In today's article, we will be discussing how to perform a Backroll. The backroll is one of the most basic foundation air tricks in wakeboarding. Learning the back roll is an essential step for wakeboarders who want to venture into air tricks on the water.
Unlike more challenging maneuvers like the Raley, the Backroll offers a relatively lower risk, making it an ideal trick to begin with. Let's dive into the step-by-step process of learning and executing a perfect back roll.
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The key to executing a successful Backroll lies in mastering a precise and powerful cut. By achieving a short and sharp cut, you can generate a high amount of tension in the line, enabling you to gain the necessary height for the back roll. Here's how you can accomplish it:
Position yourself under the cable, before beginning your cut for the trick.
Arms are slightly bent and locked in position. Knees slightly bent and buttocks squeezed.
Instead of immediately dropping into the edge, gradually build up a progressive edge to set the board correctly in the water.
Progressive Edge
It is crucial to avoid rushing into the cut as it may cause your board to slip and compromise your execution. Take your time to develop a steady edge. With a strong body position and slightly more weight on your back foot, maintain the edge for about one to two seconds.
Release
When it's time to release, focus on using your front foot to scoop away from the cable, keeping your body strong and arms locked. As you release, your head should tuck under the rope for the rotation.
Landing
Keep your arms strong throughout the rotation, and as you go over the top, visually locate the water for a smooth landing. Dropping your back hand can help facilitate a more comfortable landing.
One common challenge many beginners face when attempting back rolls is relying too heavily on the handle during the rotation. Some individuals tend to pull the handle up to their chest as they come over the top. It's crucial to understand that after completing the rotation, you should aim to land independently balanced on top of your board. Over-reliance on the handle will often result in falls.
Therefore, focus on building a powerful edge, achieving a good pop, and ensuring a balanced landing on top of the board.
The technique for performing an inside back roll is similar to the regular back roll. When approaching the corner, you don't need to widen your toes excessively. Instead, you can come around the corner and position yourself under the cable as before. The steps involved are the same:
Execute a short and sharp cut.
Maintain a strong body position, with a little more weight on your back foot.
Use your front foot to scoop out during the rotation.
Spot the landing as you come over the top, release the backhand, and land with bent knees.
Once you have successfully mastered the back roll, you can progress to learning roll to reverts. This advanced trick involves bringing the handle across to your back hip during the rotation and landing with your weight over your toes. With practice and dedication, you'll be able to add more complex tricks to your repertoire, including air tricks, kicker flips, spins, and beyond.
We hope you found this comprehensive guide on mastering the back roll helpful. If you enjoyed this article and want to take your wakeboarding skills to the next level, we invite you to explore our early bird registration for the Peacock Brothers Road to Pro online course.