The fight to get my 540 back

Here's something nobody tells you when you land a trick for the first time: it's not yours yet. You're kind of just borrowing it.

I ended my first season with a 540. Felt unstoppable. Then summer happened — some Mt Hood days, the Japan airbag trip (which was amazing, different post) — but from May to January I barely touched real snow. And when this season started, Mammoth had almost none. The park was rails, jibs, and exactly one hip jump. For months. No real jumps until January.

So when jumps finally opened, I went to do my 540 and... it wasn't there. My body forgot the timing. I'd come around late, or early, or land hands down. A trick I'd already landed. That's a weird feeling — it's worse than learning it the first time, because now you're embarrassed.

What the no-jumps months gave me instead: rails. With nothing else to ride, my rail game went from "survives the rail" to actual tricks — 270s on and off, pretzels, front boards that finally feel planted, and a bunch of switch stuff. My favorite right now is switch back blunt with a 270 out. If the snow had been good, I honestly don't think my rails would be anywhere near this.

And the 540 came back. Slowly, then all at once — and this time it stuck way harder than the first time I learned it. Right now I've got all four 540s on snow — regular and switch, both directions — plus my first 720. And I rode Nationals at Copper this season, which deserves its own post too.

So if a trick ghosts you: it's normal, it's annoying, and it comes back stronger if you keep showing up. Also, ride rails when there's nothing else. Especially when there's nothing else.