LearnWake

Out of all the base inverts, the TS Front Roll is the invert that requires the most rotation. And since it is related to the scarecrow, which is an invert that most riders aspire to learn it is important that you understand how to properly execute this foundation trick. In this video I will teach you how to create the rotation on the trampoline but also show you a board position drill that ensures that you land over your toes in the proper position to complete the trick.

As I mentioned before the TS Front Roll has more rotation then all other base inverts because of the edge change, tripping motion and the way that you generate the rotation of the trick off the wake. I like to use the hands of a clock to explain exactly what I mean. When a rider edges in towards the wake toeside more often then not, the rider leans towards the wake a bit to build the approach edge. If 12 o'clock is standing straight over your board this puts a regular footed rider leaning at about 11 o'clock to approach the wake. Now for this trick a trip flip is ideal so the rider must flatten off and cock their shoulders back to switch edges and prepare their upper body so it can be thrown forward into the flip. This cocking back motion brings us back to about 1 o'clock. Then as you flip forward we go past 12 o'clock all the way around the clock back to twelve to complete a full flip. But to land over your toes to stick the landing we need to go past twelve to about 11 o'clock again to land on our toeside edge. So compared to an ordinary flip that only requires a 12 to 12 or 360 degree rotation like HS Front Flips or HS Back Rolls this requires a bit extra on either side of the flip, about 30 degrees extra on either side to be more exact. This gives you a total of about 420 degrees of rotation instead of the standard 360.

With that in mind there is a series of steps you can do on the trampoline to help you accomplish this rotation and stick the landing position. The first is the cocking back and chopping down motion. You can easily use this motion to learn your first forward flips without the rope. When you put your arms above your head you are actually doing the same cocking back motion with your upper body that you do as you change edges to trip the flip on the water at the wake. Without bouncing put your arms above your head, arch your body back first and practice the chopping down motion before adding any bounce or flip. Now from a complete stop get in the same position with your arms above your head and start accelerating bounces. Once you get enough height use your arms and upper body to chop downward into the flip as you leave the trampoline mat. In this side by side comparison you can see the difference between the two flips. The one on the left utilizes the momentum of chopping down and the one on the right struggles to create enough rotation because no arms are used to chop down into the rotation.

Once you get the rotation down without the rope try to accomplish the flip with the rope in your hands so it feels more similar to the water. Now to make it feel as close as possible to the water we need a twisting motion at the end of the flip. This twisting motion replicates the extra rotation needed at the end of the flip so you can land over your toes to continue edging out of the trick. Without the twist you will land a bit sideways on the water and slide out on your heels which causes you to under rotate and fall backwards.

Before combining the twist and the flip practice the twist separately. Start by holding on to the handle with just your front hand. Bounce very slightly and move the handle backside once you are in the air to twist your lower body into a backside twisted position. This over exaggerates the twist required to land the TS Front Roll and it's the movement you need to execute on the way down from the flip before hitting the trampoline or water.

For the next step we will slowly work the twist into the flip. Start with the handle in one hand to take off. Execute the TS Front Roll and finish the rotation with just your front hand on the handle. As you finish and fall from the rotation anticipate bouncing again and then twist into the previous position on the bounce after the landing. Repeat that a few times to feel the motion. After you build some comfort try to add the twisting motion into the flip all in one motion. Execute another TS Front Roll but this time as you fall from the TS Front Roll rotation move the handle to land twisted just like you will land on the water. Repeat this over and over until you can smoothly do both movements without problem.

OK, now you should be ready to return to the water to see if you have improvement with your TS Front Roll attempts.