Mrock
03-02-2006, 12:21 PM
Alright, I'm bored, and I have about 30 minutes before I go to work today, so I figured (based on someone elses suggestion) that I'd make one with all of the tips I could possibly think of on heelflips, hoping that people will read it, and at least give these things a shot. This will be long, but the goal is to make it beneficial to everyone's skating..so read.
Before I even go to the "how to" part, the heelflip is a trick where you ollie, flick your foot off the corner of the board (outwards, as opposed to a kickflip where you use your toe to kick the inner edge of the board), allow it to flip, then catch it and land.
Beginning to heelflip:
When you're first learning to heelflip, try to check out other people's heelflips (if possible, in slow-mo on vids and such). This helped me because I could see exactly what my goal was, and practice on duplicating it. If you have access to a video cam, try taping yourself, this helps a LOT. I used to tape for hours on end just so I could watch it later and see my mistakes (and progress)..then I'd hit it again and try to fix those problems.
When I was skating daily, my heelflips were definently my favorite trick, but learning to heelflip helps with a lot more. When you go to backside/frontside heelflips, you'll be essentially emphasizing the skills/movements you used in regular heelflips..so learn these RIGHT. You have to have a solid foundation before you can build a house..
Getting on the board:
I skate goofy, and here is exactly how I do it. Just because I positioned my feet this way, or a pro does it one way, doesn't mean you have to also. Try new things, and see what works best for you. I would place my back foot with my toe on the tail, just like I was preparing to ollie, nothing different there. I'd then place my front foot covering 2 out of 4 of the front bolts, with my toe angled towards the nose just a hair..hardly noticeable. It basically looked like an ollie position to most people. I don't like how heelflips look when people have their front foot in the middle of the board (or even more towards the tail). Looks sloppy to me, and it causes you to lose stability. The whole reason I heelflipped like that is that since your feet are spread you can have an easier time doing it on banks, across things, off things, etc, without killing yourself.
Actually flippin' it:
This is the most vital part to the heelflip in my opinion. It took me forever to learn this and correct my own problems, but as I've said a million and one times on these forums..keep your back straight. This is a result of videotaping myself (and others). I'd constantly see the same habit, with the same result..landing past the board, out in front, etc. When you bend down, keep your weight as centered as possible on the board- don't lean on one foot too much, and bend with your LEGS. You can look at your feet, but absolutely don't bend your back to try to look at the board more. All it takes is a little bend in the knees, and looking down with your neck/head. After you bend down, pop up as if you were going to ollie. When I did heelflips, I would kick my foot at like a 45'ish degree angle towards the nose. Basically, how I mentioned my toe was just slightly angled..I'd kick it there. Pop, kick your foot out off the front corner. You may have to adjust this, because based on your foot position, it's different for everyone. Some people may have to kick directly in front of them (which still has the same effect), or way off to the side, it just depends.
In the air:
After you've kicked, as I always say: "Suck your legs up". This is why a lot of people land heelflips 1/2 through the rotation..they stomp their feet on the board and stop it from spinning. This is also key to getting high heelflips. I don't know if I have any vids on my computer back home, but I had many videotaped heels getting about waist high, and it wasn't cause I was good at heelflips particularly..I'd just jump like a mofo, and suck my legs up- because you have to give the board room to spin.
Catching the board:
This is all luck in the beginning, lets face it. You just stomp your feet down and hope it lands right. After a lot of practice, and getting them higher, you'll begin actually seeing the griptape come around, and be able to catch it..it's pretty sweet. When learning, try to see that moment and catch it, but just focus on landing on the wheels for now..catching it and making it stylish can come later.
Stomping it:
I used to make it a point to bend my knees on landing when heelflippin', because 1) I think it looks better, and 2) It stops you from possibly locking up the board and going flying. I've done this, and it's absolutely no fun. Bending your knees on landing also helps you keep your speed up.
Making it stylish:
My own personal opinion of the best heelflip is one that's flipped high, caught high, landed with slightly bent knees, almost no speed change, etc. This is just practice people..
I'll try to come back and write more later..(maybe on heelflipping into slides/grinds too) I gotta get to work. Gotta put my time in for uncle sam!
That's all folks.
Before I even go to the "how to" part, the heelflip is a trick where you ollie, flick your foot off the corner of the board (outwards, as opposed to a kickflip where you use your toe to kick the inner edge of the board), allow it to flip, then catch it and land.
Beginning to heelflip:
When you're first learning to heelflip, try to check out other people's heelflips (if possible, in slow-mo on vids and such). This helped me because I could see exactly what my goal was, and practice on duplicating it. If you have access to a video cam, try taping yourself, this helps a LOT. I used to tape for hours on end just so I could watch it later and see my mistakes (and progress)..then I'd hit it again and try to fix those problems.
When I was skating daily, my heelflips were definently my favorite trick, but learning to heelflip helps with a lot more. When you go to backside/frontside heelflips, you'll be essentially emphasizing the skills/movements you used in regular heelflips..so learn these RIGHT. You have to have a solid foundation before you can build a house..
Getting on the board:
I skate goofy, and here is exactly how I do it. Just because I positioned my feet this way, or a pro does it one way, doesn't mean you have to also. Try new things, and see what works best for you. I would place my back foot with my toe on the tail, just like I was preparing to ollie, nothing different there. I'd then place my front foot covering 2 out of 4 of the front bolts, with my toe angled towards the nose just a hair..hardly noticeable. It basically looked like an ollie position to most people. I don't like how heelflips look when people have their front foot in the middle of the board (or even more towards the tail). Looks sloppy to me, and it causes you to lose stability. The whole reason I heelflipped like that is that since your feet are spread you can have an easier time doing it on banks, across things, off things, etc, without killing yourself.
Actually flippin' it:
This is the most vital part to the heelflip in my opinion. It took me forever to learn this and correct my own problems, but as I've said a million and one times on these forums..keep your back straight. This is a result of videotaping myself (and others). I'd constantly see the same habit, with the same result..landing past the board, out in front, etc. When you bend down, keep your weight as centered as possible on the board- don't lean on one foot too much, and bend with your LEGS. You can look at your feet, but absolutely don't bend your back to try to look at the board more. All it takes is a little bend in the knees, and looking down with your neck/head. After you bend down, pop up as if you were going to ollie. When I did heelflips, I would kick my foot at like a 45'ish degree angle towards the nose. Basically, how I mentioned my toe was just slightly angled..I'd kick it there. Pop, kick your foot out off the front corner. You may have to adjust this, because based on your foot position, it's different for everyone. Some people may have to kick directly in front of them (which still has the same effect), or way off to the side, it just depends.
In the air:
After you've kicked, as I always say: "Suck your legs up". This is why a lot of people land heelflips 1/2 through the rotation..they stomp their feet on the board and stop it from spinning. This is also key to getting high heelflips. I don't know if I have any vids on my computer back home, but I had many videotaped heels getting about waist high, and it wasn't cause I was good at heelflips particularly..I'd just jump like a mofo, and suck my legs up- because you have to give the board room to spin.
Catching the board:
This is all luck in the beginning, lets face it. You just stomp your feet down and hope it lands right. After a lot of practice, and getting them higher, you'll begin actually seeing the griptape come around, and be able to catch it..it's pretty sweet. When learning, try to see that moment and catch it, but just focus on landing on the wheels for now..catching it and making it stylish can come later.
Stomping it:
I used to make it a point to bend my knees on landing when heelflippin', because 1) I think it looks better, and 2) It stops you from possibly locking up the board and going flying. I've done this, and it's absolutely no fun. Bending your knees on landing also helps you keep your speed up.
Making it stylish:
My own personal opinion of the best heelflip is one that's flipped high, caught high, landed with slightly bent knees, almost no speed change, etc. This is just practice people..
I'll try to come back and write more later..(maybe on heelflipping into slides/grinds too) I gotta get to work. Gotta put my time in for uncle sam!
That's all folks.