How To Kickflip

To learn how to kickflip on a skateboard can be one of the most frustrating experiences known to man. Even skateboarding great Tony Hawk himself has said that even he still has problems with it. A kick flip is a skateboarding trick where a skater ollies and then flips the board around in a drill-like motion and then landing back on the board and rolling away. One spin qualifies for a kickflip, but there are those that can do double and triple kickflips (2 or 3 spins, etc) as well. You will first need to know how to Ollie before you can kickflip, so we will assume you already know how to Ollie and move on.

Some say it is best to try to first learn the kickflip on carpet or grass to help keep your board stationary, but others think it is simpler to just learn it while you are moving since you will have to eventually learn to do it that way anyway, but whatever is easier for you.

Foot placement for the kickflip should be as follows: back foot on the tail just as you would for a normal Ollie. Your front foot should be anywhere between the two trucks, so you can adjust to find what works best for you, but many agree the easiest spot for your front foot is just behind the front truck, with your heel slightly off the board and your toe pointing at the back heelside bolt of the front truck.

With your feet properly placed, Ollie as high as you can. Slide your front foot up just as you would for any other Ollie, but on kickflips, slide your toe up and off the heelside front corner of the nose of the board, with a little “flick” of the toe. It is this flick which sends the board into its spin. The motion of your toe on this flick should be slightly down and out, but be careful not to kick it too hard. It’s all in the toes and ankles, no legs.

With the flick flicked and the board spinning, get your feet out of the way to allow your board to spin. It is very easy to let your body turn sideways as you make the flick, but this will make you land with one foot on the board and one foot on the ground. Make sure you keep your body aligned with the board. Once your board has made one complete spin and you can see the griptape facing up again, “catch it with your feet and stomp the board down, all four wheels at the same time, bending both knees to absorb impact and maintain control, and roll away.

By: Allan Clearpool

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Allan Clearpool is a skateboarding expert and tutor. For more great tips on how to kickflip, visit TipsForSkateboarding.com