Insiders: Are We Trading Style For Spins? 

An Old Head’s Take on Snowboarding’s Evolving Canvas 

Words: Neil Campbell 

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of throwing a 1620, or maybe even a gravity-defying 1440? Nope, me neither. I was going to say I couldn’t think of anything worse, but that’s not quite true, there are plenty of things that are worse. Nevertheless, the idea of rotating that many times in the air still makes my knees ache just thinking about it. 

Lately, I’ve noticed a recurring theme in the comment sections of viral clips and NBD (never been done) posts. You know the type: “I’d rather see a nice backside 180,” or “Looks ugly”, “No style, things were better in my day”, and the like. This is often described as an old head’s perspective, and as an old head myself, I wanted to share how I see it, and no, you don’t have to agree with me. 

It’s fairly obvious that competition is largely to blame for the ever-growing rotations and the ‘spin-to-win’. Funnily enough, people have been using that phrase since Terje Haakonsen was throwing 900s in the early ’90s. Fast forward to today, and a cab 900 is often just a setup trick for a young grom at your local resort. What was once the pinnacle is now a warm-up. This simply highlights the relentless progression and the pushing of boundaries that keep our sport alive and kicking. The introduction of sophisticated off-snow training, first-class health and fitness programs, and dedicated training facilities. Places like Banger Park, or any of the now nearly 200 indoor ski slopes, have provided platforms for riders to practice and push their limits in controlled environments. This focused, year-round training, coupled with advanced biomechanics and injury prevention, allows today’s athletes to attempt and land tricks that were once unimaginable, all while minimizing injuries. 

For years, my time shaping the park up in Corvatsch, alongside watching World Cup contests and building unique obstacles for riders and their sponsors, has given me a front-row seat to this evolution. Over that period, I’ve grown to love watching the limits being pushed to the edge of what seems like insanity. While it may seem repetitive to some, you must look beyond the raw numbers and seek out the subtle nuances. The specific grab, the tweak of the board, even the way the rider leaves the jump or pops the nose or the tail – all these elements affect the difficulty and grace of the trick being performed. It’s both terrifying and graceful all at the same time. 

Before I go out to shred, my pre-ride stoke might come from watching some Zeb Powell wizardry or Fabian Fraidl absolutely destroying rails with an effortless flow. I’m also just as stoked to watch Arthur Longo boosting off natural side hits on the piste or carving in deep powder, Patrik Hofman defying gravity with one foot out of his bindings, somehow spinning and sliding onto rails. To me, it’s all snowboarding, and I love every facet of it. Everything has its time and place; one doesn’t diminish the other. 

I’m genuinely looking forward to the upcoming Winter Olympics. I can’t wait to see these incredible athletes performing on the biggest stage in world sport, demonstrating what is truly possible on a snowboard. The battles that unfold at the top may appear friendly on screen, and indeed, most riders are genuinely friends who support one another. But make no mistake: there is a fierce amount of preparation, blood, sweat, and often injuries that go into performing at the highest level. 

To all my “do a 180” crew, my fellow old heads longing for the turn of the millennium: I hear you. And here’s the thing – the snowboarding you love still exists. You just have to know where to look. Follow any of these competitive athletes’ social media channels, invest some time in their YouTube videos, their Shorts, and their Reels. This is where a lot of the unadulterated, soulful snowboarding you cherish exists today. You’ll find Mia and Rocco filming endless laps of each other in between training sessions, or the Technically Doing It squad traveling the globe, injecting a whole new vibe into park and contest riding. 

The raw, creative, and stylish shredding is out there; it’s just that now we have to dig a little deeper past the mainstream competition highlights to find it. Snowboarding, in all its forms, is thriving. From the dizzying spins of the Olympians to the effortless style of the street riders and the timeless beauty of a perfectly executed carve, it’s a rich tapestry. Let’s appreciate the whole picture, because every thread contributes to the vibrant, evolving culture we all love.