Nose Butter

The nose butter is a spin done entirely on the snow, using the nose of the board as the pivot. You load the nose, lift the tail, and swing the board around: the result is a smooth, “buttery” rotation (hence the name) that you can do anywhere on the mountain, no jumps or rails needed. It’s one of the most creative and fun tricks in modern freestyle.

How to Do It

1. Come in at moderate speed on a gentle or almost flat slope.
2. Shift your weight onto your front foot until the tail lifts: you’re in a nose press.
3. Use your shoulders to start the rotation, frontside or backside, your choice. Your shoulders lead your body, and your body brings the tail around.
4. Keep the nose glued to the snow: it’s the pivot you spin around, and it shouldn’t hop.
5. Finish the rotation (180° at first, then 360°) and ride away in the new direction, flattening the board out.

Common Mistakes

• The nose hops instead of pivoting: if the pressure on the nose is too light or uneven, the nose bounces instead of sliding. Keep the pressure steady and firm.
• Spinning without your body: trying to turn with just your legs doesn’t work. Your shoulders lead, your legs follow.
• Too much speed: butters are all about control. Going too fast makes it hard to hold the press through the rotation.

Progression

Once your 180° nose butter is smooth, push it all the way to 360° with the Butter 360. You can also mix it with jumps and varied terrain to come up with new tricks of your own.