The fun thing about the Miller flip is that it works on almost every obstacle or spot! You can start easy on a little spine or over a small log at the side of the slope and then push it further to spots like handrails, fences and spires… what’s important in general is that you don’t “crash” into the obstacle with too much speed, but have a good flight curve with a dead spot where you’re kinda weightless. That will make the planting way easier and longer and your shoulder will be thankful as well.

Mathieu Crepel Frontside Hand Plant 360, Photos: Matt Georges

What you need for this plant is a good front arm and a slab of transition with bloody great ball on top. Transition and arms are easy to come by but don’t about the ball as you can do this trick on the trannie just as easily.

IN-RUN:

Riding up the transition you roll gently onto your heal edge and open up your shoulders gently frontside both to get that front hand into position for the plant and also to initiate that 90degree rotation for the plant. Also put your weight into the tail to get invert.

ON IT:

Once out of the transition you will be going upside down and your eyes will be turned to the ball looking at it down your front arm which you have extended towards the ball. Your back hand will have reached down – or rather up seeing you are inverted – for the Indy.

OUT:

With your weight solidly planted on the ball and your grab vice-tight you can give that front leg a solid poke and feel the oh so satisfying creak of your bindings. As gravity bringing you out of your hand pirouette and you’ll have to get yourself lined up for coming into the transition with an extra 270 front rotation. The first 90 is natural as you roll on your arm but you will need to get that back arm around to make that last 180, bring around the back leg and ride out fakie.

Text: Harry

We don’t need Einstein or Newton to tell us what the problem is with the abundance of fl at ground when it comes to urban jibbing. What we do need is an end to drop-in ramps, ski-poll tows and something that – unlike a winch – will fi t in a rucksack and not break the bank. Bungee cords tick all these boxes: They’re changing the way we look at our surroundings and here’s how to use these human sling shots.

Shaping, Photo: Matt Georges

1. Shaping

First up, you’re going to have to select yourself a good rail with somewhere to anchor your bungee, as well as shape yourself a little takeoff and landing.

Hooked Up, Photo: Matt Georges

2. Hooked Up

You’re going to need to find something sturdy to clip your bungee onto. Use a carabinar, climbing loop or random bit of rope to make secure the bungee. Note here the bungee is set on the outside of the opposite rail so it doesn’t whiplash the rider.

Stretch, Photo: Matt Georges

3. Stretch

Now with some serious leg work stretch the enormous elastic band out. Two or three assistants usually does the job.

Hand Over, Photo: Matt Georges

4. Hand Over

When handing the bungee to the rider, it’s better if they are sitting down with your heel edge fi rmly planted – it makes it easier when passing the handle or in this case have something solid to hang on to. Here Now pullers, get out the way quick or you’ll get knocked the heck out.

Liftoff, Photo: Matt Georges

5. Liftoff

Now you’re rocking ‘n’ rollin’, make sure you keep your arms locked in front of
you, base fl at and let the bungee do all the hard work.

Dispatch, Photo: Matt Georges

6. Dispatch

When you let go of the cord, throw it to one side; a bungee has a nasty sting in its tail…

Jib - Fred Couderc Cab 270, Photos: Matt Georges

7. JIB

Now it’s all down to you. The bungee’s done its part, time to destroy your jib. Enjoy!

BATTLE OF THE BUNGEES

For years, a jib day has meant spending ages sorting your ramp out and the rest of the time shredding.

But now the days of building drop-ins and hauling ass with a shovel or ski pole are over. Now anything that looks as if it may be jibbable – is. This is all thanks to the bungee.

The way the bungee works is simple; the further the cord is stretched, the faster the rider will be catapulted. It can be attached to anything stuck in the ground like a fence poll or handrail, or with a rope to poles, trees and the like.

It fits easily inside any rucksack and is considerably easier to grab and go compared to any ramp, and is a fraction of the price of a winch.

Banshee Bungees

The Banshee is made up of three separate lightweight strands of rubber wound together, and the rubber used is vulcanized which means it prevents snapback.

The handle is the same as those used for wakeboarding. It takes two or three people to extend the cord and more than one handle can be attached for those who like a bit of steeze when pulling. The Banshee bungee is available in two lengths. The 10- foot cord is for those who need to get up to speed in a confi ned space. The 20-foot cord is the one you’ll see in the promotional videos. It’s the big daddy of the Banshee family and it’ll catapult willing victims at a speed of up to 35 mph.

Feel the Planet Bungee 

This German outfit prefers the single strand bungee. They coat their cord with polypropylene for durability – the same stuff’s used to make kettles and water pipes, so you know it’ll last.

The uber protective cover doesn’t just protect the cord from getting slashed by a board, it protects the rubber from exposure to sunlight. A little FYI: when rubber’s exposed to UV rays it becomes brittle and more susceptible to breakage.

Feel the Planet’s handle isn’t as hi-tech as its Banshee brother, but after closer inspection attaching a different handle wouldn’t pose a problem.

This bungee is intended for use by all, from groms to pros, and more cords are used depending on weight and ability. Feel the Planet recommend kids use one or even two cords, and adults use two or three.

Aymeric Tonin waiting for the handover while fi lming with the Homies in Avoriaz, Photo: Matt Georges

Banshee vs Feel the Planet? 

Both bungees do exactly what they’re supposed to: fling the rider towards features in the most efficient way possible. The Banshee has plenty of steeze, with its wakeboard handle and sexy black pleated rubber. Feel the Planet doesn’t have the aesthetics or high profile of its American rival, but their bungees are harder than nipples in January and you’ll save yourself a penny or two.

Aymeric Tonin propelled into a switch nose press for the Homies in Avoriaz, Photo: Matt Georges

IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED ANY SORT OF GRINDER THEN THE FRONT BOARD IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN YOUR BAG. YOU SHOULD HAVE BOARDSLIDES AND 50-50S ON LOCK BEFORE PROGRESSING TO THE FRONT BOARD.

FRONT BOARD

APPROACH

Ride towards the box or rail with it on your frontside – remember speed is your friend; maybe take a run at the rail using the kicker but without getting on the rail to test your speed. You are going to come in with a flfl at base and initiate a very slight toe turn to take you onto the rail. Be nice a squat with bent knees and pop off both feet enough to take you up onto the rail. Don’t over pop.

Front Board with Hans Kestila, Photo: Sami Tuoriniemi

ON THE RAIL

Once in the air counter rotate your upper body positioning your butt downhill with your upper body twisted forwards; your arms will now be turned to the nose of your board. Land gently on the rail with a flfl at base and your putting pressure on your front foot. Now hold that pose and look to the end of the rail.

THE END

You will be coming to the end of the rail still with your upper body counterrotated and your butt pointing down hill. Leaving the rail bring your legs back under you and unwind your upper body. Now all that is left to do is suck up the landing and own it.

SWITCH FRONT BOARD TO 270 OUT

INITIATION

OK, so you got your front boards down and hopefully your switch frontboards – or at least you should have for this little puppy. You are going to be riding into the rail switch with your chest open to the rail. Get a nice even pop onto the rail. Unlike the frontboard though you won’t need your arms setup as you will be sliding and getting ready for your rotation.

SWITCH FRONT BOARD TO 270 OUT with Hans Kestila, Photo: Sami Tuoriniemi

ON THE RAIL

Here Hans Kestilä blocks himself onto the rail: blocking is the root to rail ballet. Now you’re sliding backwards down the rail, with your board dead flfl at and your weight centered, you are going to rotate your upper body into the frontboard position, leaving your butt pointing downhill; this will set you up for your 270 out. Remember to look over your shoulder as you near the end to help the rotation out and keep you orientated.

EXIT

With your body now in the front board position leaving the rail you are going to continue the rotation of your upper body using your arms to pull you through the 270. You will be looking straight at the your landing and your legs will come underneath you to land switch and ride away like you own the place. Bang! You are guaranteed a beer post-session, or at least a high-five in the liftline.

Photos by: Danny Burrows

THIS ISSUES TRICKOLOGY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GOOD OLD BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE WHO RESIDE IN MAYRHOFEN’S PENKEN PARK DURING THE WINTER AND INCLUDES THE LIKES OF JAMES CARR, GARY GREENSHIELDS AND THE VISITING JAMIE NICHOLLS.

James Carr – Frontside 360

RUN-IN
Approach the jump with the correct speed, you can judge this by watching other riders. Its always good to test your speed with a straight air fi rst, Remember this speed if you get it right! Don’t make speed checks too close to your take-off – you want to be set-up, ready and confident

TAKE OFF
As you ride up the take-off of the jump you what to be relaxed and ready to pop, not digging your edge in like your going to be doing a 1440! It’s a 360, so you should not have to carve up the jump at all! Once at the top of the jump POP; turning your shoulders and the core of your body to start the spin.. your legs will follow.

IN THE AIR
Now you are in the air and your rotating get hold of that grab and tweeeeek it, you want to keep an eye out for your landing, remember the grab will slow your rotation down and you don’t want to end up doing a perfect frontside 270! You want to keep the rotation smooth – it shouldn’t be a 180 to 180 like the old snowboard computer games!

LANDING
Spot it! Make sure your body is ready, you don’t want to be all twisted up stuck in rotation when you land you will just revert. Once you land HOLD IT and ride away solid!

Gary Greenshields – Switch Backside 540

Ok here is how I do a switch backside 540 stale/melon

RUN IN
It’s all about your take off so having the run in speed right helps – jump the kicker a few times to test the speed and get it right. You’ll be heading towards the jump with a flat base aiming for the middle of the take-off nice and relaxed, knees slightly bent and looking at the lip.

TAKE OFF
Now you’re fl at based, eyeballing the lip of the jump, bend your knees a little more and pre-wind your body the opposite way from your spin (here I ride in right foot forward so I wind clockwise). As you start to climb the kicker you’re going to time it so you unwind this momentum and put your weight onto your toe edge ever so slightly. When your front foot is almost at the lip of the kicker let this pre-wind go and pop your ollie off your toe edge as you hit the lip. Make sure to keep light on the toe edge while this happens. You’re also going to be turning your head back towards the run in making sure not to look down or up to much.

IN THE AIR
When you’ve popped and started to rotate your spin you wanna start reaching down to grab your board (here I grab melon/stale) continuing to look round in the direction of your spin at the same time. Now you have a good hold of your grab it’s time to tweak that leg out as much as you can and keep looking round so you can spot the landing. You will see the landing in the fi rst part of the rotation but you need to keep spinning and you will have a slightly blind landing here.

LANDING
Keep looking round and as you come near to the end of the spin you will start to look down so you can see the landing under your feet. Now just relax and let your strong legs do the rest for you. Keeping your weight not to much on your back foot catch the landing fl at based bending your legs
and riding away stoked you stomped it.

Jamie Nicholls – Backside 720

RUN IN
Approach the jump with enough speed to clear it to the landing, meaning the sweet spot. Watching other people hitting the jump before helps you to judge the speed.

TAKE OFF
When you’re on the jump and on your toe edge it’s important not to spin too early as this scrubs your speed and might result in you landing on the knuckle. Make sure you try to leave the spin till you’re just starting to ride off the jump, then turn your head and shoulders backside.

IN THE AIR
Reach down and grab: this helps to keep you stable in the air. You need to keep your head looking round and turning your shoulders to ensure that you get the 7 round.

LANDING
When you spot your landing put the board down on the snow with a flat base and then claim it and go straight to the bar!