In wakeboarding, a TS Backroll (Toeside Backroll) is a fundamental inversion where the rider approaches the wake on their toe edge and performs a backflip.
Unlike a traditional backflip on land, which rotates end-over-end, a wakeboarding backroll is a “sideways” rotation. Think of the board following the path of a ferris wheel while your body stays aligned with the board.
How a TS Backroll Works
- The Approach: You edge toward the wake on your toeside (the edge where your toes are pointing).
- The Edge: You maintain a strong, progressive edge. Because you are on your toes, your body is naturally facing slightly away from the boat.
- The Pop: As you hit the top of the wake, you stand tall and “snap” off the crest.
- The Rotation: You throw your shoulder back and look over your lead shoulder. The board flips over your head in a circular motion.
- The Landing: You spot the water as you complete the rotation and land back on your toeside edge to absorb the impact.
Key Characteristics
- Toeside vs. Heelside: A toeside approach is often considered more difficult to master than a heelside approach because it requires more balance and control over your body position.
- Natural Rotation: The TS Backroll feels more “natural” to many riders because the toeside edge naturally wants to whip the board around into that specific flip transition.
- Blind Landings: If you don’t complete the full rotation cleanly, you might land “blind” (facing away from the boat), which adds a level of difficulty.
Why Riders Learn It
The TS Backroll is a “gateway” trick. Once you master the basic flip, you can begin adding variations like:
- TS Backroll to Revert: You land in the opposite stance (switch).
- Indy/Mute Grabs: You grab the board mid-flip for extra style points.