Video:
Heelside 180 - Quicktime Video (1.4 mb)
Toeside 180 - Quicktime Video (1.3 mb)

Heelside 180 - Click image for Quicktime Video (1.4 mb)

Prerequisites: Make sure your toeside and heelside wake-to-wake jumps are solid. You should also learn to do toeside and heelside ollie 180's in the flats. To ollie, you want to edge out, hop up, do the 180, land in the edging position and then edge out hard, making sure you land securely in the switch position.

After learning ollie 180's, just to make you a little bit better at landing switch, you might want to learn in-out toeside and heelside 180's. These are one-wake 180's that start in the middle of the wake and go out. The same rules apply as to the ollie 180's, except you might want to lengthen your line giving you more room to edge from the mid section of the wakes and to allow you more momentum.

Toeside 180 - Click image for Quicktime Video (1.3 mb)

How To: Once you've mastered the tricks above and are solid on switch landings, you are ready. Don't be intimidated by these tricks. The more confidence you have, the better.

First, what you want to do is edge out the same distance as you would for any heelside or toeside wake-to-wake jump. Come into the wake thinking wake-to-wake jump. This trick doesn't start until your fins release from the wake. That's why you want to be sure to think wake jump rather than 180. Otherwise, you might end up starting your spin too early.

The differences between the toeside 180 and the heelside 180 show up when your fins release from the wake. I would say that the toeside 180 is the easier of the two 180's because your back is somewhat turned toward the boat. This basically makes you already half way wound up, which makes the spin easier to initiate.

Toeside 180
When your fins release, hold tight with your back hand on the handle and the trick will feel like its already starting for you. When the spin is started, you want to start the transfer of the handle from your lead hip to your trailing hip. Make sure you don't have slack or the last step will be pointless. If you use a progressive edge into the wake, you should have plenty of tension.

Once the handle is transferred to the other hip, you should have the 180 basically completed in the air. When you're ready to spot the landing, you have the option of letting go with your trailing hand or landing with both hands on the handle. Just do what's comfortable. Be sure to be ready for the landing and bend your knees, landing in a slight edging position.

Heelside 180
The heelside 180 is a little different from the toeside 180 because you're not in that wound-up position coming into the wake. Therefore, starting the initial spin is a bit more difficult. You want to edge out the same distance you would as any regular heelside wake-to-wake jump. All the same things go into this as the toeside 180, up until your fins release. You might want to think of having more weight on your front foot for this one. This will make you level out a little easier and help you get over the front of your board quicker so that when you land, you will not have to worry about skipping out. Be sure to land on your toe edge.

After your fins release, you'll want to wait a little longer to start your spin than you would with the toeside 180. I like to start my spin at the peak of the jump. When you flatten out in the air, you want to pull hard towards your back hip with both hands on the handle. This will start your rotation. At this time, you have the option of letting go with your trailing hand or leaving both hands on the handle, whatever is most comfortable. Once the handle has met your opposite hip, you have the 180 completed in the air and are in position to land. Hold tight, spot your landing, bend your knees and don't forget to land in an edging position.

Joey Arcisz is sponsored by CWB, Loud Liquid, Buxton Marine, Fox Racing, Rainbow Fins and Newt Juice.

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