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August, 2023

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Has anyone actually broke their neck trying a backflip?

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Sk3islyf
Posts: 30 - Karma: 181
So like I’m pretty pissed off I never tried a backflip on skis this year because at the beggining of the year I said I would. The Saturday before my mountain closed I said I would 100% try one next week. But sadly... next week never came 😢. Anyways, the reason I didn’t try it earlier was because I was too scared to break my neck or some shit. I’m totally capable of doing backflips but I feel like I would find a way to screw it up on skis. Anyways, has anyone or anyone you know actually broken their neck while trying a backflip?
Mar 27 2020 1:34AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 50873 - Karma: 152,928
Yes. It's definitely happened. Honestly more often people that hit jumps that can't ski and end up inverted.

If you can flip on a tramp etc you can flip on skis. Steeper and taller with flatter landing and less distance is best imo. With the lack of mtns that could be tougher. I like hip take offs and drcking out and windlips are prolly the easier spots to learn as they feel more smooth, mellower slow landings, and feel more like a tramp.

If you can hit a jump on skis, and throw a backflip on a tramp, you can backflip on skis.

Risk vs. Reward is always a thing. That said i could slip in the shower or choke on a sandwich. Most people that try backflips land or almost land the first one and land it with in 3-5. Be safe and have fun.
Mar 27 2020 2:32AM
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Medicine
Posts: 51 - Karma: 171
Friend of mine got caught on the lip of a soft (and small) jump on a powder day trying a backflip and broke some vertebra. He was pretty fucked but also kinda lucky but yeah he was out for like a year.
Mar 27 2020 5:52AM
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Adtmartens
Posts: 78 - Karma: 260
Yes it is definitely possible to break your neck but is so unlikely. The only reason you would ever land on you head is if you don't commit or the lip of the jump gives out. If you find a solid jump and fully go for the flip i can 100% guarantee that you will make it around. Its still very helpful to be confident in doing backflips in general because you more likely land it on you first few try's but even if you just commit you wont break your neck so i would say don't worry about that when your trying your first ones.
Mar 27 2020 11:09AM
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270on420out
Posts: 7477 - Karma: 50,609
My friend went to lay one out for his first time (he could do them tucked up) and he freaked out mid air and landed completely upside down. Didn’t break his neck, but he had an nasty seizure and concussed himself. Moral of the story is that if you’re going to do one, commit to it completely.
Mar 27 2020 11:20AM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 5587 - Karma: 59,805
Couple days ago i brought this dude i've never met before to this jump ive been trying dubs on all season and hyped him up to try his first backflip even though the jump was huge. He did it perfectly but just didnt hold the landing together (it was really poppy and a somewhat flat landing, high compression). So sick, anyone with any athleticism can do backflips easily.
Mar 27 2020 11:22AM
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mattytru
Posts: 2733 - Karma: 5,243
one of my younger brothers best friends just broke his neck on a backflip attempt (which he has landed before). not a good outcome, cant move most of his body, but is hopeful about progress due to increased movement of fingers... really gnarly shit
Mar 27 2020 12:27PM
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Whackson
Posts: 465 - Karma: 3,961
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/959748/trim-343EC97B-6D85-4ED7-B8BD-799002BF8483-MOV


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/959749/trim-EE31CFFA-8E22-4108-9147-7E010C9CB065-MOV
Top video shows my first backflip and what happens if u commit 100%

Second video shows what happens if u bail

I get that it’s different sports but it’s the same idea. If u commit I highly doubt there is any chance u will break your neck. Just a thought
Mar 27 2020 3:42PM
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TheMailMan
Posts: 1167 - Karma: 4,806
mattytruone of my younger brothers best friends just broke his neck on a backflip attempt (which he has landed before). not a good outcome, cant move most of his body, but is hopeful about progress due to increased movement of fingers... really gnarly shit


fuck sake... that's hard to hear man. It happens so easily, life changed in a blink of an eye.

Did my C4/5 going otb on my bike last year but thankfully walked it off (literally, I had no idea the damage i'd just done), I just had to wear a neck brace for 2 months.

Hope he makes a good strong recovery.
Mar 27 2020 4:32PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12325 - Karma: 112,535
after reading this thread, im never doing a backflip again
Mar 27 2020 4:42PM
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crustyboot.420
Posts: 989 - Karma: 4,268
You guys must remember that getting really seriously injured by doing a backflip is very rare. You can die skiing a straight slope for fucks sake. No reason to be scared.
Mar 27 2020 7:33PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2607 - Karma: 31,106
In middle school we had one day to go off and do group activities and one of them was going to the local hill. A bunch of kids that never been skiing before ended up going and this one kid was talking shit all day about good he was, he wasn't. Anyway we were at the jump and he was like I'm going to do a backflip and I was like please don't you will definitely not land it. He does it and landed right on he head and broke his neck, luckily he can still walk. But fuck that was bad.
Mar 27 2020 7:38PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 929 - Karma: 4,919
Try into pow if you can. I landed straight on my head and crumpled my neck some but was fine. 3rd try I committed but didn’t have quite enough. Caught my tips, whiplashed my head into the snow and got a concussion.
Mar 28 2020 2:42AM
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Randol
Posts: 115 - Karma: 589
nolliebackflipYou guys must remember that getting really seriously injured by doing a backflip is very rare. You can die skiing a straight slope for fucks sake. No reason to be scared.

^^^^
I was throwing backies all winter and broke my collar bone catching an edge on a catwalk.
Mar 28 2020 2:46AM
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patskis22
Posts: 359 - Karma: 1,152
don't be discouraged OP, it took me many years of mental torture to learn inverts. Once I landed my first backie, (out of a halfpipe) your brain will know what to do and then you'll get rods, bios, corks, in no time.

build this and you will 100% land it.

steep takeoff
flat landing
soft snow
speed
more than 5-6 feet of height
Mar 28 2020 11:38AM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,854
IMO with the ideal jump, a backflip is easier than a straight air or a 3. Once you pop, you want to keep your body straight such that you're able to see your toes until "flat back" (where your feet are at the same height as your head). A good way to over rotate a backy is to bend your knees too early and sling your head back, as this gives you no room to tuck or stretch, as well as leave your head in an extremely vulnerable position. Don't rush to see the ground as early as possible. If you have decent balance, as most skiers do, you'll be more aware of your flip position with patience.

Even a good banana backflip, you'll have your knees nearly locked out from the end of your pop, to the point that your skis have fully left the jump.

If you wanna know a good takeoff position, lie on a solid floor. Normally, your spine will curve in a way that you can fit your hand under your back. Shape your spine so that your entire back is on the floor. While holding this position, flex your core and leg muscles. You should hold this position for about the first quarter of flip.
Mar 28 2020 2:04PM
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chef_boyardee
Posts: 564 - Karma: 6,644
patskis22flat landing

pretty sure you want a reasonably steep landing. landing flat hurts, especially if u don't make it to your feet. Should be chill if its a step up tho.
Mar 28 2020 4:31PM
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Prince_Pollo
Posts: 125 - Karma: 639
I tried my first backflip today and landed it first try. Then I went for another one and not sure what happened but I opened up mid air and took a pretty hard fall to my head. Luckily I managed to twist sideways before I hit the ground and I skied away with just a head ache.
Mar 21 2021 12:10AM
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tutipups
Posts: 1479 - Karma: 8,951
Sk3islyfSo like I’m pretty pissed off I never tried a backflip on skis this year because at the beggining of the year I said I would. The Saturday before my mountain closed I said I would 100% try one next week. But sadly... next week never came 😢. Anyways, the reason I didn’t try it earlier was because I was too scared to break my neck or some shit. I’m totally capable of doing backflips but I feel like I would find a way to screw it up on skis. Anyways, has anyone or anyone you know actually broken their neck while trying a backflip?


well thats like asking does dying hurt we dont know cuz they dead
Mar 21 2021 12:41AM
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Chunderface
Posts: 2361 - Karma: 9,046
Jesus
Mar 21 2021 1:04AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14279 - Karma: 8,717
Whacksonhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/959748/trim-343EC97B-6D85-4ED7-B8BD-799002BF8483-MOV

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/959749/trim-EE31CFFA-8E22-4108-9147-7E010C9CB065-MOV

2nd vid isn’t a lack of committing, it’s a lack of understanding how to set a rotation. I see this all the time. You need to set the rotation from your core, not from your shoulders up lol. Homeboy scorpioned in the air.
Mar 21 2021 7:38AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14279 - Karma: 8,717
chef_boyardeepretty sure you want a reasonably steep landing. landing flat hurts, especially if u don't make it to your feet. Should be chill if its a step up tho.


I’d rather take a backflip to flat than a straight air to flat. Feels like nothing.

If you try to learn backies on something with a steep landing, you run the risk of over rotating big time.
Mar 21 2021 7:51AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 50873 - Karma: 152,928
This is one of those threads you kinda wish wouldn't get bumped
Mar 21 2021 7:56AM
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xiaolongbao
Posts: 60 - Karma: 1,261
Ain't gonna stop me from throwing a backflip this season. I probably have at least 2000 backflips and frontflips on trampolines but my ape brain too scared to throw one on skis yet
Mar 21 2021 1:00PM
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tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,183
I learned backflips on trampolines first and then put it to my feet on the second try on skis.

I have also landed on my face / neck in all types of conditions, and yes, it kinda hurt, and I was sore the next day, but I never even came close to busting my neck or anything. If you go fast enough, and know the jump semi-well, I can almost guarantee you'll be alright. I have under-rotated, and over-rotated. I'm still here! haha
Mar 21 2021 1:17PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 8,905
A major cause of slamming your dome in a back flip is setting with your head. Thrust your hips foreword and watch your toes meet the horizon. Also try to avoid bending your knees much on takeoff as this can cause you to hit your head on the jump, over rotate, or under rotate. Basically keep your head tucked in and you'll be fine. I did them on a tramp and then airbag which is basically a cheat code.
Mar 21 2021 8:17PM
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brokeneck_mtn
Posts: 13 - Karma: 281
Had to comment lol. I was pretty comfortable throwing backies on jumps and occasionally natural features, but I tried one off a wallride and now I have two fused vertebrae and walk like an old man.
Mar 21 2021 8:26PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 5644 - Karma: 62,042
I wouldn’t do it unless you have them on lock on a tramp. Even then it’s pretty risky cause something could always go really bad. I’ve never done one on anything and tried one a few weeks back and landed on my neck deep on a jump, luckily I didn’t break anything or paralyze myself. I really regret doing it not only cause my in air awareness is horrible, but I don’t think flipping makes skiing any more fun, but hey that’s just a rail rat’s perspective on it
Mar 22 2021 12:41AM
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brosasaki
Posts: 105 - Karma: 801
big factor in spinal injuries is muscular support. if you're nervous about your spine hit the gym until you got a hot back. can't break your neck if you don't have one
Mar 22 2021 8:33AM
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katrina
Posts: 2358 - Karma: 14,608
I've seen a couple broken backs, in both cases they were very competent skiers and backflippers. Accidents do happen, like anything else.
Mar 22 2021 9:55AM
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