The 180 — How to Spin and Land Switch

The 180 is the first real spin trick. Get your board off the ground, rotate half a turn, land on the new lead foot. Once you can land 180s, every other spin trick is a variation of the same skill.

Before You Try

• You can ride switch on green runs. Mandatory. The 180 lands switch.
• You can ollie cleanly. The 180 is essentially an ollie with rotation.
• You're on a small jump or roller, not flat ground. Even a 50 cm rise gives you the air time needed.

The Frontside 180 (Easiest First)

1. Approach the jump straight, knees bent, shoulders pre-rotated slightly toward your toeside.
2. As you leave the lip, pull the front shoulder toeside-forward. The body rotates first; the board follows.
3. Keep eyes on the landing — over the shoulder, glancing down.
4. Tuck the knees up. Centred over the board.
5. Land switch, slight knee bend to absorb. Continue down the slope in switch.

The Backside 180

Mirror move, heelside rotation. Slightly harder because you can't see the landing. Most riders learn front-180 first, back-180 weeks later.

Land 10 clean front-180s before adding back-180s. Build one direction completely before training the other.