As a snowboarder, it’s always exciting to add a new trick to your repertoire, and one of the most fun and stylish tricks to master is the butter. A butter is essentially a spin or rotation where the rider turns their board flat on the snow and uses their momentum to glide, slide, or spin around. It’s a great way to add some creativity and flair to your riding and can be done on any terrain, from the park to the backcountry. In this article, we’ll break down the butter trick step-by-step and answer some common questions to help you master this fun and impressive snowboarding move.
What is a butter?
A butter is a snowboarding trick where the rider turns their board flat on the snow and uses their momentum to rotate or spin. It’s called a “butter” because it mimics the motion of spreading butter on toast. Butters can be done in a variety of ways, including 180s, 360s, and even 540s, and can be performed on both the nose and tail of the snowboard.
What are the benefits of learning a butter?
Learning a butter can be beneficial for a few reasons. First, it’s a fun and creative trick that allows you to add some style and flair to your riding. Second, mastering the butter can help improve your balance, control, and edge control on the snowboard, which can translate to better riding overall. Finally, buttering is a great way to play around and explore new terrain, whether that’s in the park or the backcountry.
How do you set up for a butter?
To set up for a butter, you’ll want to approach the terrain (whether that’s a rail, jump, or natural feature) with a bit of speed and set yourself up for the trick. As you approach the feature, you’ll want to start shifting your weight to the tail or nose of the board, depending on the direction you want to spin. You can start this weight shift by bending your knees and leaning slightly forward or backward, depending on if you’re buttering on the tail or nose.
How do you perform a butter?
Once you’re set up, performing a butter is all about using your momentum and weight distribution to rotate the board. To do a basic butter, start by flattening the board on the snow with your weight shifted to either the tail or nose. Then, use your toes and heels to pivot the board in the direction of the spin. As you spin, keep your knees bent and your core engaged to maintain your balance. Depending on the speed and terrain, you can ride out of the butter with a simple carve or continue the spin into a more advanced rotation.
What are some common mistakes when learning a butter?
A common mistake when learning a butter is not shifting your weight enough to the tail or nose of the board. This can make it difficult to initiate the spin and can cause you to lose balance or catch an edge. Another mistake is not using your toes and heels to pivot the board, which can make the spin feel sluggish or unnatural. Finally, it’s important to stay balanced and centered over the board throughout the butter. Avoid leaning too far in any direction, as this can cause you to lose control and crash.
What are some variations on the butter trick?
The butter trick is highly customizable, and there are countless variations and combinations you can try. Some popular variations include tweaking the grab or adding a shifty to the spin, such as a frontside 180 with a frontside shifty. Another variation is to combine the butter with other tricks, such as a butter into a 360 spin or a butter into a backflip. With practice, you can get creative and come up with your own unique variations on this fun and versatile trick.
Conclusion
The butter trick is a fun and stylish way to add some creativity and flair to your snowboarding. By shifting your weight and using your momentum to spin or rotate, you can create a smooth and fluid butter that looks impressive and feels great. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced rider, learning the butter can improve your overall balance, control, and edge control on the snowboard. So next time you’re out on the mountain, give the butter trick a try and see how much fun you can have.
