The Kickflip: Every Skater's Milestone
There's a reason every skateboarder remembers the day they first landed a kickflip. It's the trick that separates the basics from the intermediate level, and it's the foundation for dozens of more advanced maneuvers. If you can ollie consistently, you're ready to start working on your kickflip.
Prerequisites
Before attempting a kickflip, make sure you can:
- Ollie consistently — both stationary and rolling
- Ride comfortably and feel balanced on your board
- Commit to landing on the board (this is often the hardest part)
Foot Placement
Foot placement is everything for a clean kickflip.
- Back foot: Position it the same way you would for an ollie — on the tail, with the ball of your foot near the center-to-heel-side edge of the tail.
- Front foot: Place it just below the front bolts, angled slightly (about 30–45 degrees) toward the nose. The key is that the edge of your front foot — near your pinky toe — will be the part that flicks the board.
Don't put your front foot too far back or too close to the center of the board. The tip of your front foot needs room to flick off the nose-side pocket.
The Motion: Breaking It Down
Step 1 — Pop the Tail
Just like an ollie, snap the tail down with your back foot. This creates the upward momentum. The pop needs to be sharp and decisive — a weak pop means a weak kickflip.
Step 2 — The Flick
As the board rises, slide your front foot up toward the nose and flick your ankle outward (toward the toe-side). The flick should be a quick, snapping motion off the front pocket of the board. Think of it as a combination of the ollie slide motion and a sharp outward kick at the end.
Step 3 — Suck Up Your Knees
After the flick, bring both knees up toward your chest. This gives the board space to rotate completely beneath you. A common mistake is leaving your feet too low, which catches the board before it finishes flipping.
Step 4 — Catch and Land
Watch the board flip. When you see the grip tape come back around, stomp both feet down onto the bolts simultaneously. Land with your knees bent to absorb the impact.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Board flips but rockets forward | Leaning back on pop | Keep shoulders over the board |
| Board only half-flips | Flick too weak or front foot too centered | Sharpen the ankle flick, adjust foot placement |
| Board flips but you're not landing on it | Not committing / bailing early | Force yourself to land — even imperfectly |
| Flipping too much (over-rotation) | Too much flick force | Soften the flick slightly and catch earlier |
Practice Drills
- Stationary flick drill: Stand next to a wall for balance and practice just the flick motion without fully committing to the jump. Get comfortable with how the board responds.
- Slow roll kickflips: Once you can flick the board, practice while barely rolling. Speed helps stability once you have the fundamentals down.
- Land bolts consistently: Don't accept sketchy lands where you're only landing on the tail. Hold yourself to landing on the bolts every time.
Stay Patient
The kickflip is one of those tricks that can take days, weeks, or even months to click. Everyone's learning curve is different. Skate sessions, muscle memory, and genuine commitment to landing — not just flipping — are what get you there. Once it clicks, you'll wonder why it ever felt so hard.