Each year, Swatch Nines drops a course that looks like it was designed by a child with a 3D printer and zero regard for ACLs. Massive, glistening, and often suspiciously perfect. But this year, it wasn’t the mega-jumps that drew the most attention. It was a single, curved down tube, nestled into the landing of a jump in a way that felt almost understated—at least by Nines standards.

Technically, the landing was still a landing. Snow fanned out on either side like a soft catcher's mitt. But if you were really riding it how it was meant to be ridden, the rail was the landing. A proper curved down tube right in the sweet spot. Not an add-on—the point.

Now, gapping onto rails isn’t new. Snowboarding’s been doing that since the first generation. But this felt like something else. The kind of feature that quietly altered what contests venues could look like.  It feels like the clear realization of a new trend. One that is maybe inevitable in slopestyle courses.

I’d claim this version of the idea first took shape during a shoot in Geilo, Norway, last spring, with Mons Røisland and Fridge. That setup played with the same concept: a down tube integrated directly into a landing. Not long after, a similar-style feature showed up at X Games. And now, Fridge, helping design the Nines course, brings that same idea to a broader cast of riders—many of whom are uniquely suited for this kind of high-commitment feature.

And I can’t help but wonder if we’re seeing—dare I say it—progression. Not just in the tricks being done, but in how features start to migrate. The shark fin did it a few years ago. This could be next. And while it’s easy to praise a setup that rewards creativity, there's also something subtle happening here.

Maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe this type of feature pulls some focus away from trying to spin past a 2340 by next season, and gives riders a new outlet. But it also starts to blur the line between rail tricks and jump tricks. It used to be about your style on the rail—your approach, your exit. That still matters, obviously, but now in just one week, both the men’s and women’s fields have already pushed 900s onto it. That’s a steep curve for something that was just a novelty trick a season ago.  After a week of riders practically one-upping each other on this thing, it’s hard not to wonder if they’re hoping it shows up in future slopestyle courses.

Here's some of went down: 

Backside 810 to front board by LJ Henriquez:

Cab 9 by Mia Brookes:

Gap to Edge-Boardslide by Patrick Hofmann

Backside 1080 to 5050 front 180 out By Lyon Farrell:

Backside 360 to 5050 Front 180 out by Tess Coady:

Backside 360 by Cool Wakushima:

Sit Ski Cork 360 by Jay Rawe: