360 flat spin, helicopter, whatever you wanna call it

There's one thread here but it doesn't give that much good info. Seems aerial spins are getting more popular, and it does look pretty badass as well. I've never tried one because I never really thought about it, but I think it's something thatd be awesome to learn. Let's get some insight!

well, i just gone the down. The more power they easier they are i guess. But what i do, is hit the setup wake with and little angle, not straight on like a backflip, crank bars fully, full throttle, look over the shoulder that you are rotating towards, to spot your landing.

^ tried this today an was rotating just over 270 degrees and was able to ride out of it. Still a ton of practice needed, but it's a start.

It's the trick I'm working on right now. I'm not consistent with them yet.

Yes I've searched how to videos and nothin! We need help lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Once I get it down I'll make another video. Yeah!

Christian_83 said:

well, i just gone the down. The more power they easier they are i guess. But what i do, is hit the setup wake with and little angle, not straight on like a backflip, crank bars fully, full throttle, look over the shoulder that you are rotating towards, to spot your landing.

Click to expand...

Do you crank the bars in the trough or on the wave face?

Buy a superfreak circus, pin the throttle and crank the bars... done!

But seriously, these are super fun. Best advice I can give is use a really short pole (and hull) and get your body pulled forward as much as possible during the spin. If I don't make a full 360 its because I was lazy and leaned back a little. Pull forward, look over your shoulder... stay centered.

Now, I'm not one to say anything is impossible... but I think a full flatwater 360 is nearly impossible on a stock-ish hull. Even on my last hull (carbon -4.3 freak) I could only get a solid 180+. A short hull like a circus, dvx or hurricane truly makes this happen!

^^^ Is it ski's that are shortened from the rear, middle, or nose that help the most with the spins?

I rode a hurricane today and having mild chines makes a huge difference for this trick. I can do a solid 180 on my chan, but I believe the very aggressive chines make it tough to go farther with my 771.

FWIW, i get the best 180's from blipping the throttle, nose up, nose down then pin it and crank the bars. I've tried doing spins off boat wakes and setup wakes and it either doesn't work out well or it's no better than my previously mentioned method.

Tyrant1919 said:

It's the trick I'm working on right now. I'm not consistent with them yet.

Click to expand...

I watched your spins this weekend, they looked quite good to me! If not all were 360 they were around 340! I wish I could even get past 180 with my heavy ass square

LMnsr said:

Found a really great video,, just in another language, but it's clear enough that you can understand the technique... hope it helps.. i'm in the process of learning it also

Click to expand...

I think the forum is referring to the aerial 360, off ones own wake or boat wake etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SJdippin said:

I think the forum is referring to the aerial 360, off ones own wake or boat wake etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing it out .. deleted

RMBC Freeride said:

Buy a superfreak circus, pin the throttle and crank the bars... done!

But seriously, these are super fun. Best advice I can give is use a really short pole (and hull) and get your body pulled forward as much as possible during the spin. If I don't make a full 360 its because I was lazy and leaned back a little. Pull forward, look over your shoulder... stay centered.

Now, I'm not one to say anything is impossible... but I think a full flatwater 360 is nearly impossible on a stock-ish hull. Even on my last hull (carbon -4.3 freak) I could only get a solid 180+. A short hull like a circus, dvx or hurricane truly makes this happen!

Click to expand...

Started working on this trick yesterday...and boy did my ass take a pounding. I was getting good height and rotating about 300 degrees on my attempts, but every single time i was getting off axis in the air and would land on my side. Bruised the poop outta my whole left side lol.

This is about the only thread on this trick so hoping we can revive it with some updated info and help. Going to try getting my weight and body forward more next time I try them like you suggest. Anyone else have any tips? Ski is fully capable, its the rider that is the issue at this point.

@mike b has a really solid flat spin 360, maybe he can chime in?

Thanks @Jetfiend. Yeah I started off by attempting spins because flips scared me lol. Now 360s are boring so I like to do variations of them. There are so many you can do to be different that most people won't be able to do on flips or will be nervous about trying them. This is an easy trick to do even with no setup wake, but will need the skills and power to get it done. Once you can do them with ease off a setup wake, going flat water is just as easy but technique is more important.

A simple 360 when first starting are not as important when doing one trick over combos. So for just one 360 I make a J or L turn (whatever way you want to call it) I turn back and fine the trough or valley right before the way and turn my bars the opposite way of my turn, then crank the bars the way I want to spin. Since most people spin to the left I will give example for that and can be applied for both directions. So for a left hand spin I make my turn to the left so I can jump this wake as a ramp. As I am traveling in a straight line I am using trim, I make my turn (usually about 90*, give or take) with the trim lever still held. After a few feet (by the time I am now making another straight line) I let go of the trim and travel another few feet. I make a sharp turn around (be careful not to spin out here, some skis track better than others) and follow my straight line again but back to my wave. At this point the wave will be coming at an angle past you, directly ahead. At this point I give the ski a blip, slightly turn to the right, and then crank the bars to the left.

Body language is another key thing. When I started and wanting to get the most height I will be leading back and then when going up the ramp exploding forward and to the side in the direction I am spinning to give the ski some extra momentum. Body language will change when you try and do combos because when you land you will need to reset your body back to the middle of the tray (of the opposing side for more leverage) and throwing your body back to the left as you leave the water again.

Also, a 360 can come out flat or off axis. Depending on your platform and what you are trying to achieve you will need a specific spin. When under-powered or losing momentum you will want to lead back and pull the bars. Getting the ski off axis to counter the lack of power/momentum will get you full rotation. You will usually land more nose high which for a single trick is fine, but not so great for combos unless you have big power. When you have enough power or momentum you will want a more flat spin. The setup to the wake will be the same but after leaving the ramp you will want to shift your weight over the handlebars so that you do not over rotate and can keep in control of your direction. As you land from the first spin you will still be slightly forward, by pulling back and over to your left you will be able to help aid the ski to make the next spin. Some people even have the nose dip down and have the tail rotate higher (similar to the new school barrel roll). This will have the ski land with the nose facing up a bit but if landing properly helps transition into the next trick. I have personally, and seen others, land with their boat leaning to one side so when they go to spin it helps with rotation. Hope any and all of this helps anyone. I may try and get a GoPro camera and see if I can get any video uploaded.

This picture is showing both a J turn and a horseshoe. Blue is the wake you make and the red is how I set up my wakes and the route I make

mike b said:

A simple 360 when first starting are not as important when doing one trick over combos. So for just one 360 I make a J or L turn (whatever way you want to call it) I turn back and fine the trough or valley right before the way and turn my bars the opposite way of my turn, then crank the bars the way I want to spin. Since most people spin to the left I will give example for that and can be applied for both directions. So for a left hand spin I make my turn to the left so I can jump this wake as a ramp. As I am traveling in a straight line I am using trim, I make my turn (usually about 90*, give or take) with the trim lever still held. After a few feet (by the time I am now making another straight line) I let go of the trim and travel another few feet. I make a sharp turn around (be careful not to spin out here, some skis track better than others) and follow my straight line again but back to my wave. At this point the wave will be coming at an angle past you, directly ahead. At this point I give the ski a blip, slightly turn to the right, and then crank the bars to the left.

Body language is another key thing. When I started and wanting to get the most height I will be leading back and then when going up the ramp exploding forward and to the side in the direction I am spinning to give the ski some extra momentum. Body language will change when you try and do combos because when you land you will need to reset your body back to the middle of the tray (of the opposing side for more leverage) and throwing your body back to the left as you leave the water again.

Click to expand...

Awesome write up man! Thanks so much for writing this up for us. I have the first part i quoted pretty much down, same way i approached stabs too. It sounds like my body position is the issue. Although from what you are saying, off axis isn't so much of an issue. More that I am just under rotating. I was making U wakes as opposed to J wakes, so I will try changing that as I think it gives you a little more room to setup the spin maybe? Not too worried about combos at the moment, missing a few keys parts and a better tune so I don't think ski is capable of them at the moment.

Citizen said:

Awesome write up man! Thanks so much for writing this up for us. I have the first part i quoted pretty much down, same way i approached stabs too. It sounds like my body position is the issue. Although from what you are saying, off axis isn't so much of an issue. More that I am just under rotating. I was making U wakes as opposed to J wakes, so I will try changing that as I think it gives you a little more room to setup the spin maybe? Not too worried about combos at the moment, missing a few keys parts and a better tune so I don't think ski is capable of them at the moment.

Click to expand...

Capable ski and skill will be important. Less power means more skill required on all tricks. I started with a glass chan with a TPE964 and was just able to do a 360. Reading your profile if you have a carbon SF and a 967 you should be good with power. Maybe tune is needed, its amazing what the slightest adjustment does for a boat. Then in turn what a huge boost it does to your riding.

For a boat not running as well on bottom end throttle response/power more speed will be needed. Think about people who roll a stock SJ, they must ride much faster than we have to on an AM boat with big power. Also, when you are getting them down just doing one spin, speed is a big help to transitioning into the second trick.

Not bashing anyone, I am very surprised to hear so many people have difficulties with 360s. I have never seen any Youtube videos or how to-s on this because I figured it was very basic trick so forgive me for sounding shocked. I would love to help all of you get this down for your trick arsenal. I may feel a bit silly doing this but if there is a good amount of people that would like, I will make some videos of both how to and first person view of this trick when I get my ski put back together and have someone film for me/get a GoPro attached to me somehow. Cough, cough, someone with an extra mount or two....lol

Also, another very important thing. What trim are some of you running. The xmetal trim with bpipe coupler mod is great at pulling out 360s. Most trims leak thrust out the sides so you are loosing power. The downside with the xmetal and coupler is you are lubing the coupler between each ride and steering is not as smooth. Always some give and take. I am wanting to try and mod another trim so that it doesn't loose anything out the sides but have not attempted yet. I have seen someone make ears for their thrust EZ pull trim and he said that has been working well. I have also heard the RRP trim is great, doesn't lose thrust, but is expensive and back-ordered right now?

Running thrust ez pull and I def lose water out the side at full turn. Upgrading it to rrp or xscream is on my to do list.