Key takeaways
- Switch means riding or skiing backwards — leading with your non-normal foot/direction.
- For snowboarders, it's leading with the usual back foot; for skiers, skiing backwards (twin-tips help).
- It's a fundamental freestyle skill for taking off and landing tricks in both directions.
- Riding switch well shows balanced, well-rounded board or ski control.
From 'switch stance' — reversing your normal stance.
What switch means
Switch means riding or skiing backwards — leading with the opposite foot or direction from your normal, comfortable stance. A snowboarder who normally leads with their left foot rides ‘switch’ when leading with their right; a skier rides switch when skiing backwards. It’s also called riding ‘fakie.’
Why freestyle riders use it
Freestyle tricks frequently involve taking off or landing backwards. To spin, jump, and ride away from tricks smoothly in both directions, you need to be comfortable riding switch — which effectively doubles your trick options and is essential for park, pipe, and freestyle riding. It also shows balanced, well-rounded control.
A park rider spins off a jump and lands riding switch — backwards from their normal stance — then rides away smoothly and sets up for the next feature, the switch ability letting them link tricks that take off and land in either direction.
Learning switch
Riding switch feels awkward at first — like writing with your other hand — because you’re leading with your non-dominant foot. With practice it becomes natural, and freestyle riders deliberately train it for the ambidextrous control tricks demand. Twin-tip skis (turned up at both ends) make skiing switch much easier. It’s a core skill in the terrain park and halfpipe.
The bottom line
Switch means riding or skiing backwards — leading with your non-normal foot or direction. A fundamental freestyle skill, it's essential for taking off and landing tricks in both directions, effectively doubling your options in the park and pipe. Awkward at first (like writing with your other hand), riding switch well is the mark of balanced, ambidextrous board or ski control.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'switch' mean in snowboarding and skiing?
Switch means riding or skiing backwards — leading with the opposite foot or in the opposite direction from your normal, comfortable stance. A snowboarder who normally leads with their left foot rides 'switch' when leading with their right; a skier rides switch when skiing backwards. It's also called riding 'fakie.'
Why do freestyle riders ride switch?
Because freestyle tricks frequently involve taking off or landing backwards. To spin, jump, and ride away from tricks smoothly in both directions, you need to be comfortable riding switch. Mastering switch effectively doubles your trick options and is essential for park, pipe, and freestyle riding. It also demonstrates balanced, well-rounded control of the board or skis.
Is riding switch hard?
At first, yes — riding switch feels awkward because you're leading with your non-dominant foot/direction, like writing with your other hand. But with practice it becomes natural, and freestyle riders deliberately train switch riding (and switch turns) to build the ambidextrous control that tricks require. Twin-tip skis (turned up at both ends) make skiing switch much easier.
Sources
- Freestyle instruction — PSIA-AASI
- Snow sports skills — The Mountaineers