| Everyone who snowboards, at some time or | | | | continuing into the air part of this maneuver. For |
| another, will want to make some progress with | | | | the whole ride along the ground up to the kicker |
| their riding skills. No progression tends to mean no | | | | you should try to keep the board in a straight line |
| fun, what's the point in simply doing the same old | | | | and flat on the ground, this will make your next |
| same old every day eh! It's got to get boring | | | | set of movements easier, your airborne actions |
| doing that. | | | | not veering off the desired axis. |
| With increased riding diversity comes a healthy | | | | 2.When your board is close to the end of the |
| dose of difficulty. Jumps look exciting and are a | | | | jump try and ollie off the last meter or so of it. |
| great way to improve your snowboarding. If done | | | | To ollie you need to crouch a little further, move |
| properly you may impress, the trick will also look | | | | your weight slightly towards the back of the |
| stylish, in you own particular way of course! | | | | board, then lift your front leg and spring up off |
| A great place to start is with an 'ollie' off a jump. | | | | the tail. The degree to which your board's tail is |
| This is a non-rotational straight-line it type of | | | | bending before the pressure is released |
| jump. Follow the advice below to lean how it | | | | determines the height you'll get off the kicker. |
| works: | | | | 3.If the board has remained nice and flat of the |
| 0.When contemplating this jump remember to | | | | ground until lift-off you should now be whizzing |
| snowboard past the jump in question a few times | | | | through the atmosphere in total control. On the |
| to see what shape it is, e.g. a flat wedge of | | | | other hand, any slight deviation on the take-off |
| snow, or does it have more of a semicircular | | | | will be being felt now and a phenomenon known |
| increasing gradient for take-off. If a beginner | | | | as 'winding down the windows' (stabilizing your |
| flatter jumps are probably easier since they | | | | body with arm movements) may be your best |
| involve less counteracting movements of the | | | | bet to reverse the errors. As you glide through |
| body as you move over them. Ideally the landing | | | | the air remember to keep your legs reasonably |
| should involve a gradient of sorts inversely equal | | | | bent, out stretching them slightly alongside any |
| to that of the take-off. Ensure that when you do | | | | hand movements to increase stability. |
| start sessioning the jump that your speed is not | | | | 4.At this point your focus should be on finding the |
| too high that you fly off it out of control. On small | | | | landing spot ahead of you. Keep your arms low |
| jumps with this trick too slow is better than too | | | | and your legs bent. |
| fast. As with all freestyle tricks, gradual | | | | 5.Aim to land with both feet hitting the ground at |
| progression is the name of the game. Make sure | | | | the same time, evenly distributing your body |
| no-one else is about to use or positioned in the | | | | weight so that there is less chance the board will |
| landing area of the kicker. Approach the jump | | | | slide out from underneath. Legs should be partially |
| dead on down the hill, controlling your speed now | | | | bent and slightly tensed, ready for the impact. As |
| and then with sharp sideways movements. Next | | | | you land feel free to absorb everything, your |
| thing you'll know you are moving onto the jump. | | | | knees bending heavily. Once safely on the check |
| 1.Approach the point of lift-off with your legs bent | | | | out what lies ahead. |
| hard, your centre of gravity really low and as | | | | So there you have it a great basic jump to learn, |
| close to the centre of your stance as possible. | | | | master and eventually move on to other more |
| This is a very stable position, the stability | | | | ridiculous tricks from. Happy days. |