Wintersports
Snowboarding
How to tail press in snowboarding
This trick mixes fun and style so you can have more fun while sailing down the snowiest mountains.
If you enjoy heading out to the slopes, learning new tricks is a great way to infuse some creativity into your riding. As professional snowboarder and Red Bull athlete Zeb Powell says, “I’m always hyped on riders with smooth style and gnarly tricks.”
Maybe you’re looking to become a snowboarder with a vast set of skills to perform on the slopes. If you’re aiming to start with the basics, a tail press is a perfect entry-level trick. Below, you’ll learn how to tail press in snowboarding and find some tips for getting comfortable with this simple yet creative trick.
Zeb Powell at Red Bull Slide-In Tour at Killington Mountain
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
01
Understanding tail pressing
Tail pressing is a snowboarding technique that involves shifting your weight toward the tail (rear) of your snowboard while riding. It involves lifting the nose of the board off the snow so that the tail of your board primarily makes contact with the snow.
Tail pressing is a foundational technique for freestyle riding. It gets you used to shifting your weight and exercising control over your board. Mastering these techniques is great preparation for learning more advanced snowboarding tricks.
Before attempting a tail press, you should be able to evenly balance your weight on your board while on flat ground and not in motion. From there, you can work toward tail pressing while riding downhill.
Nick Russell in the backcountry outside Jackson Hole, WY
© Fredrik Marmsater / Red Bull Content Pool
02
Equipment and gear
Tail pressing is a relatively easy snowboarding technique, so you don’t need any special equipment for it. Below are the basic supplies you’ll need as you head out to the slopes to start practicing.
Snowboard
Just about any type of snowboard works for tail pressing. However, tail presses are often easier to perform on reverse camber boards. That’s because, on these boards, the center bends downward, and both the tail and nose point upward.
Bindings
Snowboard bindings are the straps and baseplates that keep your feet attached to your board. A good starting position for your bindings is the duck stance, in which you angle your feet away from each other. Mount your front bindings to a 15-degree angle and your rear bindings between zero and 6 degrees. This is just a starting point — you can adjust your bindings to whatever feels most comfortable for you.
Boots and gloves
Proper-fitting boots help you exercise precise control over your board, especially when you’re shifting your weight during a tail press. Once you’ve strapped on your boots, put on a pair of waterproof gloves to protect your hands from the elements.
Helmet and goggles
A helmet helps protect you if you happen to fall while tail pressing. This way, you can quickly recover and get back to riding. You should also wear goggles to protect your eyes from bright sunlight, frigid temperatures, harsh winds, and injuries. Goggles also increase your visibility as you’re boarding.
03
Tail press techniques and tips
Now that you have your gear, it’s time to practice tail pressing. To perform your first tail press, start by riding down a mellow slope at a moderate speed. Evenly distribute your weight on both feet over your board. Flex the snowboard by bending your knees and shifting your weight toward the tail of your board.
Continue shifting your weight back while further bending the knee that’s at the rear of your board. Your movement should gradually lift your board’s nose off the snow. To gracefully maintain your tail press, subtly adjust your body movements, keeping your weight on the tail of your board.
Align your shoulders and hips near the tail of your board to help you hold your balance. Leaning your shoulders too far back on your board could cause you to lose your balance. Move your body weight with your hips to steadily distribute your weight and keep yourself well-positioned.
You should also try to keep your back knee from caving inward as you’re leaning toward your board’s tail. This position could look awkward and cause you to lose your balance. Ensure your knee stays pointed outward — this becomes easier with your shoulders and hips in sync.
04
Practice and drills
Maggie Leon and Brantley Mullins at Seven Springs at Red Bull Slide in Tour
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
Try out these tips to help you get the hang of the tail press.
- Try it on flat ground. To get the hang of all the movements involved in performing a tail press, start by practicing on flat ground without riding. Reach full confidence in moving from a central stance on your board to leaning over your rear knee with your hips and shoulders. Do this as many times as you need to get comfortable with how this position feels.
- Start on a mellow slope. A mellow slope allows you to focus on tail press techniques without the added complexity of navigating steeper terrain. The gentler incline of a mellow slope also helps you maintain a moderate speed. This way, you can execute your tail press with greater control and confidence.
- Work on maintaining your tail press. A good goal to work toward is holding a tail press between five and 20 seconds. Maintaining it for this amount of time means you’ve mastered the foundational elements of tail pressing.
- Advance your skills. Take your tail press up a notch by practicing it on a more challenging surface. Try performing this trick, for example, while riding on a box. The technique is similar to doing a tail press on a regular slope, except boxes are typically flat. As such, the priority here is ensuring your weight is centered on the box. Otherwise, you risk leaning too far in one direction and falling.
The basics of snowboarding, with a touch of style
A tail press can be a thrilling new trick whether you’re new to snowboarding or you’ve been leaving trails on the slopes for a while. Gear up, hop on your board, and elevate your snowboarding experience by trying out this new technique.
