I should start by saying that I am not an expert.
This is not the only way to get into park just one method that I have found works well.
It is super important to have an understanding of park etiquette and safety.
Check your landings and ensure the feature you are using is clear before you hit it.
- Call your drop.
1 person on a feature at a time.
double-check you check uphill before dropping and call out loud and clear so that others are aware of you.
- Respect and obey all park signage.
If a feature is closed it is closed for a reason.
Do not hit it.
There are many horror stories of people disobeying this rule but those could be a whole other thread.
- You are responsible for your own safety.
Do not hit any feature that is beyond your ability level.
- Always follow the Alpine Responsibility Code.
Another big point is that features should only be used the way they were designed to be used.
For example, the lip of a rail/box is just that, a lip.
It is not a jump and should not be used as jump.
Side hitting wears down the takeoff and makes it uneven for people who actually want to hit that rail/box.
If you want to do jumps, hit the jump line.
Stretching
It is super important to stretch before attempting anything in the park.
Stretch all of your muscles, starting with your legs.
you could do lunges, squats and hip rollers among other leg stretches.
Stretch everything right up to your lower back, upper back, arms, neck and core.
Stretching will greatly reduce the chance and severity of injuries should you bail.
Trick #1 - Pop
The first thing to learn that relates to park is a pop.
This is the key to all tricks and a solid strong powerful pop is essential.
Start on a flat area of ground while stationary and practice popping.
You should be centred on your skis.
This means that you are stacked.
Your shoulders are over your knees and your knees are over your toes.
This is achieved by bending all the joints in your legs evenly.
Ankles, knees and hips.
Crouch in this position and then extend all you joints as explosively as possible.
double-check your ski lifts off the ground level.
Common Mistake - Sucking your legs up rather than pushing down off the snow.
Practice this whilst sliding slowly and then progress onto rollers or small moguls.
Then progress it to jumps.
Remember that it always goes; pop, manoeuvre, land.
Spread Eagle- basically a star jump.
Cossack- spread eagle but you put your poles between your legs.
Iron Cross- point your toes together to cross your skis then release.
Common Mistake - focusing too much on the manoeuvre and forgetting to pop first.
Tweak this by pulling your ski overtop of the other one to form a cross.
Tail -Like a safety but grab behind your boot.
Japan- Reach behind your back and grab the inside edge of the opposite ski.
Critical -Reach forward with either hand and grab the inside edge of the opposite ski.
Try the grabs while standing stationary on the snow or by laying on your back.
Focus on looking up and feeling for the grab rather than looking down and trying to see it.
This will help with balance when you are in the air.
Try these grabs while sliding on a flat area of snow without a pop.
Remember: pop, manoeuvre, landing, in that order.
Remember to look up and feel the grab.
Trick #4 - Switch Skiing
Learn to ski switch.
Instead you should be trying to ski the same way you regularly.
By turning your feet.
Turn by turning your legs under your body.
Your skis will splay but as a result of turning not an action.
have a go at feel pressure on your heels to help ensure you are stacked and balanced.
Next try popping while switch.
The same as above applies.
This is a great way to see if you really are centred or not.
AIRS
Trick #5 - 180
The first air to learn is a 180.
This can be done by either turning your legs under your body of by setting with your shoulders.
Also try doing them in both directions.
We all find it easier one way but this is purely psychological and can be overcome.
Good technique is good technique and will work either way, left or right.
Remember: pop, manoeuvre, land.
When using your legs, after you pop simply turn your legs underneath you.
Again try this somewhere flat first.
When setting with your upper body you are leading with your shoulders and hips.
check that you look up all the time to ensure that you stay on axis.
Look over your shoulder not down at the ground.
see to it that your ski comes off the snow evenly.
Common Mistake - Forgetting to pop first.
Getting stuck at 90 when setting with your upper body because you close your rotation.
Keep your hands/arms leading the rotation.
Next try switch 180s both ways.
The exact same tactics explained above apply.
Remember to feel heel pressure.
Trick #6 - 360
360s are a little more scary and should be set using your upper body.
Confidence is key and if you visualise yourself landing it you most likely will.
Don’t doubt yourself.
Start with some surface 360s on the snow.
Practice a dummy pop followed by twisting your shoulders and hips in the direction you want to spin.
Keep your skis as flat as possible to help you slide on the snow.
Try these both ways.
Timing is really important.
Your shoulders should be aligned with your skis at the time of the pop.
Again verify that you have a solid strong pop.
This is only achieved if you maintain the separation between upper and lower body and keep your skis flat.
Keep your shoulders and hips twisting until you reach 360.
This can all be done somewhere flat without a jump.
If you’ve got the option to, try popping 270 and scrubbing the last 90.
With practice it is easy enough to do a 360 on a flat piece of ground without a jump.
Keep your eyes out and up for balance.
Don’t look down at your feet, this will make you land backseat and you will get shin/toe-bang.
Common Mistakes - Hucking it too hard without a solid pop first.
Looking down at your feet/landing.
confirm you have a solid pop and look up over your shoulder.
RAILS
Trick #7 - 50/50
Start with a short, flat, wide, box.
A 50/50 is simply when you ride along a box straight without doing any kind of spinning.
Think about looking at the next stage all the time.
Keep your legs bent for balance.
Common Mistake - Trying to snowplow or use your edges on the box.
You will fall over.
Trick #8 - Ski Slide
Start by practising some side slips.
Next try popping and jumping 90 and landing in a slide.
Do this on any moderate slope that is well groomed outside the park.
This will give you a good idea of what sliding a box or rail sideways will feel like.
Keep your skis flat to the snow.
This is achieved by pushing your hips sideways down the hill.
Think about keeping your downhill hip over your downhill foot.
When you feel confident take this to the same beginner box.
Let your skis slide and stay on your front foot.
Not popping and trying to turn onto the box.
If your downhill shoulder is slightly behind your front foot you will come off forward.
This can be achieved by using the leg twist method when mounting the box.
If your shoulder is slightly in front if your downhill foot whilst sliding, you will come off switch.
This can be achieved by setting your spin on with your upper body.
Practice coming off both regular and switch on demand.
The theory is the same as for boxes but rails require more balance and generally more speed.
Summary
The most important thing of all is a pop.
It is the basis of all tricks.
Go slowly at your own pace and dont try anything that you dont feel comfortable/ready for.
I hope this can help all those who are just getting into park.
I am stoked to see so many people getting into freestyle and helping the sport to grow!
