Backroll

Description

Backroll is an air trick: done off flat water, with no kicker, using the cable's tension to get airborne. The height comes not from a ramp but from the load: a long, progressive edge against the cable, and the board releasing when the tension is at its peak. Backward roll: the nose of the board comes up in front and over your head.

How it's done

1. 01

   Carve away from the cable's line on a soft edge, to give yourself room to load.

2. 02

   Come back towards the cable on a progressive, ever firmer edge, legs bent and the handle low at your hip.

3. 03

   When the tension peaks, snap your legs straight: the cable pulls you into the air.

4. 04

   Take your body along the trick's line with the handle close, never letting go of it.

5. 05

   Spot the water, land on soft knees with your weight slightly back.

Common mistakes

• Releasing too early: the load has not arrived yet and the jump stays low.
• Letting the handle drift away from your body: the tension is lost halfway through.
• A flat edge in the last metre: the pop disappears.