- 1). Find an area suitable for kicker construction. You may need to spend as much time finding the location for building the jump as building the actual kicker. Finding the right location insures both safety and enjoyment, and many snowboarders rush to begin building the jump and end up with a mediocre result. Find an area with good, steep landing with plenty of fresh snow. Make sure there is a long in-run to the kicker free of hazards or sharp turns. If it is a warm day, find a spot in the shade as the sun can make the snow slow and sticky.
- 2). Shoveling snow to form the general shape of the kicker. Dig from the sides and the rear of the jump so as to avoid pulling snow from in front of the kicker. Doing this will create an unwanted trench that is a major safety hazard. You can lay snowboards horizontally on the back of the kicker to provide stability to pack the snow against.
- 3). Once a basic shape is formed, compact the snow until the jump is firm, like a groomer at a ski resort. Proper compaction is essential and you can walk on the jump with your boots, hit the jump with shovel, and even strap on your snowboard and hop around on the jump. You will then need to shovel more snow to build the jump back up. Continue this process to reach the right height and compaction.
- 4). Build the in-run to the jump. In-run length depends on a variety of factors, but take your best guess on what will give you the right amount of speed. Hike to the top of the in-run, avoiding walking up the actual in-run and sideslip the length of the in-run. Sideslipping means making your way down the hill slowly with the board perpendicular to the in-run so your back edge creates a smooth surface on the snow.
- 5). When the in-run and jump is complete, test the kicker with a conservative and cautious jump. Communicate with your friends about what needs to be changed, make the necessary adjustments and continue on with the kicker session.
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