1. Ollie
If you’re an experienced longboarder, you’re already familiar with the concept of smoothly popping your board to avoid obstacles or prepare for tricks. The ollie in snowboarding is quite similar in principle. It involves using your back leg to generate a powerful upward pop while your front foot guides the nose of the board, allowing you to lift off the snow effortlessly. Since snowboards are strapped to your feet, this connection provides added stability and control during the jump. Mastering the ollie is fundamental, as it opens doors to more complex tricks and jumps. It also enhances your overall confidence in executing aerial maneuvers on snow, much like popping your longboard over cracks or curb edges.
2. Carving
Carving on a snowboard shares similarities with carving on a longboard, but the experience is heightened by the snow surface and your strapped-in stance. To carve effectively, shift your weight gradually from your toes to your heels, engaging your edges to make precise turns. Your longboarding skills in controlling speed and direction give you a strong foundation; however, snowboarding demands leaning into your edges more deeply to grip the snow securely. As you become comfortable guiding your board through smooth, controlled turns using your body’s inclination, carving will become a highly satisfying and natural part of your riding repertoire. It’s akin to carving sharp turns on a long downhill road, but with the added thrill of snow beneath your feet.
3. Shifty
If sliding your longboard sideways during a turn is familiar territory, you’ll find the shifty trick quite accessible. It involves rotating your hips and the board mid-air or on the snow while keeping your upper body facing forward. The straps on your snowboard provide stability, making the movement feel controlled rather than unstable. This trick works well off small jumps or on gentle rollers, allowing you to add a stylish flair to your riding. Thanks to your good sense of board control learned from longboarding, executing shifty turns will come naturally, and it’s a fun way to introduce more dynamic movement into your snowboarding sessions.
4. Nose Press
If manuals or nose rides are familiar to you on your longboard, you’ll appreciate the snowboarding equivalent—the nose press. This trick involves shifting your weight forward onto the front of the board and lifting the tail off the snow to hold a balanced, nose-up position. The snow’s smooth surface makes it easier to maintain this stance, especially as you refine your balance. The straps on your snowboard help lock your feet in place, providing added stability during the nose press. Developing this skill enhances your overall balance and control, and once mastered, it adds a stylish and technical element to your snowboarding repertoire.
5. 180 Spins
Executing a 180-degree spin on a snowboard might seem quite different from sliding or carving on a longboard, but your existing sense of balance, timing, and board control will serve you well. The trick involves jumping into the air, rotating your body and board halfway, and landing with the opposite foot forward. Use your shoulders and hips to initiate and control the spin, while your straps keep your feet securely attached to the board. This move is a fantastic beginner trick because it mirrors some of the sliding and pivoting motions you’re already accustomed to on your longboard. As you gain confidence, you can progress to 360-degree spins and more complex rotations, expanding your snowboarding skill set.