The heelside front flip is a true cartwheel style front flip. The majority of riders seem most confident learning inverted tricks by beginning with the back roll, followed by the tantrum, as the next most common choice. However, for certain boarders the cartwheel action of the front flip will seem like the natural invert to start with. It's a good idea to think of all your basic inverts as stepping stones to more advanced tricks built on the basic one. In the case of the front flip, you can look forward to trying moves like a slob front, a switch front

By Mike Gazley As published in Waterski.ca Magazine. Demonstrated by BlindSide Team Rider, Josh McLean.

and, some day adding a mobius to turn it into a fat chance. In the meanwhile let's get this basic front flip dialled. The steps Start from 15 to 20 feet out from the wake and slowly roll your board on to its edge. With most of your weight on your back foot, edge progressively harder all the way to the top of the wake. Be sure to keep your elbows in, with the handle low, and close to your hips. Once your board is off the wake, think about initiating the flip by placing the leading side of your head onto your leading shoulder. This tends to create a clean cartwheel, keeping your shoulders square to the boat. Another approach, straightening your back leg and pulling up your front knee while pushing your chest toward it, can also get the rotation started. If this works better for you, make a point of looking down the line, at the boat, as you lift your knee up. This will help keep your shoulders square and the rotation going in the right direction. Remember to keep your eyes open, elbows in, and handle low through the entire rotation. Since you tend to see the water later on this trick, keep your eyes open and be aware of the horizon. This, along with some well-bent knees, will help you get ready for the landing. Once you sense your board is almost parallel with the water soften your knees to absorb the landing. Make sure your path continues away from the wake and that you're looking in that direction on the landing. Oops #1: Not enough pop or height generated off the wake. Fix:: Keep your board solidly on edge, weight on your back foot, to the crest of the wake. Oops #2: Coming forward or rolling into the boat as you initiate the rotation. Fix: Initiate the rotation by placing the leading side of your head onto your leading shoulder. Keep the handle in the same position throughout the trick and avoid pulling in as you start to rotate. Oops #3: Going over the front of the board on landings (over rotating). Fix: Keep your eyes open and on the horizon through your rotation. If still struggling let go with your back hand as you land but be sure you learn to do it two handed as well. Thanks to local legend, Blind Side team rider, Josh McLean, for repeatedly doing the trick while I clicked away with the camera, and to Jacquie Gazley for her always awesome, wheeling of the boat. Mike Gazley, one of Canada's veteran coaches, operates Shuswap Lake Waterski and Wakeboard Centre. To learn more about skiing and boarding, visit www.shswapsnb.com Coaching Tips Home Page  Shuswapsnb.com Home Page

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