How To Kickflip

How to Kickflip

The Kickflip (in skateboarding) is a maneuver in which a rider flips his or her board 360° along the axis that extends from the nose to the tail of the deck. When the rider is regular footed the board necessarily spins clockwise if viewed from the front, as the opposing flip (counterclockwise) is a completely separate maneuver.

It was the first of many modern flip tricks to be invented by Rodney Mullen in the early 1980s. In March 2011, the first kickflip in surfing was landed by Zoltan "The Magician" Torkos

1

Be prepared. Before you attempt to kickflip, you should probably be pretty comfortable on a skateboard.

• You should be familiar with all the parts on a skateboard, have decent balanceand know how to ollie.
• You can practice your kickflip while rolling or stationary - it really depends on personal preference.
• Some people find it easier to learn while rolling, while others prefer to get their technique down in a stationary position first.

2

Get the right foot position. The first thing you need to look at is your foot placement:

• Your front foot should be placed just behind the bolts on your board, pointing slightly towards the front at a 45 degree angle.
• The ball of your back foot should be perched on the tail of your board.

3

Ollie. Hopefully you already know how to ollie, but just to recap:

• Bend your front knee and put all of your weight on the ball of your back foot.
• This causes the front of the board to lift, while the back pops off the ground and then bounces up.
• Try to ollie as high as you can, as this will give you more time to complete the kickflip.

4

Use your front foot to flick the board. While you're in the air, slide your front foot towards the front heel-side edge of the board. Kick your leg out, flicking the edge of your deck with your baby toe. This is what gives it its spin.

• This move is a little tricky, so make sure you understand it fully before you try it. Make sure you are kicking your leg outwards and upwards, not downwards. Otherwise your foot will end up beneath the board and you won't be able to land properly.
• Don't kick too hard either, otherwise you'll send your board spinning away from you. Also be sure to jump high enough so that your back foot also comes off the board (though not as high as the front foot).

5

Catch the skateboard with your back foot, then your front. Once the skateboard has completed a full rotation in the air, catch it with your back foot and slam it towards the ground. Once your back foot hits the board, your front foot should follow suit.

• In order to figure out when your skateboard has completed a full rotation, you will need to keep your eyes on it as you jump, which can be tricky. Do your best to get the timing right, and land with your feet over the bolts on the front and back of your deck.
• Another important point to remember is to try to keep your shoulders level (as opposed to having one higher than the other) and facing in the direction you're going. This will help you to keep your balance as you land your flip.

6

Bend your knees as you land. As your board hits the ground, bend your knees in order to absorb the shock.

• This will also help you to maintain control of the skateboard.
• If you're practicing your kickflip while rolling, just continue on, trying your best to look cool.

7

Practice, practice practice. Kickflips are the most difficult of the basic tricks, so it can take a while to get them down perfectly. Don't let yourself get frustrated - just keep practicing until you get it right.

Posted in: Basic, Tricks