How to Do a 360 on a Snowboard

Performing your first 360 is a big day in snowboarding. While it's not going to earn you any sponsorships, it's a big step up from the 180 and a great building block for more difficult tricks. While it can be a bit disorienting to think about, it's a basic snowboarding move that can be mastered quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Step 1

Practice on flat snow. You should be able to rotate the snowboard 360 degrees without even needing a jump. If not, try performing it on a trampoline. Get familiar with how much rotation you need to land directly at 360 degrees and the basic muscle movement involved.

Step 2

Find a jump. You'll need to get about two or three feet of air to pull off your 360. Find an appropriate jump; it doesn't need to be huge, but it shouldn't be a tiny bump on the ground either.

Step 3

Approach the jump as you normally would. Keep up speed while maintaining control. Keep your knees bent and weight centered.

Step 4

As you approach the foot of the jump, bend your knees slightly more and lean back on your rear foot a bit. Prepare for your rotation by rotating your hips and shoulders slightly in the opposite direction of the spin.

Step 5

Keep your muscles tight and ready to unload and maintain a slight toeside edge as you ride up the jump.

Step 6

When you reach the apex, spring forward off the toe edge with your knees and rotate your shoulder,hips and knees as you enter the air. For a frontside 360 rotate your front shoulder and hip outward. For a backside 360 initiate the spin by rotating your front shoulder and hip inward.

Step 7

Once you've rotated past 270, begin to focus on the snow in front of you and find your landing visually. Keep your weight centered and knees bent to absorb the impact.

Step 8

Keep your weight centered, land the board, absorb the impact with your knees and keep riding to the bottom. Don't start yelling and pat yourself on the back too much, cowboy; it's just a 360. Let others do the talking, just keep riding. The good thing about the 360 is that you'll land with your front foot forward so riding it out will be easy.

Tips & Warnings

Practice more basic jumps and tricks like ollies and 180s before you attempt a 360. Always approach your tricks with confidence because panicking last minute can lead to painful falls. You want to land with your board pointed directly down the fall line. Landing slightly crooked is a good way to eat some snow.

Practice more basic jumps and tricks like ollies and 180s before you attempt a 360.

Always approach your tricks with confidence because panicking last minute can lead to painful falls.

You want to land with your board pointed directly down the fall line. Landing slightly crooked is a good way to eat some snow.

Snowboarding is a dangerous sport. Wear a helmet when practicing new tricks.

Article Written By Joe Fletcher

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

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