Out of the Loop, Still Watching the Orbit

Men’s Snowboard Has Officially Left the Atmosphere

I’ll admit it up front: I’m no longer slopeside. I’m watching from the cheap seats now, coffee in hand, knees filing grievances in the background. Which leads to the obvious question:

Are people really throwing triple-back-scratch-ollie-hooter-quad type aerials now?

Short answer: Yes. Absolutely. Without apology.

Longer answer: Men’s snowboard has quietly (and then very loudly) evolved into something that looks less like action sports and more like experimental physics.

So… Are the Tricks Actually That Insane?

Yes. And worse.

In modern men’s snowboard—especially at events like the Winter X Games and across the FIS Snowboard World Cup—the baseline has shifted dramatically:

Triple corks are now standard issue Quad corks exist and are being deployed when medals are on the line Spins in the 1800–2340 range are happening while riders are inverted, off-axis, and still managing a stylish grab

The airtime is cartoonish.

The speed is reckless by design.

And the ride-away? Casual. Like they just stepped off a curb.

There was a time when a double cork was a moment. Now it’s a qualifier.

Why It Looks Fake (But Isn’t)

If you stepped away from the sport for a few years—or decades—this is why your brain is struggling:

Jumps are bigger than ever Riders are stronger, lighter, and absurdly technical Coaching, slow-motion analysis, and air awareness are next-level

What used to be progression is now expectation.

It doesn’t look real because it wasn’t supposed to be possible.

Who Gets to Name These Ridiculous Tricks?

This part hasn’t changed—and that’s refreshing.

Naming rights go to the rider who lands the trick first in legitimate competition.

No committee. No branding deal. No influencer vote.

Land it clean. Ride it away. Don’t die.

Congratulations—you just named a trick.

That’s how we got classics like:

The McTwist The Haakon Flip

Eventually, some tricks lose their names and become technical descriptors (Cab Double Cork 1440—the IRS-approved version). Others stay legendary forever.

The rule is simple: first one to stomp it owns it.

Why the Sport Feels Unrecognizable Now

Back then:

Style mattered Speed mattered Consequences mattered

Now:

Technical difficulty dominates Spin math is king Judges bring spreadsheets and frame-by-frame replays

It’s still incredible.

It’s just a different religion.

Final Thought from the Cheap Seats

I didn’t fall behind.

The ceiling got raised, the floor disappeared, and gravity lost the argument.

Men’s snowboard didn’t evolve.

It mutated.

And I’m perfectly fine watching it happen—because my knees already paid their dues.