Learning to do advanced tricks on a skateboard can be daunting and scary.
This is a struggle I faced with my own son when he was learning how to skateboard. I told him it’s all about brushing himself off and getting back on the board to give it another go. With enough practice, I assured him that he would be able to land the trick he had been practicing.
A heelflip is one trick, in particular, he struggled with. For any skaters looking for a few tips to successfully land a heelflip, you have come to the right place.
Hey everybody! I’m Stacy Smith, here to help you learn how to heelflip. While I may not be the best skater by any means, I have learned a thing or two from my son, who was an avid skater in his teens.
These steps can help you understand where you may need to brush up on when trying to do a heelflip. With that being said, let’s begin!
Steps To Heelflip
Breaking down the movements involved in a heelflip will help you see where mistakes or improvements can be made. Before doing practice runs, make sure that you have protective gear on and are in an open space, so no one gets hurt.
1. Back Foot Movement
Every skateboard trick begins with a proper stance and the heelflip is no exception. Once your feet have a secure stance, you can start practicing how to get the board off the ground to do the heelflip in the air.
In a heelflip, timing is crucial; push the tail of the board down with your back foot. Stay crouched until you hear the board’s tail hit the ground, then spring off the board and jump. This back foot movement should be practiced and combined with the front foot until you have a simultaneous, smooth motion.
2. Front Foot Movement
While the back foot provides the power to flip the board, the front foot is what provides the rotation. As the rear foot pushes down, tilt your front foot forward, so it catches the head of the board.
Keep in mind not to tilt it too far forward, or else you can be thrown off balance. To have a better idea of how stable your contact is, make sure the outer edge of your shoe does not leave the board.
Simply slide it along the length of the board; your right foot moving towards the right corner, or left foot to the left corner if you ride ”goofy foot.”
3. Combining And Kicking
Once you have all these individual movements down, you can practice jumping with the board. Doing these initial movements on the ground can help you control the board better when you’re in the air.
After you jump up, kick outwards with your front foot while angling your toes up. Up until this point, the board should not leave the bottom of your shoes.
4. Flipping The Board
The rotation of the heelflip comes from tapping the edge of the board with your heel. As soon as you are in the air and your feet have left the board, you can begin rotating the board with your heel.
Try to make the heel of your foot tap the front edge of the board on the inside with considerable force. This will give the board a full rotation; excessive or not enough force can cause it to turn only partially or too much.
Kicking and turning the board are done within seconds in the air. This is why having an open area is essential, as you need space to bail if you can’t complete the movement.
5. Landing
Maintain a close watch on the front of the board while you are mid-air to gauge when you need to start lowering your legs. At maximum height, you should keep your knees as high as possible, so it doesn’t accidentally clip the board.
After one full rotation has been completed, you can push both feet downwards onto the board. Use the bolts on top of the board as a guide to know where to place your feet. A stable landing is often the deciding factor between success and failure.
Another good tip is keeping your knees bent as you land to maintain your center of gravity. This helps absorb some of the impact and allows you to regain balance.
6. Practicing
Reading tips and watching tutorials can only get you so far when learning a skateboarding trick. Especially with a complex trick like the heelflip, it is more beneficial if you get out there and practice the individual moves yourself.
If you don’t have as much experience with skateboarding, it can be frustrating if the board flies away from you when you jump. So, I recommend that you practice it while standing still initially for more stability and control of the board.
Doing a heelflip becomes much more complex when riding a moving board; you need to accommodate a shifting center of gravity and plan where you will eventually land. After you can perform a standing heelflip, you can start practicing how to do one while riding the board.
- Boyd, Jack (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 78 Pages - 02/25/2021 (Publication Date) - Spotlight Media (Publisher)
- Badillo, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 10/01/2003 (Publication Date) - Tracks Publishing (Publisher)
Wrapping Up
Heelflips are by no means an easy trick to master on the skateboard; however, it is not impossible.
Every attempt is another learning opportunity that can help you improve. So, make minor adjustments to find where you are possibly doing a movement incorrectly.
With more attempts, you will get the hang of the movements involved. Be patient and master each small technique so when you put them together, they will come naturally to you.
When you feel confident, you can move on and combine the movements. With proper practice, I’m sure you’ll be able to do a heelflip in no time at all.
On that note, get to practicing, and remember to always wear your helmet and pads. Stay safe and until next time!