How to Get Better at Jumping on a Snowboard

Being able to make jumps while snowboarding adds to the enjoyment of the pastime. A well-timed jump and clean landing can be extremely fulfilling and make you the envy of your friends. Improving your jumps requires repetition, however, and not everyone has the time or opportunity to spend all day on the hill perfecting their technique. Develop your muscles in order to get better at jumping on a snowboard, and work on your snowboard jumping movements -- even when you are not on your snowboard.

Instructions

    • 1

      Increase your snowboarding muscles to be able to make longer and higher jumps. Target your core muscles, such as your calf and thigh muscles, with exercises such as lunges, squats and calf raises. Perform strength training exercises, both upper and lower body, such as leg presses, leg lifts and pull-ups.

    • 2

      Increase your flexibility as the ability to twist and turn with little resistance will help you land bigger jumps. Include stretching exercises as part of your workout routine. Work on calf, quad, hamstring and hip stretches for your lower and chest, and shoulder stretches for your upper body.

    • 3

      Increase your endurance to be able to make big jumps at the end of the day as well as the beginning. Include bicycling, running (including uphill runs), swimming and jumping rope as part of an overall cardiovascular program.

    • 4

      Practice jumping without your snowboard, Work on your hop-and-land technique. Picture the jump in your mind, and launch yourself as you would if you were on the board on a hill. Crouch down into position to set yourself before the jump. Jump straight up and land in a manner as you would on the hill, bending your knees slightly to absorb the landing.

    • 5

      Take what you have learned and use it the next time you go snowboarding. Start off by practicing on level ground and work on your takeoff and landing technique. Work on your ollie technique (driving the board upward with your front foot). Practice putting your weight back and forth while moving over level ground. Move your weight slightly forward, then use your legs to shift your weight back, driving the tail piece into the ground while pulling up on the front of the board. Pull your back leg up and square your legs while in the air before landing on the ground with both feet at the same time.

    • 6

      Move over to a small lip or hill and practice rolling off the hill in a coating takeoff. Push off slightly with your back foot so that you can get more air onto the bottom of the board. Move your weight forward slightly so the board is level when you land.

    • 7

      Work on the same hill, but this time kick off when you take off. Use the ollie technique at you approach the lip, making the same movements as you would on level ground. This will allow you to get more air and extend your jump further.