How To Heelflip

The simplest way to describe a heelflip would be simply to say that a heelflip is a skatboard trick, just like a kickflip except that the board spins the other way. Both kickflips and heelflips are when a skater ollies and then spins the board in the air in a drill-like motion, and then lands it. A kickflip is when the board is spun behind you by flicking the board with your toe. In a heelflip the board is pushed forward with the heel.

So yes, the heelflip is like the kickflip’s evil twin. Basically the same trick, but just a little different, and a little harder. Since the heelflip is considered by most to be more difficult than kickflips, I do not recommend bothering yourself with heelflips until you have mastered your kickflips. But if you already have…

Your foot placement for a heelflip is as follows: Your back foot should be on the tail about the same as it would be for an ollie, and the front foot also about the similar to ollie position, except with your toes hanging off of the board a little. This puts your foot in a better position for the flipping motion.

With your feet properly positioned, ollie into the air. Once in the air, kick the board forward with your front heel. This should send the board into its spinning motion. Immediately lift both legs up and out of the way to allow the board to spin.

Watch your board beneath you and as soon as you see grip tape again (the board has made one complete turn), “catch” the board with your feet and stomp the board down, both feet on both trucks and ride away. Don’t forget to bend your knees to absorb the shock.

Another strange thing I’ve encountered is that it seems like when doing heelflips the board always ends up behind you when you land. If you also find this to be the case, make it a point to sort of “jump backward” when in the air so that you wind up on the board behind you when it’s all done.

By: Allan Clearpool

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Allan Clearpool is a skateboard blogger and lifelong skateboarder. For more on how to heelflip, visit TipsForSkateboarding.com