Trick Spotlight: Eltovator

Named after Elton the originator of this unusual technique. The Eltovator is deemed a trick due to the difficulty of the maneuver. The user gets on the ground on there knees directly behind them. Then with a burst of energy backwards. They hurl themselves over their hooves. As the hooves pivot on the ground. They quickly stand and take a step to balance themselves.

This takes loads of practice to accomplish. We recommend you practice in the grass. As the falls forward upon failing this trick can hurt. Mainly in the wrists and knees.

But here's a basic how to once you've found yourself on the ground.

Get to the position as shown in the below videos.

Get your mind focused to do the trick. Take a couple small "practice motions" to help get ready if needed.

Lean as far back towards your hooves as you can.

We highly recommend you put both hands at the bottom of your spring and hold on. This gets your bodies weight far enough back to pivot on the springs properly when you attempt this.

As you go backwards and pivot over your hooves, Let go of the springs, stand up and step immediately forward. Other wise you'll fall.

Video here on youtube. Or head over to xdbockers.com and check out the trick section!

Tricking: Split Kick

Want to show off just how much air you're really getting? Try a split kick, it really helps people realize just how high you actually go. Put on those safety pads and give this one a go!


Split Kick




Basically, As you jump in the air, pull one leg behind you, and kick the other infront as far as you can. The further you can stretch the better it is. Flexibility and timing is key.

This is actually one of my favorite tricks. It looks great in photos, and is easy to do once you've mastered the basics, and can maintain balance in air. To get the best split kicks, I've found that varying what you do with your arms in air helps a lot. Bring one arm up, one back, ect. Variety is key in making the entire trick nice.

Tricking: Spring Grab

Time to pull off one of my favorite basic tricks! Strap on those pads and keep reading to learn about spring grabs!

Spring Grab

This trick can be pulled off in dozens of varieties, each a different trick. But at the base, is the spring grab. In mid-air bend back and grab one of your springs. Bring your leg back closer to your hand to help out. Takes practice, but looks cool. You can see XDvandalJake and myself both pulling these off in the photo.

Another more advanced version of this trick is called the Double Spring Grab. Essentially instead of just grabbing one spring with one hand. You take both hands back and grab both springs. As always, don't forget to give yourself time to land with any variation of the spring grab trick.

Tricking: Star

Read to learn how to trick? Let's get our safety gear on, and get to it. Today we'll be covering a very simple trick to do. That looks great on camera.

The Star!

The star is a very simple trick to pull off. It's basically a modified trampoline trick fitted for powerbocking. At the height of your jump. You bring out you legs angled from you, and raise your arms up at an angle. The point is so that you resemble a star in mid-air. Don't forget to give yourself time to land!

This ones fairly easy to pull off. Theres no special tricks, only just timing and practice.

Go give it a try!

Tips for Newbies: Start Tricking - Tucks

Tricking is usually what everyone wants to do straight away. When we first find out about these crazy things called Jumping Stilts. A lot of us end up searching the web, and stumble upon countless videos of other people, flipping, jumping off crazy things, and performing many different tricks on them.

It's no wonder when we finally get a set of our own. That we'd want to jump straight into pulling off all sorts of wild powerbocking tricks. Well, once you've mastered how to stand, walk, run, jump, and do it all well. Without thinking about performing each of the steps. I'd say you're ready to hop from stage 1 of learning, and go into the beginning stages of tricking. Be sure to wear your pads and helmet though! At this point it's even more vital then ever! BE SAFE.

What kind of tricks are there? Well there is countless named tricks, and there is always new ones being created. Our sport of powerbocking is still very young and accordingly, we're still learning more and more insane things to do.

A short list of basic ones would go like so:

• Tuck
• Star
• Spring Grab
• Double Spring Grab
• Pike
• Split Kick

Among many other variations and more advanced tricks. But let's take it slow shall we? I personally started learning the very basic trick the tuck first. Let me explain what exactly it is, and how I do it.


A tuck is basically where when you're at the top of your jump. You bring your knees towards your chest, hold them there in air as if you're "tucked" in a ball of sorts.

Tucking takes a certain amount of timing, flexibility, and technique to get down right. The longer you're able to hold one in the air the better the trick looks. Just never forget to give yourself enough time to land. At first, you'll find your tucks only being split second long. But eventually you'll master the timing and get enough height to do it right.

Be sure to keep a clear head, be calm and always just calmly grab your knees as you bring them up. Hold them towards your chest, and let go. Practice this over and over until you get it down without thinking about it. In the included photo, you can see I'm starting to come down from a tuck. As a proper one would of had very little air space in between my legs and body.

Go get practicing, and I'll explain another trick next time!