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When did you learn/try your first backflip?

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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
Im thinking about trying a backflip sometime soon and I was wondering when did you your first one and on what sized jump? Any tips for doing one would be great!
Dec 7 2014 9:27AM
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Willows
Posts: 442 - Karma: 2,631
I have yet to try it.. I'm so fucking scared! broke my leg a couple of years ago and lost my bravery in the accident:(
Dec 7 2014 9:31AM
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McLS
Posts: 1985 - Karma: 6,454
tried my first last season. If there's an airbag not far, go do a few on it, it'll help with the fear (but won't really help for anything else because the jump will probably be way smaller than what you need when you take it to snow)

Best would be to build a kicker in the pow (that or wait for easter when it's slushy). Just don't make the kicker too "flippy" so that you have to pop then flip. then for the actual backflip techniques there's probably over 50 different threads on here.
Dec 7 2014 11:21AM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
McLStried my first last season. If there's an airbag not far, go do a few on it, it'll help with the fear (but won't really help for anything else because the jump will probably be way smaller than what you need when you take it to snow)

Best would be to build a kicker in the pow (that or wait for easter when it's slushy). Just don't make the kicker too "flippy" so that you have to pop then flip. then for the actual backflip techniques there's probably over 50 different threads on here.

Should I try the backflip onto flat with a snow pile under it? For the jump I'm still a little unsure of how to make it, should it be steep? Thank you for the help
Dec 7 2014 11:40AM
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*JP
Posts: 302 - Karma: 441
i tried my first bsckflip my first year of park. there is an airbag at my home mountain, and helped with the fear factor of trying one. i tried it on a small kicker we made in the woods. defiantly build a jump in the woods/ backcountry for your first try because it will be a lot more forgiving than a park jump.

as said above, there are a ton of threads with backflip technique. good luck!
Dec 7 2014 11:52AM
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Phobia
Posts: 61 - Karma: 91
I learned mine being towed at a large snowdrift by a snowmobile, it was kicky and the natural landing went forever, no matter how badly your threw it you couldnt possibly hurt yourself
Dec 7 2014 12:12PM
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BlakeLively
Posts: 663 - Karma: 656
did mine on a medium size park jump! honestly i'm so glad I skipped all the airbag/diving board/ tramp shit because its really just all in your head.

Just pop, lean, tuck and it'll come around no problem.

happy backflipping!
Dec 7 2014 1:57PM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
Tried my first about 5 years ago. It was a powder day and me and some friends built a jump in the powder so even if you missed it wouldn't be too bad
Dec 7 2014 2:20PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
Is it similar to doing it on a trampoline? I can do it easily on there.
Dec 7 2014 3:10PM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781
around 8th grade ..(22 now)
build a booter into snow and send...
Dec 7 2014 3:44PM
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jackdonovan
Posts: 2248 - Karma: 3,079
did mine at windells this past summer, so easy and i wish i did it earlier. Theres no difficult part about it, its just in your head
Dec 7 2014 3:56PM
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SkiBean
Posts: 8 - Karma: 37
I was 10 or 11. My dad made me a jump in the back yard which helped.
Dec 7 2014 4:16PM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,494
60 feet in like grade 8
Dec 7 2014 4:22PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51630 - Karma: 162,123
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/779494/How-To-Backflip

Just bumped this. there's some tips in there but I'll post in here as well.


1/4 pipe I built out of a rock on the side of the trail. 12/13 so over a decade ago.

Pretty sketchy. Mtn I learned at didn't have a park. I built all the illegitimate booters there with avalanche shovels in my pack.

If I learned again I'd do it on a semi steep lip jump that's no bigger than 20/25. Something you feel comfortable on. Actually what's prime are cut ups on the trail or windlips IF THEYRE NICE TALL AND HAVE TRANSITION. Or a hip or something with a flat deck where you can deck out(seems dumb but it works) Get like 4 or 5 feet of air and just float it and then lightly deck out. IMO that feels the most like a trampoline. You just float off the steep lip and then land. YOu don't have to worry about casing or overshooting because you're landing on a flat or mellow grade. Also you aren't traveling as far forward which is easier to wrap your head around if you're just used to trampolines.


Good luck! Best trick ever. You can do it. What ever you do make sure you commit. If you back out because you're scared that's the only way most people fail on it. You're actually way less likely to get hurt and probably will land it in the first few tries if you commit.

Straight air the jump. Make sure you're comfortable. Feel how the pop, airtime are on it. Visualize throwing the flip, how does it feel? How hard are you hucking? Spot the ground and ride away. Now do it for real. Just make sure to go STRAIGHT back over your head. You don't want to go to either side. Look over your head for the landing.
Dec 7 2014 4:48PM
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cp_7
Posts: 372 - Karma: 1,301
*JPdefiantly build a jump in the woods/ backcountry


ya, just build it with a defiant attitude. It works best if you're defying your parents really
Dec 7 2014 4:58PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
When I try it for the first few times should I do it with out poles?
Dec 7 2014 5:10PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51630 - Karma: 162,123
*JPi tried my first bsckflip my first year of park. there is an airbag at my home mountain, and helped with the fear factor of trying one. i tried it on a small kicker we made in the woods. defiantly build a jump in the woods/ backcountry for your first try because it will be a lot more forgiving than a park jump.

as said above, there are a ton of threads with backflip technique. good luck!


All depends on the jump and the conditions. A lot of people learn them on some jenky ass jumps. If you have a jump where you don't have to huck it as fast as possible and hope your tips don't catch it's always helpful.

Also, if you had an airbag to try them on, why didn't you just get the hang of them and then toss it on a park jump the same size. Would have been a pretty easy transition. Not hating, I learned mine on ghetto stuff but just seems like it would have saved you the effort. Unless your park is straight death mode.
Dec 7 2014 5:14PM
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L0gic
Posts: 576 - Karma: 2,290
I did my first backflip today.


You think I'm joking
Dec 7 2014 5:16PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51630 - Karma: 162,123
CarinthiaI did my first backflip today.


You think I'm joking




Nov 29 2014 8:00PM
Carinthia
Karma : 1961
120 Posts
Pro
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this thread made me stomp my first backie last year
Dec 7 2014 5:21PM
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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
Yesterday. Resulted in a shredded up jacket from catching my tips and fanning a scorpion down the landing.
Dec 8 2014 8:54AM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 43,007
Just wait till the pond skim, that's what I did and it turned out reeeeaaaaaly well...


https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/705170.0/Slushy-Backflips
Dec 8 2014 12:33PM
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krockley
Posts: 32 - Karma: 38
I was trying cork 7's ona 15 and kept doing underflips. Just said fuck it i need to to a backflip so I threw and stomped it first try. Big tip: stay committed.
Dec 8 2014 12:41PM
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iH8pow
Posts: 1808 - Karma: 7,688
BlakeLivelydid mine on a medium size park jump! honestly i'm so glad I skipped all the airbag/diving board/ tramp shit because its really just all in your head.

Just pop, lean, tuck and it'll come around no problem.

happy backflipping!


Thank you. I haven't done one in about 5 years, and when I did them they were always like backcountry jumps or a jump we built on the mountain after it closed for the season, so not necessarily into deep pow. Problem with learning on backcountry jumps is you'll probably still be very reluctant to bring it to the park so what's the point. I'm going to go for bust and just try it in the park, no more crutches
Dec 8 2014 1:22PM
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gnarballsianm
Posts: 621 - Karma: 703
Tried my first last season with a couple good friends, one of which who could flat and backy so I felt like I was in good hands. We were in the backcountry so there wasn't many consequences, with that said, we had all the gear and made sure that it was a safe day, avalanche wise by checking our snow pack and conditions before hand. I clipped my tips hard both times i tried it, this season I am planning on getting it down. Best advice to get close, forward pressure to hard throw, tuck and sport landing, maybe you will make it past your tips unlike me. Cheers homie.
Dec 8 2014 1:31PM
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iH8pow
Posts: 1808 - Karma: 7,688
If you're catching your tips, I pretty much guarantee you are throwing it too early. Make sure you focus on getting your pop off the lip. You don't start your rotation off the lip, but you just don't lean forward like you would for a spin like a 360. Stand straight, get your pop, and once you have air then lean back and spot.

Helpful tip somebody once gave me, imagine you are throwing a hammer into the air to do a flip. The hammer doesn't immediately start spinning (well, barely), but as it reaches the peak in the air it starts to come around. Think of your body as that hammer. A gymnast gave me that tip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaZTkLWJIhE
Dec 8 2014 1:38PM
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*JP
Posts: 302 - Karma: 441
3_6mediaya, just build it with a defiant attitude. It works best if you're defying your parents really

haha well fuck me
theabortionatorAll depends on the jump and the conditions. A lot of people learn them on some jenky ass jumps. If you have a jump where you don't have to huck it as fast as possible and hope your tips don't catch it's always helpful.

Also, if you had an airbag to try them on, why didn't you just get the hang of them and then toss it on a park jump the same size. Would have been a pretty easy transition. Not hating, I learned mine on ghetto stuff but just seems like it would have saved you the effort. Unless your park is straight death mode.


the parks jumps are really icy and sketchy with carved out with bomb hole landings and bumpy takeoffs, and the jump for the air bag didnt even get close to matching any jump in the park. i couldnt bring myself to do it on one of them, i was too scared i would over/under rotate and die haha

looking back on it i wish i just did that. it seems like a way better way to do things
Dec 8 2014 3:20PM
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2417 - Karma: 10,494
i can back off wall and on the tramp but not on snow i can do other flips though just not backs
Dec 8 2014 5:36PM
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BaileyB
Posts: 589 - Karma: 160
Just gotta send it. And dont forget to be patient on the takeoff, u dont wanna hit ur head on the lip.
Dec 8 2014 6:40PM
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Steezy_Peazy
Posts: 411 - Karma: 1,146
6 years old. Accidently, off a big rock/side ht heat i thought was smaller. Didn't land it, havent had the balls (or the teeth) to try it yet.
Dec 8 2014 6:43PM
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afterbang_me
Posts: 385 - Karma: 152
Backcountry/Mt Rose/28
Dec 8 2014 6:50PM
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B_K
Posts: 723 - Karma: 1,293
treid one last season first day off a cat track jump.. needless to say i fucked my shoulder when i under rotated. went to hood this summer and said fuck it and hucked one off the first kicker in the public park. stomped that shit and been doin em every since.. best trick ever
Dec 8 2014 7:19PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13083 - Karma: 18,720
15 or 16. I did 2 summers of water ramping and lots of practice before nailing them.
Dec 8 2014 7:31PM
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greene
Posts: 184 - Karma: 66
Last year on a backcountry jump at Alta. Pretty decent sized jump. Under rotated first try, caught tips and faceplanted. I got a black eye and bruised forehead. Took 4 more tries the next day to land one. All about the timing and spotting your landing. Make sure you get comfortable on the jump and don't bail your first try. Also use the video posted above. Thats a big help.
Dec 8 2014 8:51PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
Learned them out the end of a halfpipe toward the end of last season.
Dec 8 2014 8:55PM
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jca
Posts: 4171 - Karma: 6,311
The day of my Great Grandma's funeral in 2006 which also happened to be opening day. Went to the hill after the funeral and took 3 tries off a little side booter. I believe I was 14.
Dec 8 2014 9:46PM
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J_Berg
Posts: 562 - Karma: 2,031
I did my first out of the end of a halfpipe. You can find where its still quite poppy and get a could pop off the lip to bring you around. Plus its not a big fall if you dont make it.
Besides that me and my friends make a large powder jump in our backyard each year. We make a landing with lots of fresh snow so you don't die if you don't land it
Dec 9 2014 12:02PM
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Filet-O-Fish
Posts: 866 - Karma: 4,038
Me
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/742367/Titcomb-falls
Dec 9 2014 12:09PM
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Cahal
Posts: 945 - Karma: 594
I did mine when I was 12 I believe. it was seventh grade at the local mountain on a medium sized table top jump. I remember thinking about it all day and the best part was my dad got to see my first one since I used to ski with him more often back then :) It took 4 tries because the first 3 I was so scared of under rotating I hucked myself into over rotation landing on my tails.
Dec 9 2014 12:10PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
It's my 3 or 4th week of ever skiing and I'm feeling pretty comfortable on my skis and I've been thinking about trying it but I'm a little worried. I have a few chances in February and march to use an airbag but that is a long wait and I want to get them soon. Would you recommend me trying it? I'm thinking of building a jump on the bottom of the hill and flipping onto flat into a 1-2 ft deep snow pile and the kicker be around 3-4 feet does that sound good? Could someone post some images of good jumps for trying? Also I can easily do them on trampolines but mine is put away currently so is there any where I could try around my house or something? When learning them should I not use my poles? Also I'm scared that I might stop committing halfway through and go floppy on my back is there any way I can avoid this?
Dec 10 2014 7:03PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
_UnDefied_It's my 3 or 4th week of ever skiing and I'm feeling pretty comfortable on my skis and I've been thinking about trying it but I'm a little worried. I have a few chances in February and march to use an airbag but that is a long wait and I want to get them soon. Would you recommend me trying it? I'm thinking of building a jump on the bottom of the hill and flipping onto flat into a 1-2 ft deep snow pile and the kicker be around 3-4 feet does that sound good? Could someone post some images of good jumps for trying? Also I can easily do them on trampolines but mine is put away currently so is there any where I could try around my house or something? When learning them should I not use my poles? Also I'm scared that I might stop committing halfway through and go floppy on my back is there any way I can avoid this?


I think I'm going to just go for it on the hill near me but any tips for it regarding my last post? After I land it how do I try it in an actual park?
Dec 10 2014 8:03PM
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jchubb616
Posts: 34 - Karma: 71
I learned them a couple days ago, before that I just tried one off a small BC jump there was no way I was going to land it off that but it got the first attempt out of the way with little risk of injury and then I brought it to the park. I would just try that, just get an attempt in so you actually commit once you bring it to something nigger in the park
Dec 10 2014 8:14PM
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jchubb616
Posts: 34 - Karma: 71
^^^*bigger
Dec 10 2014 8:15PM
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Matthew-
Posts: 101 - Karma: 247
jchubb616I learned them a couple days ago, before that I just tried one off a small BC jump there was no way I was going to land it off that but it got the first attempt out of the way with little risk of injury and then I brought it to the park. I would just try that, just get an attempt in so you actually commit once you bring it to something nigger in the park


unfortunate typo....
Dec 10 2014 8:28PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
jchubb616I learned them a couple days ago, before that I just tried one off a small BC jump there was no way I was going to land it off that but it got the first attempt out of the way with little risk of injury and then I brought it to the park. I would just try that, just get an attempt in so you actually commit once you bring it to something nigger in the park


I'm sorry but I have no idea what a small BC jump is??
Dec 10 2014 8:29PM
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JoeyDill
Posts: 98 - Karma: 1,077
Throw it and don't try to spot with a couple of feet of air you Aren't going to over rotate and land on your head. You might over rotate but not that far. Do it a couple times to get over the fear then make the jump bigger and start spotting your landing and laying some out if you can get high enough. This worked for me so if you think it's stupid or didn't work for you don't hate this is how I did it.
Dec 10 2014 8:41PM
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edai
Posts: 4987 - Karma: 4,653
Here's the first one i landed, it was on attempt #4. Not sure where i got the balls to try it because the landing was absolutely not ideal whatsoever but i learned after the second attempt falling didnt really hurt at all.

https://www.newschoolers.com/membervideo/454175.0/First-Backflip?s=187408&t=6&o=8

if someone could embed thatd be spicy
Dec 10 2014 8:45PM
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patt.
Posts: 598 - Karma: 1,272
_UnDefied_I'm sorry but I have no idea what a small BC jump is??


BC = Backcountry
Dec 10 2014 8:52PM
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MAMERON
Posts: 160 - Karma: 270
_UnDefied_When I try it for the first few times should I do it with out poles?


ya my friend dislocated his shoulder when he first tried his. under rotated and pole got stuck in the ground
Dec 11 2014 12:33AM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
After I can land them on a powder jump how do I bring it to a park?
Dec 12 2014 7:54PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
Also should I try them now or try and progress on my spins, grabs and rails?
Dec 12 2014 7:58PM
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TaterTots
Posts: 35 - Karma: 228
Is a 3 and a half foot kicker with poEder or a snow pile good to try it on?
Dec 12 2014 8:32PM
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