A scarecrow is a toeside front roll with a frontside 180 built in - you go in toeside and come out heelside, rotating forward and around at the same time. It looks far harder than it is. The kicker does the lifting and the 180 falls out of the rotation naturally, so once your toeside airs are solid this is a very achievable first toeside invert.
Before you try it you want a clean toeside jump off the kicker dialed in. It also helps a lot if you already know a front flip - off a trampoline or into the water at a pool - because the front-roll feeling is identical. If you don't have that, you can still send it straight on the water; just be ready to commit.
Approach with a medium toeside edge - not a hard cut, just a progressive one - with both hands on the handle. Right before the kicker, flatten the board off your edge so you hit the ramp flat rather than carving up it. At the top of the kicker, set forward and look under your armpit. That look is what initiates the front-roll rotation; chase your shoulder around and the spin follows your eyes.
Stay committed through the roll and let the frontside 180 come with it. Spot the landing as you come back around, bend your knees to absorb the impact.
Watch more here:
Video by Aarhus Watersports Complex (AWC)
Key tips
- Have your toeside kicker airs fully dialed before trying this
- Medium, progressive toeside edge - both hands on the handle
- Flatten off your edge right before the lip so you hit the kicker flat
- At the top, set forward and look under your armpit to start the front roll
- Let the frontside 180 come naturally out of the rotation - don't force it separately
- Spot the landing late, knees soft on impact
- Struggling with the roll? Go front hand only, initiate the roll, then add the back hand mid-air for the 180
- A trampoline or pool front flip transfers directly - practice it there first if you can