Watch Now: How To Execute The 180 Kickflip
01 of 10
Kickflip Setup
The kickflip is the hardest of the basic skateboarding tricks and one of the most popular skateboarding tricks to learn. Learning to kickflip first, before learning other skateboarding flip tricks, will help you in the long run. If you are brand new to skateboarding, you’ll first need to learn how to ollie.
A kickflip starts with an ollie, but you flick the board with your foot to make it spin underneath you while in the air. In a clean kickflip, the skater kicks the board with the top and side of his front foot, the skateboard flips and spins over at least once, and the skateboarder lands on the skateboard comfortably, wheels down, and rides away.
02 of 10
Stance
Michael Andrus
Put your back foot flat on the tail of your skateboard and put the ball of your front foot right behind the front trucks. Doing an ollie and a kickflip while you’re stationary is possible, but most people find it easier to do while rolling. If you would like to learn to kickflip with your skateboard stationary, you can place your skateboard on some carpet or grass to keep it from rolling. If you prefer to learn to kickflip while your skateboard is rolling, don’t go very fast at the start. Just get rolling at a comfortable speed and then move your feet into this position.
03 of 10
The Pop
Ollie as high as you can. The technique is basically the same, except for what your feet do while in the air.
04 of 10
The Flick
Jamie O’Clock
When you launch up into the air, slide the side of your foot up the board like you do in a regular ollie. Slide it up toward the edge of the nose of the board and flick the nose of your skateboard with your front foot. The motion is like flicking something away with the back of your hand that’s buzzing around. Except with your foot. On a skateboard. Here’s how it works:
As you ollie, you drag your front foot up the board, right? Well, instead of stopping, continue the drag toward the heel edge corner of your deck. Using the top of your toes, flick the board. The motion of your foot should be out and a little down. Be careful not to just kick the skateboard down – your foot will be underneath the skateboard, making it impossible to land right. Instead, you want the motion to be both down and out back behind you.
It’s called a flick because the action is quick and just with the toes. In fact, try to aim for using your little toe. It only takes a little strength – don’t try to kick it. You don’t want any leg strength in there at all. Just a simple little flick. Like a tap.
05 of 10
The Nose
Your target is the corner of the nose of your skateboard. Flick your skateboard there, and you will have the most control. See the photo to get an idea of your target flick area.
06 of 10
Get Out of the Way
Jamie O’Clock
After flicking the board with your front foot, get your feet out of the way so that the board can flip in the air. This is important. Don’t let your front foot end up underneath the board. After flicking the skateboard, pull your front foot out and up. Remember that this is all happening in the air – and very quickly.
07 of 10
Stay Level During Flip
Michael Andrus
While the skateboard is flipping underneath you, it can be easy to lose your level. That means keeping your shoulders level with the ground and pointed in the direction you are going. Try not to turn to the side and try not to tilt your upper body so that one shoulder is higher than the other. Staying level will help you when you land.
08 of 10
Catch the Skateboard
Once the skateboard has spun around completely one time, put your back foot on it to catch it. Catch the skateboard with your back foot and then put your front foot on.
09 of 10
Land and Roll Away
Michael Andrus
As you fall back toward the ground and land, bend your knees deeply again. Doing this helps absorb the shock of landing and keeps you in control of your board. Then just roll away.
01 of 10
Kickflip Setup
The kickflip is the hardest of the basic skateboarding tricks and one of the most popular skateboarding tricks to learn. Learning to kickflip first, before learning other skateboarding flip tricks, will help you in the long run. If you are brand new to skateboarding, you’ll first need to learn how to ollie.
01 of 10
01
of 10
A kickflip starts with an ollie, but you flick the board with your foot to make it spin underneath you while in the air. In a clean kickflip, the skater kicks the board with the top and side of his front foot, the skateboard flips and spins over at least once, and the skateboarder lands on the skateboard comfortably, wheels down, and rides away.
02 of 10
Stance
Put your back foot flat on the tail of your skateboard and put the ball of your front foot right behind the front trucks. Doing an ollie and a kickflip while you’re stationary is possible, but most people find it easier to do while rolling. If you would like to learn to kickflip with your skateboard stationary, you can place your skateboard on some carpet or grass to keep it from rolling. If you prefer to learn to kickflip while your skateboard is rolling, don’t go very fast at the start. Just get rolling at a comfortable speed and then move your feet into this position.
02 of 10
02
03 of 10
The Pop
Ollie as high as you can. The technique is basically the same, except for what your feet do while in the air.
03 of 10
03
04 of 10
The Flick
When you launch up into the air, slide the side of your foot up the board like you do in a regular ollie. Slide it up toward the edge of the nose of the board and flick the nose of your skateboard with your front foot. The motion is like flicking something away with the back of your hand that’s buzzing around. Except with your foot. On a skateboard. Here’s how it works:
04 of 10
04
As you ollie, you drag your front foot up the board, right? Well, instead of stopping, continue the drag toward the heel edge corner of your deck. Using the top of your toes, flick the board. The motion of your foot should be out and a little down. Be careful not to just kick the skateboard down – your foot will be underneath the skateboard, making it impossible to land right. Instead, you want the motion to be both down and out back behind you.
It’s called a flick because the action is quick and just with the toes. In fact, try to aim for using your little toe. It only takes a little strength – don’t try to kick it. You don’t want any leg strength in there at all. Just a simple little flick. Like a tap.
05 of 10
The Nose
Your target is the corner of the nose of your skateboard. Flick your skateboard there, and you will have the most control. See the photo to get an idea of your target flick area.
05 of 10
05
06 of 10
Get Out of the Way
After flicking the board with your front foot, get your feet out of the way so that the board can flip in the air. This is important. Don’t let your front foot end up underneath the board. After flicking the skateboard, pull your front foot out and up. Remember that this is all happening in the air – and very quickly.
06 of 10
06
07 of 10
Stay Level During Flip
While the skateboard is flipping underneath you, it can be easy to lose your level. That means keeping your shoulders level with the ground and pointed in the direction you are going. Try not to turn to the side and try not to tilt your upper body so that one shoulder is higher than the other. Staying level will help you when you land.
07 of 10
07
08 of 10
Catch the Skateboard
Once the skateboard has spun around completely one time, put your back foot on it to catch it. Catch the skateboard with your back foot and then put your front foot on.
08 of 10
08
09 of 10
Land and Roll Away
As you fall back toward the ground and land, bend your knees deeply again. Doing this helps absorb the shock of landing and keeps you in control of your board. Then just roll away.
09 of 10
09
10 of 10
Troubleshooting
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Watch Now: How To Execute The 180 Kickflip
