Backside Air
also known as: BS Air
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Shown for a regular-footed rider. Teal ring + arrow = the rider's facing direction; teal band = the tail; a dot is where a hand holds the board - bright yellow for the front hand, amber for the back one, which is the whole difference between a mute and an indy. Board and rider rotate independently - each follows its own component. Drag to orbit.
How it works
The mirror of the frontside air: the rider leaves the lip with their back to the ramp, turning backside through the arc and re-entering forward, classically grabbing heel-side with the front hand. The blind takeoff is the defining challenge - the wall disappears behind you at the apex, so the re-entry is aimed by feel and by spotting late over the leading shoulder. Backside airs reward a deep carve into the wall, which converts more speed into float and makes the blind moment shorter.
Step by step
- Carve into the wall on a backside line, back turning toward the coping as you rise.
- Leave the lip smoothly at speed, compressing as the wheels come free.
- Grab melon (front hand, heel rail) to lock the board on through the blind apex.
- Rotate backside through the arc, head turning to re-acquire the wall over your lead shoulder.
- Release, extend, and set the wheels down below the coping riding forward.
Body mechanics
| Front foot | Presses into the grip under the melon grab, holding the nose on line. |
|---|---|
| Back foot | On the tail, managing pitch so the board doesn't over-rotate while the wall is out of sight. |
| Shoulders | Turn backside off the lip and keep rotating evenly - stalling the shoulders stalls the air. |
| Arms | Front hand grabs heel-side; rear arm swings wide to pace the rotation. |
| Gaze | Wall until it leaves view, then over the leading shoulder to catch it again before re-entry. |