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April, 2025

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How did you learn backflips?

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pj21
Posts: 400 - Karma: 4,635
I'm looking towards progressing a bit further next season (Southern Hemisphere Skiier) and I'm curious to know how did you learn to backflip? and do you have any tips?

(p.s. I can comfortably backflip on trampolines and small ledges)

K+ for good advice
11 years ago
12 1
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shepux
Posts: 470 - Karma: 1,630
I'm similar to you and i think i'm gonna throw it into an airbag unless there's a solid pow day
11 years ago
4 0
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EMH
Posts: 279 - Karma: 862
Step 1: Find a kicker.
Step 2: Grow a pair. (If you're a huge pussy, you might need alcohol/other drugs)
Step 3: Try.

If you can do a 360 comfortably, you can ski well and you can do a backflip on a trampoline, you will land one on snow in first 5 tries. Have fun.
11 years ago
3 1
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hristian.markov
Posts: 8 - Karma: 27
I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was skiing with a pro and it was this huge pow day. He asked me what my best trick and i told em 5s and 3s with japan. So he Asked me if i could do backs, which i couldnt. So we went a bit freeride and we shaped the perfect kicker for a backflip. I am not sure how to explain it but u probably know how a kicker for backflip looks like (more like a hook). So there is this main specific action with the legs. U start the rotation from ur leg and u just try to turn urself back. In the air it was rly confusing. When i see the landing just straighten ur body and fix your eyes on the landing and just land it :) Its not hard its actually quite easy its just a bit scary to be upside down. If u try it once u will its not that scary, but if u can di it on a trampoline then u are used to the feeling. Dont be scared, just try it :)
11 years ago
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Ali_Dibden
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 1,689
I just sacked up and did it on a kicker. You not gonna hurt yourself to bad if you under-rotate.
11 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
I'm more afraid to 5 than I am to backflip. I learned by just doing it on a tramp and hucking it off a really small jump.
11 years ago
1 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52557 - Karma: 173,764
I built a 1/4 pipe out of a 3 or 4 foot rock on the side of the trail. Went slow once and just leaned back to land on my back and gauge it without getting any air really. Then bombed down and hucked it. Threw ones on that for years. Didn't have a park.

Into a pool is probably the easiest way to learn. Trampolines are good too. If you can't wrap your head around the rotation you can roll a few. It's all about full commitment and throwing straight back over your head looking for the ground to come around. If you turn to the side you're gonna have a bad time.
11 years ago
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BlakeLively
Posts: 663 - Karma: 656
10 ft kicker, pop, suck your knees up. You're guaranteed to get the rotation around. I overrated two before I stomped, but it was really easy to dial back once I started getting them around
11 years ago
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
I learned on a tramp and then on an airbag before snow. I'm pretty glad I tried it on the airbag first because my first couple attempts I put it straight to my head. If you are doing them off ledges and stuff maybe try gainers. I think if I had learned gainers as opposed to standing backflips before trying them on skis I would have been more prepared.
11 years ago
0 0
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iH8pow
Posts: 1885 - Karma: 8,479
after the season was over, we just went to the park where they leveled it all to make a snow pad for some end of season snowboard thing. built a jump, and did it. my friend just told me to look up at the sky after i pop
11 years ago
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edai
Posts: 4995 - Karma: 4,705
Here's my first one i landed, it was my 4th try.

1st try - underotated, one ski ejected, hit my face on the snow, hurt worse than the other falls

2nd try - overotated, backslapped and washed out (be wary if you have fks/look/pivot style bindings, backslapping with these hurts a lot)

3rd try - brought it to my feet rode for about a foot and hit a pounder mound and died

4th try - video above
11 years ago
0 0
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eikitt
Posts: 131 - Karma: 182
Build a jump in the BC with loads of pow to land in! If you can throw them from small ledges you shouldn't have any problems, just remember to push with your hips and you'll land it after a few tries.
11 years ago
1 0
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,348
waited a good year for the perfect jump with perfect conditions, then sent it.
11 years ago
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,678
I could do them on tramps for a while and into water this summer I did a bunch. Then two weeks ago at Stowe I just went for it and stomped my first on, it was very similar to on a tramp. They honestly aren't nearly as hard as I thought, I was just scared to do them for a while. Also, this is absolutely a claim post because I am still stoked I stomped my first backflips on snow. Good luck man, you should just send it.
11 years ago
0 0
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
out of the bottom of a halfpipe is the best spot to learn. Don't learn them into pow, man up and learn them on some hard snow so you actually try to land.
11 years ago
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SwaggyP
Posts: 79 - Karma: 151
I have more experience with front flips. Throw them into my pool off bridges and into my bed. Have never really tried back flipping. I assume I should try front flips first, are they anymore difficult than a backie
11 years ago
0 0
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,151
I just sent it one day, friend convinced me and a few others to try it. Landed it 3rd try. This year I've been sending them at the end of the pipe.
11 years ago
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yasgur99
Posts: 402 - Karma: 955
My friend told my other friend to to one and I said ill do one too
11 years ago
0 0
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