BEST KICKFLIP

Okay, so you know how it goes – you're out there shredding, living your best skate life, and then someone pops into your live stream and drops a comment like, 'Haha, you can't kickflip!' Well, guess what? Challenge accepted! That comment actually got me thinking about all the struggles I went through learning this trick, and how I finally nailed my *best kickflip*. So, I decided to put together my personal guide to help you master it too. The kickflip is iconic, right? It's often one of the first flip tricks you learn, but it can be super frustrating. For me, the game-changer was truly understanding the foot placement for kickflip and the timing of the flick. It’s not just about kicking; it’s a whole dance between your feet and the board. Let's talk foot position for kickflip first, because this is crucial. Think of it like this: Back Foot: Your back foot should be placed firmly on the tail, covering it completely, similar to an ollie. This is where your pop comes from. Make sure your toes are near the edge, ready to push down hard. Front Foot: This is where the magic happens for the flip. Your front foot placement is usually just behind the front bolts, angled slightly. Some people like it more parallel to the board, others prefer it at a sharper angle – experiment! What's important is that the ball of your foot (or slightly more towards the heel side) is positioned so that you can slide it up the board and off the concave pocket, right where it starts to curve. This is your flick point. My personal preference is to have my front foot angled about 45 degrees, with my heel slightly hanging off the edge, giving me more leverage for the flick. Now, let's break down the actual execution: The Pop: Just like an ollie, you need a strong, decisive pop. Push your back foot down on the tail with all your might. This gets the board airborne. The Slide/Flick: Almost simultaneously with the pop, as the board starts to rise, you need to slide your front foot up the board. Don't just lift it; slide it. Your foot should rub against the griptape, traveling diagonally towards the nose. The crucial part is to let your foot come off the board at the corner of the nose, flicking it outwards. It’s like you're trying to scrape something off the side of the board with the side of your foot. This is what makes the board rotate. Catching the Board: As the board completes its rotation (usually one full rotation for a kickflip), you need to bring your feet back over the bolts to catch it. Your back foot often catches it first, then the front. This is where practice makes perfect – you want to land softly and absorb the impact. Landing: Bend your knees! This is key for balance and absorbing the shock. Land over the bolts, roll away clean, and enjoy the feeling of stomping that trick! Common mistakes I see, and definitely made myself, include not sliding the front foot hard enough or kicking straight down instead of flicking off the nose. Also, don't forget to commit! Fear can make you bail, so visualize yourself landing it. So, to anyone who thinks I can't kickflip, or to anyone out there struggling, keep practicing these foot placement and flick techniques. It's all about repetition and finding what feels right for your body mechanics. You'll be landing those clean kickflips in no time!