LearnWake

Toeside Backside 180's have the reputation for being the hardest of the four base 180's. But, if you have a way to learn the handle pass position, lower body turn and landing position prior to normal attempts at the spin, you can really change the perception of how hard this trick is to learn. With this sequence of steps, I hope to slowly change the reputation and help you land both regular and switch versions in just one session out behind the boat. Let's get started.

For the first step we need to train our lower body and upper body to engrave the finish position for most of the progression. Start in the middle of the wakes and slow the boat down to about 12 to 13mph.
Stand on the center-line in between the wakes and get into the cuffed riding position. Make sure that your shoulders are facing back level with the water and your eyes are looking straight away from the boat. Once in the cuffed position slide the board 180 to the switch cuffed position. Ride switch cuffed with your shoulders and head still back for a count of three and then slide the board back to your regular stance. Repeat this a few times to get used to the movement.

For the next step we will add a little bounce to switch the board. Get into the cuffed position again on the center-line between the wakes at the same slow boat speed. Lean over the tail of the board and then start to bounce or Ollie the board three times. On the third bounce slide the board 90 degrees into the cuffed slide position and hold the slide for a count of three. Then slide the board to the switch cuffed position. Once switch lean over the tail of the board and bounce three times. On the third bounce slide the board 90 degrees back into the cuffed slide position. Hold the slide, then turn back to the regular cuffed riding position. Only your lower body, hips and board should be changing position while your upper body shoulder and head maintain position facing away form the boat. Repeat this step until you are comfortable.

Once comfortable repeat the three bounces in the cuffed position but Ollie the board a full 180 to the switch stance cuffed riding position. Once switch, three bounce Ollie back to regular and repeat the 180's remaining cuffed until you get consistent. This is the upper body position you will hold for the landing but also the lower body and board turn that you will execute in the air to do the 180 So most of these previous steps will help you memorize the movements while we gradually work upwards to doing more aggressive versions of the same movement.

For the next step we will move outside the wake and increase the boat speed to about 15mph. The set up and head positions are crucial for the next steps so pay close attention. Edge out Heelside to set up for a Toeside approach like you would normally do. On your way out get into the cuffed riding position with your head looking back away from the boat. Once you are in the cuffed riding position look forward again, but remain cuffed. While cuffed and looking forward towards the wakes approach the wakes and ride over the foamy mound of water. When you feel lift slide the board to switch and ride out of the 180 in the switch cuffed position. As you turn through the 180 turn your head away from the boat to ride out of the 180 looking away. Approach the wake looking forward finish looking away. Make sure you hold the landing cuffed position for a count of three inside the wakes to get comfortable and to establish control. Then cut out the other side of the wake to perform the same set up and movement but in your opposite stance over the wake. You should be able to do these repetitively back and forth across the wakes to get comfortable, first regular then switch. You will also do them back and forth separately with set up between at first, but eventually your cuffed comfort level will allow you to pop higher and go back and forth without ever coming out of the cuffed position as you can see chad doing here. He never turns out of the cuffed position to perform both 180's over the wakes. You will need this level of comfort for the wake to wake versions we will go through next.

For the wake to wake attempts we'll need to shorten the rope up to about 40 feet. You will also need to increase the boats speed just enough so you have a clean wake to pop over. The super short rope should allow you to keep the speed slower so any falls will be very forgiving. Now for this step, you get some help from the driver. The driver should turn the boat towards your landing as you near the trough on your take off side. This early turn away from your take off towards the landing will narrow the wake to help you clear it easily but also mellow out the landing side wake and decrease the line tension so you can land in the cuffed position easily. Make sure the driver turns toward the landing side of the wakes away from the take off side, not toward the take off side and it may take some practice and communication to get this timing down.

To start the wake to wake attempts you will edge out Heelside normally just like you did for the one wake attempts. Turn into the cuffed position while edging out and look back. Once cuffed, look forward and edge in to pop the trick off the wake. As you leave the wake turn the board and your lower body only to spin the 180 over both wakes and land cuffed looking away from the boat. Come out of the cuffed position after holding the landing and cut out to do the trick in your opposite stance wake to wake on the other side. Do them with separate setups at first until you accomplish both 180's regular and switch stance and then eventually do them over both wakes with out coming out of the cuffed position to build comfort and control.

After you go through this progression a few times building muscle memory and comfort along the way you should have the body position and handle pass position in the air engraved enough and the position on the landing consistent enough to try normal handle pass wake to wake TS BS 180's both regular and switch stance at the same speed and rope length as the previous step.