The objective of this post is to provide dryland tips to help you achieve the on water performance needed to qualify to compete at a National Championships. This old dog described the Tricks Qualification Requirements in a prior post. When you are ready to get wet, check out the Tricks Behind Boat Training post. 

The Spooner

I found The Spooner in a storage bin full of my kid’s old toys. The skateboard shaped board is concaved to allow for spinning The Spooner on land. It seemed like the perfect piece of equipment to demonstrate how to perform a Back and Front without getting wet. You can find The Spooner on amazon or simply use some other balance board.

The Tricks

Trick 1 – Back: Starting in your preferred skiing position, either right foot or left foot forward, you will need to make a 180 degree surface turn towards your heels resulting in you riding in the back position. After completing the trick, your opposite foot will be forward.

Trick 2 – Front: Starting in the back position, you will need to make a 180 degree surface turn towards your heels resulting in you returning to ride in the front position.

The Video

I am a right foot forward rider, so my daughter describes the Back followed by a Front from this perspective.

I stand on my wakeboard with my feet about shoulder width apart and my toes pointed out. Therefore, I use this stance on “The Spooner” board.

 I have a ski handle tied to a basketball post at about waist height.

I can make the heal side turns in both directions without having to release the handle.

The turns should be made slow and controlled without any stopping before the 180 degree direction change is achieved.

My daughter chooses not to describe the remaining eight times I perform the Back and Front tricks. She was too busy laughing at me showing off.

Good Luck!