I still remember the first time my son successfully landed his first kickflip; he was so happy after all the hours of practice he went through.
Skateboarding is a demanding physical activity, especially when trying to do tricks. Out of all the tricks, a kickflip is usually one of the first ones that many skaters learn. But once you get the hang of it, you will be able to perform much more complex tricks.
Learning how to do a kickflip takes long hours of practice; even with guidance, it can be tricky to perform. I helped my son understand where he was placing his feet wrong or moving incorrectly. With a few pointers, he was eventually able to land the kickflip.
Hey there! Stacy Smith here, back to help any budding skaters or parents. In this guide, I will tell you how to do a kickflip on a skateboard for beginners.
Of course, reading about how to do a kickflip can only get you so far. So, strap on your pads and helmet, get on your board, and get out there!
How To Do A Kickflip
To make the movements involved in a kickflip easier to understand, let’s break them down into simple steps. These steps need to be practiced individually then put together to create the full motion of a kickflip.
1. Foot Positioning
Before anything else, make sure you have a proper stance; keep your forefoot just behind the truck holes of the board. Point your toes at a 45-degree angle to have the best stability and balance.
As for your back foot, keep the heel positioned at the tail end of the board. Posture is everything to reduce the chances of falling, so make sure your shoulders are lined up with the edges of the board.
2. Ollie
To begin the movement of a kickflip, the first step is doing an ollie. This is the most basic of skateboard maneuvers and is a fairly simple technique to master.
An ollie is a simultaneous movement of the front and back foot. Keep your front foot bent while the rear foot puts pressure on the tail of the board. As the front end of the board lifts up, slide your foot along it towards the front to pop the back end up.
If done correctly, the board should lift up with you as you jump. The higher the ollie, the more time you will have to do tricks, so elevation is the key.
3. Flicking The Board
Now that you can get some air time, the actual kickflip movements can be done. To get the kickflip down, your front foot should kick outwards on the heel-side board. This kick is what causes the board to “flip,” hence the name kickflip.
This is the most complex movement out of all the steps involved and requires the most practice. Make sure you are using your pinky toe to flick the board in an upward direction, not down. Flicking the board downwards can make you miss the board when landing.
Additionally, make sure that you aren’t kicking too hard. You want to keep the board under control, ensuring that it doesn’t fly away from your feet.
Another point you should keep in mind is how high you are jumping. Remember that the back foot should come off the board but not be lifted as high as the front foot.
4. Descent
Up until this step, all the movements are done in mid-air. Once you get these movements down, you are pretty much done; all that is left is how to land and complete the trick.
Keep an eye on your board while in mid-air; once it completes one rotation, your back foot should be the first to touch the board. This will stop the rotation, bring it under your control again, and can then allow your front foot to land.
If you are struggling with all these steps and losing balance, watch your stance and positioning. Your shoulders need to be level and face the direction you’re going. This eliminates any extra thought process and helps you better control the board while in the air.
5. Landing
With the board now under your control again, the finishing touch is a smooth landing. Landing is one of the most important steps as it can cause injury or ruin an attempt if done incorrectly.
For the most ideal landing possible, keep your knees bent as the board touches the ground. Not only will this help with impact, but it also helps you regain your sense of balance on the board.
This is because a low center of gravity will allow you to stay on the board as you land.
6. Practicing
Taking all these small movements together can help you perform a kickflip successfully. Probably the hardest thing in the entire process is getting back on after a fall. Don’t be discouraged; with every attempt you are one step closer to being able to perform the trick.
One helpful tip that I learned from my son is recording your attempts while practicing. This is especially useful if you don’t have someone to guide you or provide feedback. Recording in slow motion can help you understand where you aren’t moving correctly or where you need more practice.
Remember, you are just starting out; there is no shame in failed attempts but turn them into learning opportunities. Staying optimistic will go a long way, especially when learning a tricky skill like skateboarding.
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Wrapping Up
Now that you know what movements are involved in a kickflip, all that’s left is for you to practice.
As a parent, I request kids to keep their pads and helmet on while practicing and riding the board. Stay young and even if you fall, get back on and try again
With a bit of patience and valuable feedback, I know you can learn the kickflip in no time. Until next time y’all!