Switch/Fakie/Skiing Backwards
The first thing to remember about riding switch is that it is not much different from skiing forward. You still need to keep your weight and balance to the downhill ski and the skis/snow are going to react in the same way. Common mistakes include leaning way forward, which lifts the weight off the tails of the skis (exactly the same as what happens when you sit back skiing normally, leading to loss of control) and simply trying to turn too tightly. Starting with a shallow traverse across the slope, find a comfortable, wide stance (try to feel like you are standing over the arch of your feet) and keep your knees flexing down to hold your upper body centred over your feet. As you approach where you want to make that turn, stand up a little straighter (lifts the weight off the skis) and start thinking about pointing your heels where you want to go. At this point its not uncommon to form a little reverse snowplough shape which makes it easier both to slide the outside ski around the turn you are making and also to start shifting your weight and balance to that ski. If you stayed relaxed and didn’t try to hurry round the turn you should now be traversing back across the slope. Always try to think about the downhill side of your body – the weight, pressure and control comes from the downhill ski and to make this easier for yourself and avoid getting your body all corkscrewed up, try to look over your downhill shoulder. This means you should be changing which shoulder you are looking over depending on which direction across the slope you are travelling. And remember, practice makes perfect!

Your First 180!
Firstly, get comfortable skiing switch, then start to practice your 180 on an easy slope. Start by slowly sliding facing forwards, pick a spot on the snow in front of you and turn your feet under you to spin the skis on snow. Keep looking at that spot as later that will be your landing. When you are happy with this, get ready to POP. The POP is key to any park trick as it ensures your skis are level when in the air and keeps your body centrally weighted over your feet. Standing over the arch of your feet, slowly bend your knees to lower yourself (the lower you get, the more room you have to POP upwards). Boost upwards by straightening your legs and try to feel your skis coming cleanly off the ground. If your tips stay in contact, your body weight is too far forward, if your tails stay down, you are too far back. Once you get the POP figured its time to start thinking about rotation. This will begin with the shoulders and upper body but most of the rotation will come from the hips so always shoot from these. Start sliding and get ready to POP. As you POP, swing your arms and shoulders in the direction you want to spin and follow this rotation through with your hips. With your skis clean off the snow and hips turning, the feet and skis will follow so be ready to land switch. As soon as you are confident with this motion and can see your landings, you are ready to start hitting the kickers. Pick a small one and ride in with enough speed (but not too much that you’ll miss the landing!) to get some air. POP cleanly off the lip, start rotating with your body and let your skis come round. Keep your focus on the landing and prepare for landing with a wide, centred stance. Stick the landing, ride away switch and try not to look like you are celebrating. You just dialled your first 180!