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July, 2025

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Hucking the first backflip

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gnarRat
Posts: 106 - Karma: 993
Promising myself I'm gonna send the first back this year but need some advice. Where should I try it for the first time? How? Any useful tips and tricks? what is your first back attempt story? Anything helps thanks
9 years ago
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cinnabonconn
Posts: 250 - Karma: 460
just throw as hard as you can and tuck. i did it on about a 20 ft but sent it 30ft and over rotated to my back. you don't need a big jump and youll probably be more confident on a small jump.
9 years ago
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,171
^terrible advice, find something with a wu tang lip that'll already send you into one. Pop, throw with your whole body, look back, and you're done.
9 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9331 - Karma: 41,952
gayprinkjust throw as hard as you can and tuck. i did it on about a 20 ft but sent it 30ft and over rotated to my back. you don't need a big jump and youll probably be more confident on a small jump.


this is some of the worst advice i have ever heard.

Dont huc as hard as you can, just find a jump that has a good lip and will send you into one.
9 years ago
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trevorschu
Posts: 708 - Karma: 2,357
Start with a quarter pipe
9 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7525 - Karma: 51,354
Do it exactly how you would on a tramp. Make sure you get a good pop. You do not have to set it like a gainer, just set it like a normal backflip.
9 years ago
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chicknfriedsteak
Posts: 984 - Karma: 4,693
gayprinkjust throw as hard as you can and tuck. i did it on about a 20 ft but sent it 30ft and over rotated to my back. you don't need a big jump and youll probably be more confident on a small jump.


NO, I did this and hit my head of the jump and got a concussion, thank god I was wearing a helmet. The most important thing in a backflip is to pop upwards not backwards and then look back for your landing. Do it on a jump into powder, they are super easy, just don't overthink it or panic.
9 years ago
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cinnabonconn
Posts: 250 - Karma: 460
hucking as hard as you can on a small jump worked for me so i it might not be the best advice but trying to throw a layed out backie first try is not something you should expect since it's probably your first flip. its all good tho do whatever you think is easier.
9 years ago
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mswizzle3
Posts: 94 - Karma: 120
Youll probably fall but youll look up at the person whos filming you and laugh like youre crazy cus youre hype that you just committed to somwething youve been stressing over and realized that falling doesnt even hurt that much
9 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9844 - Karma: 66,626
mswizzle3Youll probably fall but youll look up at the person whos filming you and laugh like youre crazy cus youre hype that you just committed to somwething youve been stressing over and realized that falling doesnt even hurt that much


i think it's likely you put it to your feet or close first try. everyone i know including myself has had that result after finally trying

but yes, agreed. stick it or not, youre gonna be so hyped that you finally tried and realized it isnt that bad at all. honestly, id rather do a backy nowadays than a 3 on lots of jumps

POP, commit, bring your hips around and look for that landing and let your brain subconsciously do all the work. it's one of the few tricks id say is fine to try on a small jump, just find one with a good steep lip and preferably a soft landing, and put it down

any more specific questions id be happy to answer. i think we all have been where you are-- knowing you can do it but being scared to finally try. if you are good enough to be trying it at all youre going to do fine and realize it's no big deal, and look forward to the next gaper who asks you if you can backflip haha
9 years ago
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fries
Posts: 2979 - Karma: 7,528
TL;DR incoming...

Last season I was in your same place, and I landed my backflip first try like a lot of people. I'm not even from a ski town so I only get to ski a few weeks a year, which means I had to commit or wait another season. The point i'm trying to make is if I can do it, you can too.

You can do it either on a pow jump, or a spring park jump in the slush

-Basically make sure you pop super hard.

-Do not fling your body into the rotation; focus on the pop first then the flip follows.

-Go big even if you're more scared. You're setting yourself up for failure if you go off of a 10 ft jump.

-Poppier jumps will help getting the rotation around

-Make sure you can do backflips on trampoline.. like really good if you want to gurantee success. I knew how to double backflip as well as backflip off of stuff onto the ground. Definitely not necessary but it helps with commitment, and the backflipping off of stuff (or even a slackline) feels closest to doing it on skis in my opinion. On skis it basically feels almost like their weight is pulling you around the rotation.

Also you have to commit. I've seen multiple people just straight up get rekt because they got scared mid-flip. either do it or don't, but do not ever be unsure of yourself.

Just have buds hype you up, listen to music, whatever. Obviously backflips are terrifying on the first try but you need to clear your mind and just focus on the trick.



stay safe and good luck man!
9 years ago
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gnarRat
Posts: 106 - Karma: 993
Yeah I can gainer almost any cliff up to like 60 feet in to water and backy on tramp thanks for the advice!!
9 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,036
It doesn't really matter how big the jump is as long as the lip is poppy. First time I landed one was on the smallest fucking jump. It was maybe mid thigh height with a 6-7 foot gap but it was really poppy. Hell I even over rotated it the first hit. So you really don't need a big jump.

If you're good at backies everywhere else, it should be easy for you. If you're not super great at them, maybe go for a bigger jump so you have more time. But if you have a good idea of what you're doing you'll be fine on really any size jump (within reason).

Just pop before you set it back and you won't have to worry about smacking your head.
9 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9844 - Karma: 66,626
gnarRatYeah I can gainer almost any cliff up to like 60 feet in to water and backy on tramp thanks for the advice!!


Haha you're fuckin set then dude. Skiing, your feet will be heavier obviously but the jump more than cancels that out. Go git it you got this no problem
9 years ago
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Slowbro
Posts: 4147 - Karma: 24,856
Know your speed, my first backflip I snapped a wrist because I overshot and ended up tomahawking. Other than that lay out, stay calm and focus on spotting your landing, once you are about 3 quarters of the way through the flip bring your knees in and prepare to land. And try it into powder off of a steep jump if you can, makes everything easier.
9 years ago
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Cadenmccullough
Posts: 628 - Karma: 2,648
Fucking send it son
9 years ago
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footmassage
Posts: 165 - Karma: 383
jump
9 years ago
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Rennis_Deynolds
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 19,061
if you want to land it make sure you avoid wearing a helmet as it will disorient you when you are rotating, its the main reason pros don't wear helmets.
9 years ago
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footmassage
Posts: 165 - Karma: 383
Rennis_Deynoldsif you want to land it make sure you avoid wearing a helmet as it will disorient you when you are rotating, its the main reason pros don't wear helmets.


then u get a sore heady bye
9 years ago
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Kristian_Jibber
Posts: 119 - Karma: 42
A good tips is to try out the jump a bunch of times before you commit for the backflip, any jump will do. This way you will know how much speed you need, and your body/head will know how long your air time is. This makes it less likely to over-rotate when you try it for the first time.
9 years ago
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603pow
Posts: 151 - Karma: 1,392
For your first backflip you want to find a jump with a nice lip, I used a quarter pipe. Another option would be to make a nice backcountry jump with a good lip into a powder landing. The most important thing with a backflip is to commit, so before you drop you have to 100% commit yourself to the backflip. Then ski at the jump with decent speed, pop hard, throw yourself backwards (but don't huck yourself), spot the landing then stomp it.
9 years ago
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Noddard
Posts: 2663 - Karma: 3,956
1. Get it down perfect on tramp
-you'll want to have backed on lock 10/10 on tramp so you have the air awareness.
- practice spotting with your eyes as this helps tremendously with your air awareness while skiing. (IE look up)

2. Find the right jump
-something with a soft landing and a nice take off.
-a jump that gives you confidence
-powday or slushy

3. Grow a pair
-it takes balls so prepare to ignore some emotions.
- bring friends to help hype you up.
- bring a camera to add some pressure.

4. Commit
- once you point those skis don't back out it only gets harder.
- don't wait to drop, take a breath, count to 3, and do it, waiting only scares you.
- you aren't made of glass and you probably won't land the first one perfect but you'll be so amped you won't care.

5. Execute
- you know what a backflip is and will feel like, so focus on your mechanics taking off and while in the air.
- pop hard and set your rotation, but most importantly look back. Your body will follow your eyes. So right after you take off look for your landing. The sooner you see it the sooner you will know how to adjust.

6. Bang it out
- just have fun, be safe, and be brave.
- get the shot and review it to see what you can do better.
- honestly this trick is easier to perform than a 360, its just higher a consequence trick so that's why there is an obvious added element of fear.
- good luck and post up your vid so we can mercilessly ridicule you on ns later. ;)
9 years ago
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NTRO_
Posts: 46 - Karma: 189
just try and relax. its key if your completely ready to huck. if your super nervous you could freeze up. I know from experience.
9 years ago
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.jif
Posts: 441 - Karma: 1,013
gayprinkjust throw as hard as you can and tuck. i did it on about a 20 ft but sent it 30ft and over rotated to my back. you don't need a big jump and youll probably be more confident on a small jump.


https://www.instagram.com/p/BK4UV54j_B5/?taken-by=jerryoftheday
9 years ago
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Yung_Jimmy
Posts: 342 - Karma: 554
Backflips are probably the easiest things to do on skis besides 180's. Have them on lock on a tramp first tho. Don't huck it really hard, you'll over rotate. Since you're flipping in the direction of the jump you really don't even have to throw back hard, just pop up and lean back (like you would on a trampoline).

My first attempt I threw it really hard and landed straight on my back, but I was so stoked that I threw it that it wasn't even painful. Next try, I leaned forward when I started to come back down to stop my rotation and I landed it. It really all comes down to balls. Good luck bro!
9 years ago
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