A Method is as iconic as it gets on a snowboard, but it’s not the easiest trick to just bust out.
If you can work through a series of tricks that build into the Method then you’ll go from a punter to a pro in no time. Plus you’ll develop a ton of other useful skills on the way that'll build a much better foundation for your freestyle riding.
This is where you bring the board up and grab between your bindings on your heel edge with your front hand whilst still trying to keep the board flat. This will work the required grab location for the Method and help build the foundations for being compact in the air and ready to perform. Videos of the trick can be seen here.
This is what a lot of people think is a Method. I call it a Tourist Method. It’s close, but doesn't have the required hip rotation or tweak where your board faces downhill for it to really count. Your aim is to combine the grab from the Melon with the lift of the legs behind you. It will be freaky to start moving the board this way, but it's a great way to get used to the board being outside of the typical Straight Air position.
With the Backside Shifty you’re aiming for your shoulders to remain pretty much pointing unchanged as you twist your hips so your hips, legs and board are facing down the slope. The more you relax and keep your shoulders in line with the fall line the more counter twist of your hips you’ll be able to achieve. The more your whole chest faces down the slope the less lower body twist you’ll be able to achieve.
A lot of guys struggle to blend these movements together as they try to get too much rotation with their upper body. The movement is initiated more from the hips and legs. You're upper body remains pretty chilled as you aim to bring the board to your front hand, not the other way around. Trying these on a trampoline first can help to isolate the required movement.
