Inside the World of Gratori — An Interview with Jet

For people who might not know you yet — who is Jet and what’s your “thing” on a snowboard?

Hi, I’m Jet — the founder of GratoriWithJet (GTwithjet).

GTwithjet is where I document my journey learning and mastering Japanese-style groundtricks, while helping other riders fast-track their own progression along the way.

Japanese groundtricks is an evolved style of flat-ground riding — no jumps or features, just your snowboard and you.

It’s a style that’s well established across Japan, Korea, and China, but still emerging here in Australia.

A big part of my mission is to bridge that gap, making groundtricks more accessible and showing riders what’s possible, even with limited time on snow.

How did you first get into groundtricks, and what pulled you toward that style of riding?

I first came across groundtricks in 2022 through a YouTube video, and it immediately stood out to me.

What drew me in was how much could be done on flat ground — it felt like one of the purest forms of expression in snowboarding.

At the time, I didn’t think it was something I could realistically learn, especially given how few snow days we get in Australia.

In 2024, I travelled to Japan and bought my first groundtrick board. Like a lot of people, I initially thought the right gear would unlock everything, but once the Australian season started, I realised progression wasn’t going to come from equipment alone.

That’s when I decided to approach it more deliberately.

I spent time studying riders, breaking down movements, and eventually realised I needed to focus on my switch riding and unlocking the BS nose spin.

Toward the end of the season, things started to click.

You take a lot of inspiration from Japanese riding — what is it about that scene that stands out to you?

The Japanese groundtrick scene is incredibly expressive.

It’s not just about the tricks — it’s the way riders move, how they style their riding, and even how they present themselves.

There’s a strong connection between movement and individuality.

It reminds me a lot of hip-hop dance culture. Two riders can perform the same trick, but it can look completely different depending on their style and approach.

There’s a real focus on refining details, building control, and committing to progression. That mindset is something I try to carry into both my riding and the way I teach.

For someone seeing it for the first time, how would you explain “gratori”?

Groundtricks is essentially buttering and presses taken to another level.

At a high level, it can look like riders are dancing on snow — smoothly linking combos together, spinning quickly on the ground without catching an edge, and performing powerful movements like nollie 720s.

It really shows what’s possible on a snowboard with the right technique and control.

What makes groundtricks different from more traditional park riding?

Groundtricks offer a very different approach to progression compared to traditional park riding.

Most movements can be broken down into smaller, more manageable steps, allowing riders to build skills in a more controlled and structured way.

Another key difference is flow.

Instead of riding feature to feature, groundtricks are continuous — you’re constantly adjusting based on your position and movement.

If your body position or balance is off, the trick won’t work. That level of precision carries over into all areas of snowboarding.

What’s the biggest mistake people make when they start trying to learn groundtricks?

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people waiting until they’re back on snow to start learning.

Many of these positions feel unnatural at first, which is why repetition off snow is so effective for building comfort and control.

By the time you get back on snow, you’re no longer figuring out how to do the trick — you’re refining when and where to apply it.

Also… get butt pads. Trust me.