Sun, 06/13/2010 - 2:16pmSnowboard Tricks: How to backside 540

A tidy step up from backside 180s and 360s, the 540 is a worthy trick in any park and one of the all time favourites for a lot of riders.

While it is no longer really a competition trick (although Jack Shackleton stomped his way through the British Slopestyle Champs in 2009 with some banging 3s and 5s) the style you can put into this trick when you are confident is second-to-none. Rock up to any of the Snowflex kickers in the UK to see these used to devastating effect.

 

How to do it

1
Once you have backside 180s and 360s down you’ll naturally want to get the five in your pocket, but get the 180 and the 360 first!

2
Come into the kicker with a little more speed than you would for a back 3, and slightly more on you toe edge – just slightly

 

3
It’s all in the take-off. On your toe edge, have your body kinda' twisted, like on the dance floor, as if you’re throwing a back 360 but with slightly more wind-up

 

4
Pop, release the twist, and keep your head looking over that back shoulder

 

5
Now comes the best part, grab your board and enjoy the ride

 

6
If you have the take-off right, it will come round super easy. Keep looking over your back shoulder – not under or you will do a back 180 flip thing. And if it corks in the air, do not panic, it will come round!

 

7
I’m grabbing indy here, a great feeling. Later in the season, I learnt to grab indy but with my hand near the front binding and tweak the back leg – sooo sick. Stalefish and nose grabs also make this look super dope!

 

8
As you come down to land let go of that grab. It is now just like landing a back 180. Open up, sometimes you can be slightly over-rotating and may butt check, by opening up you can slow the rotation

 

9
Think Rocky strong legs and bang the hell outta this one, keep looking down the hill and ride away switch

 

10
When learning this, do not try and do a back three with an extra 180, it will hurt, I know. Just take off and think back 5

 

Corking your spin

Refers to rocking off axis as you spin through the air. It is easy to almost invert the backside 540 and actually is technically more difficult to spin this trick on an even keel and make it look good

 

Rider info

Name: Tom West
Age: 26
Sponsors: Forum, Special Blend, Relentless, Gravis
Favourite Resort: Mayrhofen
Highs: Right now
Lows: Tesco night shift
Something that makes you laugh: Billy Neilson, James Carr, Little T, Ted Foster, Chris Chatt
Something that makes you cry: Golf
Never leave home without: The new Jett Black album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trick: Backside 540 indie / Rider: Tom West / Photographer: James Bryant / Location: Mayrhofen, Austria

 

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