Spinning 'Round

If you want a good test of your balance and edging abilities, try this: spin your way down the mountain. No, I'm not talking about catching air; simply spinning on the ground is a challenge of its own.

I tried it on the bunny hill of a nearby micro-hill, so the grade was rather modest. Spinning around is a bit scary, but fun, once you get the hang of it. Spinning is one of those just-having-fun activities that can make riding so inviting. Try one thing, nail that down, and then try something else--perhaps, in time, spinning as part of jumps.

Like most new maneuvers, spinning is best performed on softer snow, since you may be falling more frequently.

UPDATE 3/20: At our micro-hill, I took on a slightly steeper trail and had no problem catching edges or, well, spinning out. The snow was even softer (though not too soft, obviously), which helped out matters. By the time I stopped on both runs (because the terrain was starting to even out), I was only just starting to get dizzy.