Finn Flügel’s 5 Favourite Tricks

Trick 1: 313

Why did you pick this trick?
The 313 is probably the first handlepass every freestyler tries — and hopefully lands! It’s the foundation for so many other freestyle tricks, which makes it super important in your progression.

What makes this trick special or challenging?
When you move from a Raley to Blind or Wrapped into your first pass, it takes a lot more strength and technique. Mistakes aren’t as easily forgiven anymore. But landing it opens so many doors — it’s the base for tricks like the Slim Chance, Heart Attack, and more. That’s why it’s so important to practise it over and over until you can stick it as close to perfect as possible.

When did you first learn it? Any memorable moments in the process?
I remember it clearly — I was just ten years old when I landed it for the first time. That feeling of passing the bar behind my back… it was incredible.

How did the Duotone Academy App help you with this trick?
At the time, I didn’t have a coach, so the Duotone App was a huge help. The way the tricks are explained step by step made it easy to understand, even for me as a kid. It really guided me through the process.

Any personal highlights related to this trick?
The 313 became a kind of freestyle base for me — the moment I landed it, I felt like a whole new world of tricks opened up. From there, my progression just built on it.

What advice would you give to someone trying to learn it?
Have a clear plan before you go for it. You should already have solid Raleys and Shifties under your belt and be comfortable with edging downwind. Start with Raley-to-Toeside and Surface Passes to get used to the feeling of passing the bar. The next key step is the Raley-to-Wrapped — you pass the bar after landing — and from there, it’s all about committing. You have to go all in!! An important tip: Pull yourself toward the bar.

Trick 2: Back Mobe

Why did you pick this trick?
The Back Mobe is definitely a very challenging trick, but totally worth the effort. It’s the first unhooked trick that’s done inverted, and as such, it’s the foundation for other moves like the Front Blind Mobe.

What makes this trick special or challenging?
What makes it special is that awesome feeling when you flip and kind of fall right into the bar. It doesn’t require as much strength as other maneuvers, but the technique is completely different from handle passes, so you really need to understand how this trick works.

When did you first learn it? Any memorable moments in the process?
At first, I wasn’t a big fan, and it actually took me a fair while to stick it. The movement is just totally different, and there are a lot of little details involved, even though it looks fairly easy. Once I finally nailed it, it became one of my favourites, especially because so many tricks build on it.

How did the Duotone Academy App help you with this trick?
The Duotone Academy App was always by my side. Before heading out and especially after my sessions on the water—while I was still feeling everything—I’d watch the video tutorials over and over again. All the tips and pointers like your balance on the board, kite positioning, and more, are so crucial! They really helped me learn the Back Mobe faster and with more confidence.

Any personal highlights related to this trick?
One moment I’ll never forget was landing the Back Mobe during my very first German Championship. It was my 'joker' trick — the one I saved for last and really wanted to stick. And yep, it worked! 😉

What advice would you give to someone trying to learn this trick?
My advice? Don’t give up! The Back Mobe doesn’t require a lot of strength, but it demands solid technique. Try to take off as late as possible so you’re doing the backroll just above the surface — that makes a big difference. Plus, this is one of those tricks you can actually practise really well on land. I used to hang up a bar in all different places and repeat the flip movement over and over. Total game-changer.

Trick 3: Blind Judge 5

Why did you pick this trick?
The Blind Judge 5 is the classic Double Handle Pass — usually the first one every ambitious freestyler dreams of landing, and most eventually do. It marks the next big step up from single passes. For me, sticking this trick gave my freestyle progression a massive boost and the confidence to go for other doubles.

What makes this trick special or challenging?The feeling of going for a double is just insane. You’ve got to jump higher to buy yourself the time for that second pass, which adds a whole new level of commitment. It’s absolutely key to have your single handle passes dialled first — that solid foundation makes all the difference. And yeah, commitment is the magic word.

When did you first learn it? Any memorable moments in the process?
I was in Sicily working on my freestyle game. One day during a light wind session, I landed a Blind Judge 3 that felt pretty high, so I thought, why not go for the BJ5 straight away? To my surprise, I nailed it on the very first try — I couldn’t believe it! Over the next few sessions, I managed to land it a few more times, but once we got back home to El Gouna, I failed more often than I succeeded. That’s exactly when you have to keep pushing and remember that the BJ5 is a seriously tough trick that takes a lot of practice and patience.

How did the Duotone Academy App help you with this trick?
By the time I was working on double passes, I was regularly training with a coach, but the Duotone Academy App was always my backup. I especially relied on the slow-motion feature to review the key details of each trick over and over again.

Any personal highlights related to this trick?
At that camp, Gianma and Mika were there too, and it really motivated and pushed me to have Mika watch me. I also had several sessions with Gianma, from whom I learned the Back Mobe with Airpass. It was such an insane experience, and I couldn’t have been happier… and now we compete together. It’s so wild!

What advice would you give to someone trying to learn it?
Don’t give up! Make sure to practice with a coach and use the app. Approach this trick with total focus and respect — it’s a high double handle pass that requires serious commitment. Technique is everything here, so definitely master the Blind Judge 3 before trying this one.
Additionally, in case you didn’t know about this: In the Duotone App, under each trick, you can jump into the ‘Discussions’ section to ask questions and get feedback directly from the Duotone international team. That kind of interaction is priceless when you’re working on something as technical as the Blind Judge 5, but also with the easier, less technical tricks!

Trick 4: Board Off

Why did you pick this trick?
The Board Off is basically the entry point and the essence of Big Air or Airstyle. Without landing a solid Board Off, you can’t really move on to the bigger moves.

What makes this trick special or challenging?
The Board Off might not seem tricky at first glance, but there are definitely some parts to master. The most important thing is practising taking your feet out of the straps and putting them back in. Loosening your straps a bit really helps — it makes it much easier to get your feet back in. This is also one of those tricks you can practise really well on land. You want to have this one dialled before you start adding rotations or even kiteloops.

When did you first learn it? Any memorable moments in the process?
I was only 9 years old when I first landed it, and I was beyond stoked. I used to watch the pros doing Board Offs and admired them, so landing it myself felt absolutely insane.

How did the Duotone Academy App help you with this trick?
For this trick, watching your kite positioning is super important. That’s where the app really comes in handy — you can study the trick from different angles, which makes it way easier to understand and fine-tune your technique. Another awesome feature is that you can save the tricks you’re currently working on. It helps keep your progress on track and your training goals clear, especially useful for something like Board Offs where consistency really matters.

Any personal highlights related to this trick?
I remember landing this trick at my very first competition in El Gouna — I was so proud I pulled it off. That was a big deal for me back then.

What advice would you give to someone learning this trick?
Even if Board Offs look kind of easy, don’t underestimate them.You’ve got to put in the time — not just to land them clean, but also to avoid injuries, which can happen quickly if you mess up your kite steering for example. Start low and slow until the movement feels natural. Looser straps help a lot, even if they feel weird at first while riding. But you’ll get used to I, it’s basically a golden rule for Board Offs

Trick 5: Kite Loop Late Backroll

Why did you pick this trick?
The Kiteloop Late Backroll is an absolute classic. When you're starting out, it definitely takes some guts to go for it. It’s one of those tricks that’s been around since the early King of the Air days and has evolved into all kinds of variations over the years.

What makes this trick special or challenging?
It’s such a legendary kite trick that I still get flashbacks from doing it. When I was younger, just doing the kiteloop felt super powered. But adding a backroll and basically looking down at the water while spinning backwards? That’s a whole new level of challenge.

When did you first learn this trick, and how did you go about it?
I was around 10 years old when I first landed the Kiteloop Late Backroll, and honestly, it was one of the most intense feelings I’ve had on the water. Once you land it, you’ll just want more — go higher, bigger, more radical. I can only describe it as pure stoke!

How did the Duotone Academy App help you with this trick?
The Duotone Academy App is super helpful because you can watch the correct kite positioning and steering again and again. Ideally, you practise on land with the app’s voice explanations playing at the same time — it’s like having your own personal coach right there with you.

Any personal highlights related to this trick?
This trick is a staple in every Big Air session for me and, together with various flips, it’s my absolute favourite! And of course, it’s also a must-have move in any competition.

What advice would you give to someone learning this trick?
I can’t say it enough: tricks like this don’t come overnight, and you shouldn’t overestimate yourself — it gets dangerous fast. Clean, high kiteloops and solid rotations are the foundation before you even try a trick like this. Also, start practising in lighter winds first so you can get used to the push and power gradually.