, gently rotate your body and arms clockwise as you approach the lip. Once you leave the lip, rotate your arms and body counterclockwise. Since it’s only a 180-degree turn, you don’t need much force. You’ll land switch (right foot forward, left foot back). A backside 180 is the same, just with a different rotation direction, but you’ll also land switch. This switch landing happens in 540s and 900s too.
360 Rotation (including FS-360 frontside 360 and BS-360 backside 360)
Once you’ve mastered the 180, keep rotating until you can do a full 360, bringing the board back to its original orientation. Learning a 360 is no different from any frontside or backside rotation. Just keep spinning until your board faces uphill, then switch edges. Then spin another half turn to complete the 360. You’ll also need to master both frontside and backside turns.
If you’re afraid of falling, learning a 360 can be tricky. Before attempting it, you should be very comfortable with fast 180s. A good way to learn a 360 is to do a 180, then another 180 mid-air. That means performing a 180 at the peak of your jump, then another before landing. If you can do both smoothly at the same speed, you’ve mastered the 360.
As you approach the lip, swing your arms in the opposite direction of your intended spin. When you reach the top and your body is almost airborne, swing your arms to the other side and turn your head—your legs will follow. A big enough arm swing makes the 360 much easier.
Don’t lean back during the rotation. Many people fall after rotating 270 degrees. Mastering this takes practice. Don’t show off until you can do it smoothly and confidently.
A frontside 360 rotates toward the frontside edge, while a backside 360 rotates toward the backside edge. It’s the same whether you’re regular or goofy-footed.
A smooth, controlled 360 with a clean landing looks much better than a sloppy spin followed by a rushed landing. The landing will still be switch (left foot forward, right foot back), which also happens in 720s and 1080s.
540/720/900/1080 Rotations
These advanced rotations all use similar methods, with differences only in the amount of rotation and landing direction.
By adding grabs, flips, or other tricks we’ve covered to these basic rotations, you can create countless variations. Snowboarding is all about creativity, and top riders worldwide are constantly inventing new moves. Every pro wants to develop their own signature trick—one that’s hard for others to copy—because that’s what’s considered “cool.” And in snowboard culture, being cool is highly admired. Unleash your imagination—maybe the next iconic trick will be yours!