Skill level to try backflip

[Woody]

Hey guys whats up!

So...about this time last year I told my friends that I was gonna at least attempt to do a backflip by this time...and if not, they could punch me in the face lol.

Well that was really stupid on my part, because I was all gung-ho about trying one, and then a rider in our crew attempted a Barrel Roll at the AJC freeride and broke his neck when the ski came down onto his head.

That being said, I still do think I have a fairly decent skill level on my SJ and a pretty damn good balance. I've been riding standups for about 6-7 years, and I've been riding my limited 2006 SJ for about 2 seasons.

After reading all the backflip threads in these forums...is it worth giving it a shot or should I wait until my skill level is better. I'm confident in the ocean, I'm starting to do some bigger nose stabs...but I think that a backflip is still in my realm of possibility.

The only downside to my ski is that I don't really care for the foodholds (24/7 universal holds). I only can get about half my foot into it. Would this be an issue of my feet popping out? It's never really happened before on any big airs or stabs...but will the inversion have an effect on it?

Thanks all




lol see post 79

 

[stanton]

i just learned to flip two months ago and its the easiest trick i know. the first few times its kinda scary, but once you feel the rotation its on!
just go out and do it!

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

A couple of things...

Make sure your hull is either dispensable or can handle a pancake. I pancaked two attempts in a row last fall and ruined my non-reinforced hull and hood. Lesson learned and now my new ski is setup for the worst.

Under no circumstance do you kick away from the ski. Stick with it and go down with the ship no matter what. It goes against intuition, but it is safer when going inverted, if not always. I can only imagine your buddy didn't follow this rule.

This is very important, make sure you have deep enough water. You'll want a wave that is just starting to break and that has a very steep face. Typically this happens in shallower water which could be very bad for you and your ski. If you can touch bottom with a life jacket on it is too shallow. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to overlook once the adrenaline kicks up.



But yeah, as long as you play it smart, don't be afraid to try them. I am alot less afraid of them now that I have failed a few compared to before when all I had to go on was my very elaborate imagination.

:splatt:

 

[JDiz]

i just learned them myself and these guys are on point. never bail and dont let go. thanks to hurricane bill i am now 100% confinent in doing them. once you figure out the rotation for the wave it is the smoothest thing to land.
though i have not reinforced my ski. hopefully i dont break it before i make it to winter.

 

[Aircraftsalz]

Simple to do, Brap & Look back to spot & will help with rotation. I just learned them 2-3 months ago. Never let go, if you don't make it around no worries it doesn't hurt to land upside down.

Deeper water help, hitting bottom sucks. I was doing them a few wks ago in 2-3ft water & bumped the sand bar.

 

[Flyinbysti]

I really gotta start riding some ocean

 

[flipside]

i just learned to flip two months ago and its the easiest trick i know. the first few times its kinda scary, but once you feel the rotation its on!
just go out and do it!

Its seriously one of the easier tricks to learn. Its all about the proper form going into the wave. Watch some vids and see how others are doing it and just go for it! The dangers are obvious. The most important part of doing the backflip is holding on. What ever you do hold on..

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

I really gotta start riding some ocean

Eff the ocean. There are some 'great' lakes in this country that kick up waves plenty big enough for this kind of action!

 

[flipside]

Eff the ocean.

:thumbsdown:

 

[Devilock]

stop talking about me on the internet!!!

 

[stanton]

Eff the ocean. There are some 'great' lakes in this country that kick up waves plenty big enough for this kind of action!

dont start a lake vs ocean arguement, ive seen the lakes surf and it hardly compares.
what your looking for is a vertical lip about 5-6ft tall. lean forward at the base of the wave and rock back and get low as you roll on the throttle and go up the wave. as long as its vert and your leaning back on the throttle it will come around. saying its an easy trick is a fact, but dont get confused its very dangerous and can cause major damage to your ski!

 

[ryan]

oh boy. woody your not ready you will kill yourself. you bail every other wave jumping right side up!! but if you have the balls go for it. make sure i am there i want to see this. lol

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

No lake vs ocean argument here, just saying I have had a ton of fun in surf that has been well over 10' at times and none of it has been in an ocean. I'm sure salt water and jelly fish are fun too, it's just not the only way to skin this cat.

:tapedshut:

 

[ryan]

ocean is where its at.

 

[cambo au]

ive taught a few guys in my crew to flip and here is the advise i give them they are the easiest trick to do you just have to commit 100%
aproach the wave at walking pace be at the bottom of the face when you just start to see it white cap then put your ass on your heels and look back and pull your throttle to the bars all in one go
by squating you pull with your arms and the more you squat when you dont quiet make it you will be far enough back and will know the ski will do you no harm
this is the simpilist way to start then as you get the feel for it then start working on technique i will persanally guarentee that if you do exactly that you will at least nose in your first attempt

AND THE BIGGEST RULE " DONT LET GO EVER"

good luck and get video i love seeing guys flip for the first time i remember my first better than anything

 

[Matt_E]

Sweet, thanks! I'll have to try that.

 

[DangerBoy]

ive taught a few guys in my crew to flip and here is the advise i give them they are the easiest trick to do you just have to commit 100%
aproach the wave at walking pace be at the bottom of the face when you just start to see it white cap then put your ass on your heels and look back and pull your throttle to the bars all in one go
by squating you pull with your arms and the more you squat when you dont quiet make it you will be far enough back and will know the ski will do you no harm
this is the simpilist way to start then as you get the feel for it then start working on technique i will persanally guarentee that if you do exactly that you will at least nose in your first attempt

AND THE BIGGEST RULE " DONT LET GO EVER"

good luck and get video i love seeing guys flip for the first time i remember my first better than anything

thats the Clearest tutorial I have read, Chris

I would add that I like a real short limiting rope, it seems to help,

Db

 

[Woody]

will my issue of having smaller footholds prevent me from "holding on the whole way around?"

i would assume not since cambo said to get on your heels...

and again...i've read alot of the forums on doing the backflip...my question was geared to how do i know skill-wise if i'm ready? i'm seeing alot of guys say its super easy just go for it, but then i have ryan saying i'm not there yet. and ps- ryan, i bail off my ski but i do that because i dont like landing on the side of my ski and/or because my feet are popping out of the holds because of their small size. i'd say that (other than you) i go just as big as anybody we ride with (minus yourself and bruce with those stabs...which i'm getting better at)

 

[the WaTeRhAwK]

Sweet, thanks! I'll have to try that.

damnit Matthias! if you pull a backie before I do, I'm gonna be pissed!!...LOL

 

[Waternut]

my question was geared to how do i know skill-wise if i'm ready? i'm seeing alot of guys say its super easy just go for it, but then i have ryan saying i'm not there yet. and ps- ryan, i bail off my ski but i do that because i dont like landing on the side of my ski and/or because my feet are popping out of the holds because of their small size.

Three things... 1. You're never ready skill wise until you've tried one. The only thing you need to have is a big enough nutsack to give it a shot. I've tried a few off mcdogs wakeboarding boat and a fall from 6-7 feet doesn't hurt provided you're still attached to your ski with all 4 limbs. Your adrenaline will be pumping the first few times as well so you won't feel too much anyway.

2. If you're coming out of your footholds, you need to fix that ASAP!! I've been injured bad enough to stop riding 3 times and all 3 times were because I came out of the footholds. The guy you said broke his neck broke it because he came out of the footholds...point made.

3. If you're bailing to save your ski from pancaking, you need to reinforce until you're comfortable bashing it or deal with the consequences of cracks. Which would you rather have? Broken ski or broken bones? I'd rather lose my ski to the bottom of the lake and swim back as opposed to breaking my neck/back and risk being paralyzed.