The Elephant is a trick that is newer then some inverts, but it caught on
quickly. An Elephant is like doing a Scarecrow, but instead of
landing switch, you pull the board back to forward right before landing. You must rotate and look as if you're doing a Scarecrow instead of a
toeside front roll to do an Elephant correctly.
Prerequisties
Before trying the Elephant you should be able to do the following things:
1. Be comfortable edging hard and progressively on your toeside
2. Be able to do big toeside wake jumps
3. Be able to do large Scarecrows
Performing the trick
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To learn the Elephant, you need to approach like you're going to do a very large Scarecrow. You need to have
enough air time to look like you're doing a Scarecrow, then through the board back to forward. So edge in hard, and
put a little more weight on your toes then you normally do for Scarecrows.
If you have waited long enough for the pop, you should get shot up in the air pretty good. Begin the Elephant rotation just like
you are going to do a Scarecrow. Look up and over your front shoulder while moving your hips and shoulders in that direction.
Hold on the to the handle with both hands.
As you're coming over the top in your rotation, the natural tendency is to let go with your front hand to help you
do the 180 for a Scarecrow, but don't let this happen. Keep both hands on the handle, and keep the handle in tight so
you have the line tension you need to pull the board to forward.
After boning out your back leg to make it look like you're going to do a Scarecrow, pull the rope back to your
front hip and point the tip of your board towards the shore you're heading toward. This will help you not do a
Scarecrow.
Land with the handle in your front hand, and try to lean forward and land on your toes so you don't sit down on the
water when you hit.
Style additions
1. Learn it switch
2. Grab it melan, or nose, then switch hands to pull off the Elephant.
Moving On
The Scarecrow helps you do the following tricks:
1. Switch Elephant
2. Toeside Front Roll
If you have specific questions about this trick or would like to discuss it further, talk about it in the Trick Talk Forum.
