Any tips on first flip?

david-alexHey so I've been skiing in the park for two seasons now and I've been skiiing pretty much all my life (started at 3). I am pretty comfortable on rail since I can do spin on/off and swap but when it comes to jump I'm just so scared. For some reason whenever I want to do something higher than a 540 I get scared and pussy out but this year I want to throw some flips (probably flat 3s, 5s) or maybe a switch cork 5. Last year I trained for maybe 5 months before the season on trampoline and was pretty much able to do any flip variation up to 900 and double corks / double flats. But wasn't able to throw anything big. What can I do to really feel ready to throw my first flip on snow?

(no claim intended)

iantheunderdogDont think about throwing switch cork 5s or anything advanced right away...because you have tramp skill it will be easy to throw flips because you will already have the muscle memory but its not the same. I would say for starters try to learn front flips and backflips on snow. When learning flips I mostly only threw front flip variations and now I still have only thrown one backflip and clipped my tips. I have thrown alot of mistys and bios. Commitment is everything. Im guessing the jump you throw 3s and 5s on is small because I have found when throwing 5s its way easier to commit on a bigger jump. Another tip I would say is try to find the perfect jump for learning a flip, if you dont have powder dont worry many people learned there first flips on park jumps.Get the perfect speed for the jump you find and when on the lift think about what flip you are gonna try. When you get off the lift go straight to the jump and dont stop at the top of the jump for more then a second. It helps me not wimp out when trying something new and scary. Hope this helps! -Ian

david-alexThanks a lot! Sadly there is no powder where I live :/ (east coast problems). But I can't really throw backflips xD I learned to do doubles on tramps before doing a single backflip and frontflips feel weird O.o would an alternative be a flat 360/540? It's the flip that I'm the most comfortable with on tramp

THEDIRTYBUBBLEDon't think about anything when you go to flip.

Flat 3s are pretty easy. My friends and I all learned them this year, and they are easier than regular 3s haha.

david-alexxD Okay I guess I'll have to stop pussying out hahaha

levi.Your stoke will be through the roof when you land it

Swandog7Honestly a bigger jump than you think you want to hit is sometimes the better jump to hit. I was back flipping a 15ft or so jump and then went to 25ft ish and liked the bigger jump more just because you have more airtime. If you can't backie, do your most comfortable flip on tramp on snow.

Mr.noodleJust send it when you are hyped and just go for it

Goldiee4. Get hype
Nuff said.

GoldieeOne thing you should know is everyone has been in your seat. Each skier encounters some sort of gut wrenching feeling when learning new tricks. Every trick is do-able and each skier can do them; so get that feeling you can't send it out of your head. Literally, all freeskiing is is hucking yourself off a mountain of snow to do tricks. You gotta start somewhere and, first thing first, forget about your broken wrist, shit happens like that in skiing but you can't let it hinder your ski career. Next step is taking it to the park.
1. Speed
You wanna have hit the jump a couple times before and get a good feel for the size of the booter.
2. Eyes on the prize
On your way to the lip you wanna be tripping on the trick. It should be the only thing you are thinking off as you approach the kicker.
3. Flats
There are different ways to set a flat, my favourite is dropping back your shoulder and look over it until you have succeeded in spinning yo shit (whether it be a flat 3, 5, 7, 420 etc.); while keeping your eyes on that landing.
4. Get hype
Nuff said.

--Nick17--This is a massive part of it. Don't do it if you are doubting yourself. Do it on a day where you really feel comfortable and good, and send it. It could be the first day of the season, it could be the last, or somewhere in-between, just don't rush it. Also, it may help, if you don't think about it as your first flip, and you have done many others before, and this is just another trick in the park.

G-raff.Don't know why nobody mentioned it but if you can get access to an airbag you need to make that your priority! Seriously, it helps allot. The first time you flip on skis its gonna feel a little awkward so just being able to get that feel in an airbag helps allot. That's how I learned all my corks/flips. If you can, practice on the bag maybe 10 times in a row then that same day go find a jump similar to the bag jump in the park and send it! good luck

david-alexThanks a lot! Sadly there is no powder where I live :/ (east coast problems). my suggestion really depends how far north or south you live on the east coast, me living in DC this is reasonable. now that that is out of the way why not try to go to liberty university they have a whole snowflex mountain! they also have an air bag as someone previously mentioned. here is the link. enjoy! http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex/

Bootyhunterwell that fucked up XD still new to here... so yeah sorry about that...

david-alexit's kinda far although im saving to go to momentum next year.

SladeSkiHonestly, to get your confidence up I would recommend trying switch rodeo 5s, on a smallish jump. They are extremely easy, I landed mine first try. It really helps build your confidence to try other flips, and go onto bigger jumps. Other than that, it's all commitment.

david-alexThanks! That's what I was thinking of doing too since I'm really comfortable riding switch. I'll trying to get pumped up in the early season and throw it as fast as possible so that I can clear some more flips this season