Freestyle is not just a sport, it's a lifetime!

The foreign word, which means "free style", has entered into Russian speech for a long time and is used in many spheres of life, including dances, vocals and music in general. However, most often this term refers specifically to mountain skiing and snowboarding. Freestyle is, rather, a way of life than just an active holiday.

What is this?

Freestyle means acrobatic jumps of varying difficulty and form. Athletes often not only perform classical types of tricks, but also try to find new ways to arouse admiration from the public. It may seem that this is an amateur kind of snowboard or ski ride, but it's quite the opposite.

Freestyle is a sport for professionals and those who aspire to become them. Moreover, this is a separate branch and without special jumps and trails you, most likely, will not get any trick. Therefore, in schools for freestyle there must be specially equipped snow parks. Also, each jump is evaluated: its quality depends on height, correctness of execution and landing and other factors. A distinctive feature of the style is the spectacularity and aesthetics of stunts.

Roots and disciplines of freestyle skiing

1. Thanks to ski acrobatics, which has been part of the Olympic Games since 1994, freestyle has appeared. This discipline, where athletes do not use sticks, at a speed of 60 km / h and during a double or triple somersault they simply do not need them.
2. The higher and longer the jump, the more points you can get by practicing freestyle. Ski acrobatics is also one of the most popular varieties of style.
3. With the increase in the popularity of this sport on snowy slopes, the mounds began to form, which are called moguls, which is why the discipline "mogul" - high-speed descent with jumps appeared.
4. One of the most complex and spectacular branches of freestyle is the ski-cross. Here the main task is to come to the finish line first, but with so many turns, trampolines and waves it is difficult to guess who will be the winner. Too great is the chance to get out of the race or just fall.
5. Popular is also half-pipe - performing tricks on a U-shaped half-trench covered with a dense layer of snow. Athletes go from side to side, flying over the sides and demonstrating their skills.
6. And finally slop-style, where at the maximum height of the jump perform rotations, glide along the rails, grab the skis and tumbling. To prove their professionalism, participants need to use every obstacle in the distance for tricks.

Freestyle Snowboarding

In total there are five main directions of this technique, differing from each other by the surface on which jumps are performed:

1. Big Air - tricks from special springboards.
2. Gibbing - jumping on the railing and curbs.
3. Half-pipe is the same as ski freestyle skiing. Snowboard travels from side to side along the arc, develops speed and rises into the air, allowing you to do tricks.
4. Slopstyle - described above, only here athletes use the board.
5. A flat surface - jumps are performed on a snow-covered level descent, and any natural hillock is used as a springboard.

Basic tricks on the board

The basic elements of freestyle on an even surface are the ally and the nolly. They differ from each other only in the direction of the jump:

• To make an ally, you need to transfer the weight of the body to the tail of the snowboard, and raise the nose at the same time. After that, push the support leg away from the ground and pull both legs towards you, you should get a jump.
• And for a nolly, you need to start the trick from the nose, that is, raise the tail, and then jump. It's difficult to make at speed, but it's quite simple on the spot.

When you master the basic tricks, you can begin to move to the elements in motion and with the freestyle technique. Snowboarding is a part of you, you do not need to forget about it during the jumping:

• Make an ollie and a nolly at speed will help the villi - slip on the slope with a nose in the air or the tail of the board.

• Switch - change the leading leg. That is, if you usually drive with your right foot in front, here in front of you will be left.
• Air - when during the jump the bottom of the board looks up, one of the most impressive stunts.
• The nose / teil roll is a 180 degree turn, with only one end of the board rising into the air.
• Rotations - there are different angles, and if small, for 180 or 360, for example, do not require a jump, then at a turn of 900 degrees it is better to do it from the springboard. To maintain balance, landing, performing this kind of freestyle , you need two legs at once.
• Fifty-fifti - usually done on the side, rail or rail, the main thing is to keep the board parallel to the floor.

• Boardslaid - slip of the board perpendicular to the obstacle. Put the board at 90 degrees will help the trick of the Ollie.
• Grab the board (grab) - when the athlete grabs the board with his hand. To do this is not so difficult: in the jump, bend your legs to yourself, thereby bringing the board closer to yourself. Crab can also be performed on skis.

Freestyle is what It will help you feel freedom of action in motion, and it does not matter whether you are skiing or snowboarding. If you will strive to perform tricks and not lower your hands, very soon you will be able to amaze your friends with their incredible leaps.