The Front Flip is a classic wakeboarding invert that can be taken big with style. It can also be grabbed in
different ways to really give it your own look. The strange thing about the Front Flip is that it's easy for
some riders, and very difficult for others.
Prerequisties
Before trying the Front Flip you should be able to do the following things:
1. Take your heelside wake jumps very large
2. Be able to do cartwheels on the ground, or perform this rotation on a trampoline
3. Be comfortable going upside down
Performing the trick
Watch this trick as an animated image
(292k) or
as an AVI movie (471k).
Cut outside of the wake about 15-20 feet, then come back to the wake on a good hard, progressive edge with
more weight on your back foot.
As you pop off the wake, straighten out your back leg and roll your weight towards the front of the board.
Throw your head and shoulder toward the nose of the board while bringing the front of the board up with
your pop. This is the key to getting huge pop and initiating the cartwheel rotation correctly.
Continue the rotation by keeping your legs slightly bent, the handle in tight to your body, and keep your
head looking at the nose of the board with your shoulder leaning in that direction as well.
Get your head up and spot your landing as you feel yourself coming around. Let the rope out a bit if you're going
to overrotate, or pull the rope tighter if you might come up short on the rotation.
Let go with your back hand to get your balance and bend your legs to absorb the landing. Front Flips have a
harder landing then most inverts, so bend those legs and ride away like a champ.
Style additions
1. Learn it switch
2. Grab the board slob or nose with your front hand (a good way to take it to revert)
3. Grab it indy or stalefish with your back hand.
Moving On
The Front Flip helps you do the following harder tricks:
1. Front Flip To Fakie
2. Slim Chance (Front Flip Mobe)
3. Front Flip To Blind
4. Hassellhoff (Switch Front To Blind)
If you have specific questions about this trick or would like to discuss it further, talk about it in the Trick Talk Forum.
