Wintersports
Snowboarding
How to backside 180 on a snowboard
This trick involves turning your back to the downward part of the hill within the first 90 degrees of a midair turn.
If you’re ready for a wild ride on your board, the backside 180 is for you. This trick involves turning your back to the downward part of the hill within the first 90 degrees of a midair turn. You won't always see where you're headed, but that's what makes this trick such a thrilling adventure.
As Red Bull athlete and professional snowboarder Brock Crouch says, “It can get a little crazy, but I just remember to stay in the moment and have fun.”
Brock Crouch airs a backside 180 Japan at the Burton US Open in Vail
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool
This perspective can make learning the backside 180 even more exciting, so below, explore how to backside 180 on a snowboard. Before you know it, you’ll be landing with confidence over and over again as you make your way down the slopes.
Why you should learn how to backside 180 on a snowboard
When practicing the backside 180, you’ll work on controlling your board and getting comfortable with rotating in the air. These skills create a seamless transition to a variety of other snowboarding tricks.
Taking on the challenge of mastering the backside 180 also means refining some of your current snowboarding skills. After all, backside 180s require a balance of proper weight distribution and edge control — you’ll develop more awareness and responsiveness on your board. From there, all that’s left to do for most future tricks is add some extra finesse to your riding style.
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Preparing for the backside 180
Benny Milam does a backside 180 tuckknee during a photoshoot at Trollhaugen
© Ryan Taylor / Red Bull Content Pool
Here’s how to set yourself up for success as you get ready to practice the backside 180.
Gear up
You don’t need a special board to perform this trick, so stick with the board that fits you best. No matter how advanced of a snowboarder you are, protect yourself. This trick can be hard to land, so don’t forget your helmet. Grab a pair of gloves to keep your hands well insulated from the cold, and put on a pair of goggles to increase your visibility. Strap on your bindings, and get ready to hit the slopes.
Find the right terrain
An intermediate run is a good place to learn how to backside 180 on a snowboard. Try to find a spot with a small bump that you can launch off of. This will help you get more air time, making it easier to complete your half-turn.
Additionally, a flat landing space makes it easier to keep your balance. You’ll be landing looking away from the direction you’re headed, so, at first, even terrain makes all the difference. Over time, you can progress to bumpier, more inclined terrain
Warm up beforehand
Start by stretching the front of your body. Strap into your board, and kneel in the snow. Lean back with your hands behind you, and grab the upper edge of your board. Push your torso out in front of you.
To stretch your back, stand on your board and bend over to grab the toe edge. Gradually straighten your legs to give your back and legs a good stretch. If you’ve already mastered nose presses or tail presses, doing a few of these tricks can help you warm up too.
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Step-by-step guide to performing a backside 180
Let’s get to it! Here are the steps to performing a backside 180 from start to finish.
Zoi Synott airs a backside 180 at the Burton US Open in Vail
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool
- Find your positioning. As you’re riding down the slope, evenly spread your weight across your board. Your knees should be slightly bent, with your shins leaning toward the toeside edge of your board.
- Initiate the turn. Dig the toeside edge of your board into the snow to get enough grip to start a sturdy turn. Try not to dig your board too far into the snow or you risk either throwing yourself off balance or slowing your speed. You also don’t want to apply too little pressure onto the edge of your board. If you do that, you might not get enough grip to launch a powerful jump.
- Engage your body. Use your upper body to kick off the rotation and your lower body to generate the power needed for takeoff. Begin your turn by swiftly twisting your torso in the direction of the desired spin for your turn.
- Twist your torso, and spring into action. Sink your body a bit as you start the turn. From this dropped position, spring up from your knees and use your torso to fling your body around 180 degrees.
- Look uphill. As you’re turning in the air, keep your sights set up the slope to allow your upper and lower body to rotate naturally and in sync.
- Land on your toes. Aim to land with the toe-side edge of your board carving the snow. This technique helps keep your board from slipping out from under you.
- Keep gliding. As you come out of your trick, keep looking uphill with your upper body largely facing the same direction. Your lower body should be positioned slightly downhill before coming back in line with your torso. From there, you can glide for a bit until you’re ready to try it again.
Common backside 180 mistakes and how to avoid them
Tim-Kevin Ravnjak does a big Backside 180 Indy Grab in the snowpark of Laax
© Cyril Mueller / Red Bull Content Pool
Learning any trick takes practice. As you work on mastering the backside 180, here are some mistakes to avoid.
- Leaning too far over your board. It might feel natural to keep your torso down as you bend your knees to prepare for your turn. However, with this approach, you’ll be out of balance before you even start your jump. While the lower half of your body is tilting forward to help dig your board into the snow, keep your upper body upward.
- Looking downhill. Flying and landing blind might sound like it requires a literal leap of faith. However, trying to peek downhill mid-air can mess up your rotation and lead to a wonky landing. Instead, focus on keeping your sights set uphill and trusting yourself to land properly.
- Not committing to the trick. Hesitating is like hitting the brake when, instead, you need the most power to get up and around in the air. You’ll find that full commitment leads to smoother spins and landings.
- Landing on your heels. Landing on the heel edge of your board can cause you to keep rotating after you’ve landed and result in you losing your balance. Instead, try to keep the pressure on your toes.
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Tips for progression
Consider these tips to help you progress in your backside 180 practice.
- Start with static backside 180s on flat ground. Before jumping on the slopes, try out the basic concepts of this trick on flat ground. This allows you to get comfortable with the movements without the added challenge of navigating downhill terrain.
- Record and review your attempts. Sometimes, you might feel like you’re doing everything right in the moment. However, looking at yourself from another person’s perspective can show you exactly what’s tripping you up. Analyze your technique, check your posture, and see where you can refine your execution.
- Stay positive and persistent. Learning the backside 180 takes time, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t master it all that quickly. Embrace your falls — persistence is key, and every practice session is a step forward.
Keep looking up
So much of the backside 180 is about being confident and reveling in the thrill, even when you can’t quite see where you’re going. You might not know exactly where you’ll land at first, but you can always get back up and keep riding. So get out there and give this trick a whirl! Whether you're starting on flat ground or eyeing that jump challenge, the backside 180 is your ticket to riding in style.
