KICKFLIP

Hey everyone! 👋 If you've ever dreamt of landing that iconic skateboard trick that makes you look like a pro, you're probably thinking about the kickflip! I remember when I first started, it felt impossible, but trust me, with a bit of patience and the right pointers, you'll be stomping them like a boss. I'm sharing everything I've learned to help you master the kickflip, whether you're on a full-size skateboard or just practicing with a fingerboard! What Exactly is a Kickflip? So, 'what is kickflip'? It's a fundamental trick where your board rotates 360 degrees along its longitudinal axis (like a barrel roll) while airborne, and you catch it mid-air before landing back on it. It’s one of the first flip tricks many skaters learn after ollies, and it's super satisfying when you finally nail it! My Step-by-Step Skateboard Kickflip Tutorial Learning the kickflip sequence on a skateboard can be tricky, but here's how I broke it down: Foot Placement: This is crucial! I like to place my front foot just behind the front bolts, angled slightly, with my toes near the edge of the board. My back foot goes on the tail, ready to pop. The Pop: Just like an ollie, you want to pop the tail down hard to get the board airborne. As you pop, start sliding your front foot up. The Flick: This is the magic part! As your front foot slides up, once it reaches the nose pocket (the concave part near the front bolts), you'll flick your foot off the corner of the nose. It's less of a 'kick' and more of a 'slide and flick' motion. Imagine scraping mud off your shoe! This flick is what makes the board rotate. The Catch: This is where watching kickflip slow motion videos really helped me! Once the board has rotated about 270-300 degrees, you want to bring your feet back over the bolts to 'catch' the board. This stops the rotation and brings the board back to your feet. The Land: Bend your knees and land softly over the bolts. Roll away smoothly, and congratulations, you just landed a kickflip! Pro Kickflip Tips I Wish I Knew Earlier: Commitment is Key: Don't bail halfway! Trust that the board will come back to your feet. Practice Your Ollie: A solid ollie is the foundation for a good kickflip. Watch Slow Motion: Seriously, finding a good kickflip slow motion video and dissecting each frame changed my game. It helps visualize the flick and catch. Experiment with Foot Placement: Everyone's anatomy is different. What works for one might not work for you. Tweak your foot placement slightly until it feels right. Fingerboard Kickflip Sequence & Tutorial For all my fingerboard enthusiasts, the principles are surprisingly similar! To do a fingerboard kickflip: Finger Placement: Place your middle finger on the tail and your index finger near the front bolts. The Pop: Press your middle finger down to pop the tail. The Slide & Flick: As the board comes up, slide your index finger diagonally off the nose. This will make the board spin. The fingerboard kickflip sequence is very quick, so it takes practice to get the timing right. Watching fingerboard kickflip slow motion tutorials can be super helpful here! Catch & Land: Bring your fingers back to catch the board and land it smoothly. What About a Skateboard Heelflip Sequence? You might also be wondering about heelflips! It's another classic flip trick, very similar to a kickflip but with a different flick. Instead of flicking off the toe side with your toes, for a heelflip, you flick off the heel side of the board with your heel. The pop and catch are pretty much the same. Once you get your kickflips down, the skateboard heelflip sequence will feel much more intuitive to learn. Keep practicing, stay patient, and most importantly, have fun with it! The satisfaction of landing that first kickflip is truly unmatched. You got this!