Spinning beyond 360-degrees

360s may be the ultimate trick on the hill but it is possible to go beyond that. Proof of this would be Tony Hawk doing a 1060-degree turn! Personally I nearly fell out of my chair when he did it for the first time and considered skateboarding again...

The real question is how do we push our limits to go beyond a 360-degree spin? While skill plays a large role in our ability to go beyond our current limits, physics also plays a large role. If you do not use your body and its balance points to your advantage you will not be able to go beyond a 360.

The first thing to do is to get more air than you normally would. The amount of air you get is vital since you will need much more time aloft to complete your turns. Remember centrifugal force is what is powering these types of tricks and it the energy does get depleted thus slowing down the rate at which you spin. The slower you spin the longer you need to stay in the air.

Once you are confident doing 360s at a higher altitude you can begin to get ready for a 540. The first thing to do is to make yourself as small as possible. The closer you are to the center of gravity between you and your snowboard the faster you will turn and thus the further you will turn.

This brings us to the next point, being smooth and using your body to aid your spin. Being smooth in your motions will greatly reduce the amount of counter force you may generate that will slow your spin. It should be natural and effortless for you to crouch down and pull a 360. When you are looking at doing a 360 or more you need to lead the spin with your body. Instead of twisting with just your hips as you would do for a 180 and perhaps a 360, you need to twist your entire body in the direction that you will be spinning. The extra force created by twisting your upper body as well will help to carry to beyond the 360.

Landing a 540 is much the same as landing a 360 or any other air with one difference. Do not untwist your body or rise up from a crouched position until you have turned at least 500 degrees. Changing the position of your body before this point will prevent you from completing the spin. Other than that all the normal rules apply. Look at the point where you wish to land, bend your knees slightly and keep your weight evenly centered on the snowboard.

Spinning 540-degrees or more is very possible but only if you combine your skill with physics. When you are perfectly balanced and moving smoothly and confidently on your snowboard you will be able to go beyond 360-degree spins. All you have to do now is get out there and push yourself a little harder.

Latest snowboarding articles

» 360 airs a killer move with vast possibilities
Because of the vast number of possible variations of 360 airs it is reasonable to call a 360 air the most important and noticeable trick for snowboarding.

» Bonking - The snowboarders "high five"
Bonking is on of those strange little things that people do for the fun of it or to make a person jump.

» Variations to add to aerial movements
Two common last minute movements to add to your routine are Late Spins and Reverts.

» How to wheelie like a pro on a snowboard
Wheelies are an old trick that goes back at least as far as roller skating does and most likely much further.

» Layback slides and slashes
Layback slides and slashes are an extreme maneuver that originated with surfing. When surfing, a surfer would literally lay back on a wave and ride it before rising to stand again.

» Nose & tail rolls
How do you switch from riding Fakie to riding regular? Many times when landing we end up riding Fakie and you may wish to revert back to riding regular.

» Snowboarding at night
Nighttime snowboarding is another aspect of snowboarding that is unlike any other that you may have tried so far.

» Skidded turns and beyond
For many beginners, learning to turn on a snowboard can be rather challenging and unnerving.

» The key to stopping is sideslipping
Sideslipping is one of the most important skills that you can learn while on the slopes.

» Lift lines: The bane of snowboarding and all other activities
As is true with almost everything else that we do on a daily basis, a line must be entered and waited out. Of course the lifts on a hill are no different.

» Snowboarding helmets
We all know that not everyone uses their head as much as they should but this is no reason to not protect it.

» Snowboarding jackets
Winter jackets have changed a lot over the years as technology has improved. The best solution used to be those big, puffy, down filled jackets.

» Snowboarding boots
The boots that you wear when snowboarding will make a huge difference with your ability to control your snowboard and your comfort on the hill.

» The base trick for all other tricks, snowboards flex
The flex of a snowboard is a non-quantifiable factor that determines the performance of your snowboard.

» The sexy shape of a snowboard
Everyone knows that an hourglass figure turns heads. Not as many people know that the same figure is also behind the design of modern snowboards.

» The costs of snowboarding
As with any other recreational activity there is always a startup cost and it is the startup cost that is the killer.

» Alpine snowboarding
Alpine snowboarding is for those of you who are a little more extreme about speed than most.

» Freeriding
If you are a skier, enjoy the peace of the outdoors, enjoy powder snow, enjoy a little trick riding or just like to enjoy the slopes then this is the style for you.