“Gratori” (short for the Japanese term “Ground Trick”) is a snowboarding discipline where tricks are performed directly on flat snow—without jumps or rails. The focus is on spins, presses (shifting weight onto the nose or tail), balance, and smooth movement. Gratori is especially popular in Japan and emphasizes playful riding, technique, and style rather than height or speed. It is very comparable to the already existing Buttering but it developed into a distinct riding culture in japan. Since the modern crowded ski resorts focus on more people doing more distance on more slopes, this new way to ride a snowboard feels very refreshing. It focuses on body, board and edge control and makes enjoying the slower parts of a mountain so much more interesting or makes visiting the beginners hill around the corner worth it again. It can be a full body workout if you start training on a dry mat. Even if you will never be a flatground fanatic, just training the basics will enhance your riding so much more quickly. Your overall boardcontrol will improve and so will your fitness. Simple exercises like small presses or controlled weight shifts are already enough to improve your riding feel.

Gratori isn’t just for people who want to do tricks — it’s a playful way to become a better snowboarder, even if your only goal is to enjoy your vacation on the slopes more.