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How do you deal with kickers?

3K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  redlude97 
#1 · (Edited)
I've been trying to 360 for two seasons by now, I've locked down the FS 360 rotation off of side of jumps and rollers last season to FS 360 flat on the ground this season but never actually had another chance to try it on a good beginner jump. So last week I went to my local mountain and they had an intimidating step down and a kicker. My first attempt at the kicker I tried 360'ing it, but I just.. cork it and land flat on my ass before the even reaching the knuckle. I feel like it just curves upwards waaaaaayy too fast so naturally when I spin, I don't spin horizontally. I'm not even close to being horizontal when I leave the lip... I've tried doing straight airs on it, and I land perfectly, somehow. Question is, how do I spin kickers like this?..

I drew a sketch of how the kicker looks like, I may have exaggerated, but I honestly think that's how it was, at least how it felt.

 
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#2 ·
Ride this jump just doing straight airs, do it so many times that it becomes a really easy jump to take and you can do it with your eyes closed (not literally). When you feel this comfortable throw the spin into the mix. When spinning off a jump you are uncomfortable to begin with usually leads to poor form and wipeouts.

GL!
 
#3 ·
Might be hard to offer advice without a seeing a video of you but here goes nothing...

It sounds like your way of learning 3's is right on, trying it off small side hits and such.

Going off bigger jumps requires you to pop off the lip more than you would a side-hit. Don't just try to carve off the lip into the 3. From your description I'm not sure if this is your problem or not, but had to mention it anyways.

If you're spinning frontside, try to grab Indy. What this does is let your upper body (and specifically your right shoulder, if you're riding regular) to drop down, which will naturally let your body move forward and even out your spin in the air. Grabbing may sound like it complicates the maneuver but it doesn't, not really. Suck up those knees.

Like longboard said, practice a bunch of straight airs off the jump until you are absolutely 100% certain you can clear the knuckle and land in the "sweet spot" every time. How fast are you going when you straight air the jump clean? Note this, and then when you're ready for a 3, go just as fast, and then a little bit faster. You're gonna scrub a bit of speed when you start entering the rotation off the jump so going just a little bit faster than your straight airs will let you clear the knuckle.

Finally, more of a question, are you speed checking a lot before the jump? If you are, this will prevent you from coming off the jump even and controlled. You should ideally be making only one set up turn before popping off your heels.

Let me know if you got any more questions. I love a good frontside 3.
 
#4 ·
You need to learn to shift your weight when you pop too, don't let the tranny send you all on its own or you'll be in the back seat. Try to imagine what kind of movement and weight shift you would need to get flat. When I pop off my tail I just naturally get flat, I wish I could explain it better... sorry.
 
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