As opposed to conventional skiers, slope stylers spend their time perfecting aerial jumps off inclined ramps made of snow. Because of the myriad of slope style tricks, there are a few ways to pop off a skiing jump. To stay safe throughout the learning process, wear a skiing helmet that features a hard outer shell made from ABS plastic.
Regular
The most common style of popping off a skiing jump involves riding in a regular stance. This means that you will approach the jump with the front tips of your skis pointed toward the base of the ramp. Propel yourself forward by thrusting your skiing poles off the snow. Approach the jump with a moderate speed to avoid overshooting the landing. Bend your knees to a 45-degree angle to balance your skiing stance. Extend your legs to jump vertically as you reach the apex of the ramp. Beginners often use the regular stance when learning elementary grabs and tricks.
Fakie
Advanced slope-style skies often pop off ramps while riding in the fakie stance. According to ESPN, this involves approaching the jump with the back tips of your skis pointed toward the base of the ramp. Many novice skiers are intimidated by this technique because it requires you to ride backward for an extended period of time. Look over your shoulders during the approach to avoid collisions with fellow riders. Extend your legs and jump as you reach the summit of the ramp. The fakie stance allows you to perform switch spins and variations.
Spinning
When attempting a slope-style trick that involves an aerial rotation, you'll need to use a specific popping technique. Regardless of whether you are approaching the jump in the regular or fakie stance, you'll need to begin rotating your skis prior to the takeoff. Keep your knees bent as you ascend the inclined face of the skiing jump. As you near the top of the ramp, swing your shoulders in the direction you want to spin. Rotate your skis 90 degrees before extending your legs to jump. Spinning styles include the clockwise rotation, counterclockwise rotation and the off-axis spin.
Flipping
While flipping is one of the most exhilarating tricks, it is also one of the most dangerous. Use a specific style of popping to avoid losing control while airborne. Choose a ramp that allows you to jump at least 6 to 8 feet above the riding terrain to ensure you have enough time to complete the flip. Shift your body weight onto your heels as you near the top of the ramp. While popping off the ramp, ABC-of-Skiing recommends throwing your head and shoulders in the direction of your flip. Flipping variations include the font flip, back flip and barrel roll.
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