Part 1 of 4: Learn Some Basic Tricks
1
Learn how to kickturn. A good place to start when learning how to do tricks on the skateboard is learning how to kickturn.- The kickturn basically involves leaning back on your board to lift the front wheels off the ground and do a 180 degree turn.
- This gives you a very quick and precise turn, which can be done on the ground or on a ramp.
- It is a good building block for more advanced tricks
2
Do an ollie. The ollie is perhaps the most important trick you can learn, as it's the starting point for a huge array of more advanced tricks.- An ollie is basically a jump while the board sticks to your feet. To do an ollie, you need proper foot placement, along with good balance and timing skills.
- Basically, you need to bend your knees in a crouched position as you roll, then jump up, popping the tail of the skateboard off the ground as you jump. Make sure to bend your knees as you land to absorb the shock.
- As you get better, you can practice doing higher and longer ollies.
3
Do a nollie. A nollie is a variation of the ollie, which basically involves popping the front of the skateboard off the ground as you jump, rather than the back. Once you've mastered the ollie, the nollie should be easy to learn.- To do a nollie, shift your front foot to the nose of the board and place your back foot in the middle of your trucks. Crouch down, then jump up, popping the front of your board hard off the ground. Level the board in mid-air, then bend your knees as you land.
- You might feel slightly awkward while learning to nollie, as learning how to pop the board with your non-dominant foot can be tricky. Don't worry if you can't get the same height with your nollies as you can with your ollies. - This is normal.
4
Learn how to manual. A manual is kind of like doing a wheelie on your bike, where you lean back and lift the front wheels of the skateboard off the ground, while still rolling.- Manuals are all about balance, so take some time to get your foot position right. Place your back foot on the tail of the skateboard (almost covering the whole thing) and place your front foot just behind the front trucks.
- Now lean your weight backwards until the front wheels come off the ground and try to hold that position while rolling. Don't lean too far back though or the tail will drag across the ground, damaging your board.
- When learning to manual, it is very common for skaters to lean too far back, shooting the board out in front of them. When this happens, it is easy to fall back and knock your head on the ground, which is very dangerous. Therefore, it is important to always wear a helmet while skating.
