Twin Tip Ski Tricks

Twin-tip skis have unlocked dozens of tricks for the aspiring freestyle skier. Since the tail of the ski is raised, or flipped-up, as the front is, it is possible for the skier to take off backwards, or "switch" and "land switch" as well. Most modern ski tricks require the use of twin-tip skis.

  1. 180 Spin

    • The most simple of spins, the 180 is a good trick to start with to get the feel of landing backwards. Figure out which direction is more natural to spin while on skis. Do this by standing on dry ground without skis, jumping in the air and spinning without forethought. Most people will spin to the left. On skis, find a small jump, approach it with moderate speed, pop off the jump and spin. If you are spinning to the left, look over your right shoulder to spot the landing as you come down. Continually practice the 180 as landing switch takes a while to feel comfortable.

    Switch 360

    • Doing a switch 360 requires the skier to both take off and land switch. Before attempting this maneuver, be sure you can do switch 180s and regular 360s as well as be somewhat comfortable skiing backwards. Find a small to medium jump and approach it while skiing backwards. Look over the shoulder of the side you will spin towards. Rotate your upper body in that direction as you take off. As you come around 180 degrees, begin to spot your landing. Look at where you will land as your body comes around and you land.

    Lincoln Loop 180

    • Know how to do a Lincoln loop before adding on the 180. A Lincoln loop is a trick where you take off from a jump, throw your body weight to one side and do a sideways flip-- almost like a cartwheel in the air without your hands touching the ground. To add the 180, when you are about three-quarters of the way through the flip, rotate your lower body in 180-degree movement and look for your landing. You will just be coming out of being inverted, so it may be disorienting at first. With practice, the 180 will come naturally.

    Zero Spin

    • In this trick, you approach the jump switch, or backwards, and land switch without doing any rotations in the air. This trick will help you become accustomed to skiing switch without adding any technical difficulties associated with spinning or flipping. Simply look over the desired shoulder as you approach the jump and continue looking over the same shoulder as you land, keeping your skis straight and your knees bent.