1. Ollie
As a seasoned longboarder, you’re already familiar with popping your board to clear obstacles or curb your speed. In snowboarding, the ollie serves a similar purpose, acting as a fundamental trick that allows you to launch into the air without the need for ramps or jumps. To execute an ollie, use your back foot to generate upward force while your front foot lifts the nose of the snowboard. Since you’re strapped in, this makes the motion more controlled and easier to perform. This trick not only improves your timing and balance on snow but also lays a solid foundation for mastering more complex jumps and aerial maneuvers in the future.
2. Carving
Carving on a snowboard shares similarities with longboarding but introduces new sensations due to the snow’s surface and your strapped-in stance. The core technique involves shifting your weight between your toes and heels to carve precise, flowing turns. Your experience with controlling speed and steering on a longboard gives you a significant advantage when adapting to snowboarding edges. As you lean into your edges and guide your board through turns, you’ll find that carving becomes increasingly intuitive—providing a smooth, exhilarating experience akin to carving along a long downhill slope. Developing this skill enhances your overall control and confidence on the snow.
3. Shifty
If you’ve ever performed a sideways slide on your longboard during aggressive turns, you’ll quickly grasp the shifty in snowboarding. This trick involves rotating your hips and the snowboard mid-air or on the ground, allowing the board to shift laterally while your upper body remains facing forward. The straps help stabilize and control this movement, making it feel more secure than on a traditional longboard. Whether executed off small jumps or rolling terrain, the shifty adds flair to your riding style. Thanks to your solid board control and balance from longboarding, mastering this trick should come relatively easily, opening doors to more advanced spins and slides.
4. Nose Press
If manuals and nose rides are part of your longboarding repertoire, you’ll find the nose press in snowboarding to be an exciting new variation. This move involves shifting your weight forward to lift the tail of the snowboard off the snow, balancing on the nose. The snow’s smooth surface provides a different feel, making the press more fluid and controlled. The straps help lock your feet in place, aiding in maintaining stability and balance. With practice, you’ll find it easier to hold the nose press for longer durations, adding stylish flair to your runs and enhancing your overall balance and control skills.
5. 180 Spins
Rotational tricks like the 180 spin are a natural progression from your longboarding experience with slides and slides. This trick involves jumping and rotating your snowboard 180 degrees, landing with the opposite foot forward. Your shoulders and hips play a crucial role in initiating and controlling the spin, while the straps keep your feet connected to the board for stability. This trick feels familiar to longboarders who are comfortable with sliding sideways and helps build confidence to progress to 360s and other spins. Mastering the 180 spin adds a dynamic element to your snowboarding repertoire and opens up opportunities for more complex aerial tricks and style variations.