What is frontside and backside in snowboarding?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 09, 2026
For tricks on obstacles such as jumps and kickers, in snowboarding, frontside and backside is the direction in which the rider rotates. Frontside is when the rider turns their chest down the slope first, in comparison to backside when the snowboarder turns their back down the slope first.
What is frontside snowboarding?
For jumps, frontside and backside refer to the direction of the spin – but that's relative to your stance (regular or goofy). Wherever you are now, try going through the motion of a frontside spin: Stand up in your snowboarding stance, facing forward/downhill, so that you're looking over your leading shoulder.
Which way is frontside and backside?
Frontside turns are done so that you face the direction of travel. In backside turns, your back is to the direction you are going. Things can get even more confusing when describing tricks done on obstacles. Sometimes choosing the right term is straightforward.
Is frontside or backside easier snowboard?
Frontside spins are arguably the more common choice simply because frontside 180s are easier than backside 180s. As well as this, many riders do find frontside spins a tiny bit easier due to the start of the spin being open (meaning you can see where you're going as you spin the first 180).
What's easier frontside or backside 360?
Unlike 180s (where frontside is generally considered easier), when it comes to 360s you're better to try the backside version first, because when you come around to the end of the trick you can see the landing clearly. The key is to commit to the manoeuvre 100%, and to initiate all the spin prior to leaving the ground.
38 related questions foundWhat is a 360 in snowboarding?
If you enjoy snowboarding, then you likely want to learn some tricks and jumps! A frontside 360 is when you leave the slope and rotate in the air 360 degrees before hitting the ground again.
Is a FS or BS 180 easier?
Frontside 180s are easier since the rotation is done with your body turning forwards into the turn, and you can see what's coming next.
What is carve in snowboarding?
A carve is when you ride your snowboards edge around a turn. Carving is an aggressive way to turn with your snowboard with speed and control. Carving is also necessary if you want to do spinning ticks in the park and for riding the half pipe. You can start learning to carve by focusing on one turn at a time.
What is a frontside 360?
A frontside 360 ties a frontside 180 and a switch backside 180 together.
What is Fs and Bs in skating?
Frontside and backside are surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding and aggressive inline skating terms that are used to describe how a person approaches an obstacle or performs a certain trick.
What's the difference between FS and BS?
It's named for which part of your body you turn to face the direction you're moving. So a FS turn is rotating towards your heels, a BS towards your toes. for grinds if what you're grinding on is in front of you, it's frontside. if its behind you, it's backside.
What does BS mean in skating?
Backside and frontside refer to the placement of any object you are going to grind or slide on in relation to the skater. They also refer to the direction that the skater and or the skateboard spin while performing a trick.
What is a 1440 in snowboarding?
Currently in men's halfpipe, few tricks are as highly regarded as the triple cork 1440, a trick that entails spinning four full rotations while simultaneously inverting three times.
What is frontside backside skiing?
Frontside and Backside Rotations
Frontside is when the rider turns their chest down the slope first, in comparison to backside when the snowboarder turns their back down the slope first.
What are the 4 types of snowboards?
Types of Snowboards
- All-mountain: best for any terrain.
- Freestyle: best for the park.
- Freeride: best for ungroomed snow in any terrain.
- Powder: best for deep powder snow.
- Splitboard: best for the backcountry.
What is a camber snowboard?
Camber and rocker describe the curve of a ski or snowboard when you look at them from the side. Skis and snowboards with camber have midsections that arch off the snow slightly when unweighted, while skis and snowboards with rocker have midsections that rest on the snow and tips and tails that curve up.
How do you bend knees for snowboarding?
To work your toeside knee bending, imagine you're trying to shove your knees forward, into the snow. Keep your back up straight and thrust forward with your knees. To work your heelside turns, pretend you're trying to sit on a chair.
What is a frontside 180?
What Is a Frontside 180? A frontside 180 is a skateboarding trick that combines an ollie with a 180-degree turn, leading with your chest (front). The frontside 180 is a simple foundational trick skaters can learn after they've mastered the ollie.
How do you do a 360s on a snowboard?
How to do a 360 on a snowboard
- Use your bend and crouch positioning when you jump, to bring your board high off the ground. ...
- Traverse into the spin on your heel edge, while rotating your arms in the direction of travel – so in the direction you're spinning.
What is a cab 180?
A 180 is a straight up turn however a cab is out of a trick like if you did a 180 you would do a cab to get back out of it. Landen Foxx. A half-cab is when you fakir then 180 out of it. Ian O'Connell. Half cab is the 180 after the 180 so you roll forwards and not backwards.