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Spinning on the ground The next flatland trick to learn and practice
is spinning 360s on a gentle slope while moving. This is also really good for your switch riding.
Start by sliding a gentle backside 180, then carry it on in the same direction with a switch
frontside 180. Pay attention to which edge is being used in the snow. On the first turn
it's your toe edge then the second 180 is your heel edge. The idea is to gets these
turns linked smoothly together so that you're spinning around and around smoothly like this
and it doesn't look like linked 180s. Spinning slowly will safely give you the feeling so
take it easy on your first few tries as it's easy to catch an edge. You're constantly changing
between the toe and heel edge and it's always your uphill edge in contact with the snow.
As you speed up the tempo of changing between your toe and heel edge your spins will get
faster. Hold the rest of your body still and rotated towards the direction you're turning.
Spinning in only 1 direction will make you dizzy so be sure you do an equal amount of
turns in the opposite direction, sliding a frontside 180 on the snow and following through
in the same direction with a switch backside 180. Heel edge, change to toe edge, to heel
edge, to toe edge. Start with slow linked 180s being careful not to catch your edge.
Keep you body slightly wound looking in the direction your rotating and gradually smooth
the spins and speed up by changing edges faster. This exercise gives you a strong edge awareness
and you'll now be far less likely to catch an edge in your everyday riding. It also challenges
you to have a centered balance point as you ride and improves your switch riding because
each 360 involves a regular turn and a switch turn. Adding Direction Go back to a flat area
and nollie into a tail press. Right now my body is in line with my board. Try rotating
your body by opening up your hips, shoulders and head. You're now adding some rotation
to the pressed position and should feel your board wanting to turn. Rotate frontside by
opening up like this or backside in the opposite direction. Try this out while riding. Nollie
into a tail press and open up. Add a little weight to your heel edge and your board will
start to rotate. This is one of the easiest real buttering tricks. The more direction
you add to your arms, shoulders and hips, while slightly pressuring the heel edge of
your tail, the quicker you'll rotate. Try it in the opposite direction. This feels different
because you can't see downhill. Stay balanced with lots of pressure directing into your
tail and slightly to the edge. Remember the nose only needs to be raised a small amount.