Do you get lost when the commentators start shouting numbers and grab names on TV? We’re here to translate the action so you can appreciate the insanity.
Winter competition season is here. You’re tuned into the X Games, the Dew Tour, or the Olympics, coffee in hand, ready to watch the best snowboarders and freeskiers in the world throw down.
They launch off a jump, spin so fast they turn into a blur, land perfectly, and the announcer screams, "A stomp on that Cab Triple Cork 1440 Indy!"
And you think: "That looked awesome. But what on earth did he just say?"
At Blauer Board Shop, we live for this stuff. But freestyle riding has become so technical that it can feel like you need an engineering degree just to watch it on TV.
Don't worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a crash course on trick terminology so you can watch the next big contest like a pro and appreciate the athleticism on display.
1. The Arenas: Slopestyle vs. Halfpipe
First, let's establish the playing fields. While the trick names overlap, the execution changes depending on the course.
- Slopestyle: Think of this as a skatepark made of snow, running downhill. It’s a mix of jumps (kickers) and "jib" features (rails, boxes, wallrides). Judges are looking for variety, creativity in choosing a line through the rails, and massive spins on the jumps.
- Halfpipe: A massive U-shaped snow channel with 22-foot vertical walls. Here, it’s all about amplitude (how high out of the pipe they go), maintaining speed, and linking back-to-back technical tricks on opposite walls.
2. The Foundation: Stance and Direction
Before we get to spinning, we need to know how the rider is standing. This is crucial because judges reward difficulty, and riding "unreal" is harder.
- Regular vs. Goofy: This is their natural stance. Regular footers ride with their left foot forward; Goofy footers ride right foot forward. Neither is "correct," it’s just preference.
- Switch (or Fakie): This is the big one. "Switch" means riding backward from your natural stance. If a goofy footer rides down the hill left-foot forward, they are riding switch.
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- Why it matters: Imagine trying to throw a baseball with your non-dominant hand. That’s what riding switch feels like. If a rider takes off or lands "switch," add difficulty points.
3. The Math Class: Rotations
When you hear numbers, it’s all about geometry. It’s the total degrees rotated horizontally.
- 180: Half a rotation (landing backwards).
- 360: One full rotation.
- 540: One and a half rotations.
- 720: Two full rotations.
- ...and so on.
The current standard: In men’s pro competition, a 1440 (four full spins) is now a baseline trick. We regularly see 1800s (five spins) and even 1980s and 2160s (six full spins).
4. Which Way? Frontside vs. Backside
This is where most viewers get confused, and it gets complicated depending on whether they are hitting a jump or a rail. Let's stick to jumps for simplicity:
- Frontside Spin: The rider’s chest faces downhill during the first 90 degrees of the spin. (Their front opens up to the landing).
- Backside Spin: The rider’s back faces downhill during the first 90 degrees. They are spinning "blind" initially.
Note: If you hear "Cab," that is old-school skateboard terminology for a Switch Frontside spin.
5. Going Off-Axis: Corks and Flips
Riders rarely spin flat like a top anymore. They almost always go off-axis, dipping their shoulders and getting their feet above their heads.
- Cork (Corkscrew): An off-axis spin where the rider’s body rotates while tilted sideways.
- Double, Triple, Quad Cork: This refers to how many times the rider goes completely inverted during the rotation. A "Triple Cork 1440" means they spun four times horizontally and, during those spins, flipped upside down three times. (Yes, it’s insanity).
- Rodeo / Misty / Wildcat: These are specific variations of backflips and frontflips combined with spins.
6. The Soul of the Sport: The Grab
If you don't grab your board or skis in the air, the trick generally doesn't count for much. Grabbing serves two purposes: it stabilizes the body for faster spinning and, more importantly, adds style.
Where they grab the board changes the name and the look of the trick.
- Indy: Grabbing the toe edge between the bindings with the back hand.
- Mute: Grabbing the toe edge between the bindings with the front hand.
- Melon: Grabbing the heel edge between the bindings with the front hand.
- Stalefish: Grabbing the heel edge between the bindings with the back hand.
There are dozens more (Tailgrab, Nosegrab, Method, Japan), but these are the staples. Judges want to see the grab held long and tweaked, not just a quick tap.
Putting It All Together: The Decoder Ring
So, when the commentator yells: "A huge Switch Backside Triple Cork 1440 Mute Grab!"
Here is what you are watching:
- Switch: They approached the jump riding backward.
- Backside: They spun blind, turning their back to the landing first.
- Triple Cork: They went upside down three times.
- 1440: They completed four full rotations.
- Mute Grab: They held the toe edge of their board with their front hand while doing all of that.
The View from the Couch (or the Shop)
Knowing the mechanics doesn't take away the magic. It makes it more impressive. When you realize someone just rode backward into a 70-foot jump and spun four times while flipping three times, you see these athletes are on another level.
Enjoy the competition season! And remember, whether you’re looking to throw your first 360 or just carve some nice groomers this weekend, Blauer Board Shop has the gear to get you there. Stop by and see us!