How to Kickflip Trick Tip

Kickflip's are the basis of flip tricks. Once you master these devils you can start 180-360 flips, backside kickflips, frontside kickflips and more.


1.) Set you front foot on the middle of the board with just your toes touching the board and the rest of your foot haning out. Place your back foot the same as for an Ollie, center back of the tail with a bit of your heel hanging out.

2.) Now this is the tricky part. Snap down the tail as for an Ollie but instead of just sliding your front foot up, kick it down and push your foot outwards (opposite direction of your board). You don't have to do a ninja kick, just flip it with your toes.

Do this before you peak your Ollie as your board needs time to rotate in the air.

3.) Keep your front foot out until the board is almost done spinning then bring it back over the board to catch it.

4.) Keep watching the video and you'll get the hang of it. It took me very long before I got my first kickflip, now it's just second nature.

Tip: Make sure to kick your front foot out to the side to let your board spin, then bring it back over the board.

The Kickflip

Time to try the impossible.

Seeing how many kickflip threads are going around, I'll try to solve as many problems here as I can. First off, the kickflip is a variation of the ollie in which the board "flips" towards it's backside (longways). The kickflip is arguably the most basic flip trick, excluding the ollie.

I know edward has a thread but his focus is on learning the execution and only touches on the problems. My thread is the other way around. I'll quickly touch on the execution but i will be more in depth on the troubleshoots. This is a grouping of all the common and uncommon problems and their answers. Other threads have vague solutions, which lead to threads asking for more info on their specific problem.

Before attempting the kickflip, be sure to have your ollies down somewhat consistently, in motion of course. I shall quickly review how to do a kickflip.

Execution:

1. Get to a comfortable speed.
2. Bend your knees at about the same height as your ollie.
3. As your body rises, shift your weight to your back foot and pop down. (You'll want to put the weight on the top part of you shoes, from the ball of your big toe to the tip. While you want to put your weight on your toes, keep your entire foot flat on the tail until the very moment you pop.)
4. Let the board pop, then slide your foot up the board at a slight angle (You'll want to aim for the 'pocket' of the nose, right where it starts to bend upward). When your toes reach the nose, roll your ankle outwards with a sharp "flick". (You only need a soft flick for one flip but make sure you use enough pressure to level the board out.)
5. Move both feet out of the way and keep an eye on the board. When it comes around, move both feet towards the bolts, catch, and land. (Make sure you bend your knees upon landing to absorb the shock and to prevent the board from shooting out under you.)

Note: I have always said that the "pop" is just a one-footed jump into the air. Your back foot is resting on the tail. When you bend down, the tail goes down as well. When the tail reaches the ground you are simply shifting your weight and jumping with your back leg. At this point, Newton's Laws kick into effect and the board shoots into the air. Keep this in mind whenever i say the word "pop".

About flicks, i talk about two kinds:

Natural: This comes from your foot positioning. If your foot was a robot that always flicks the same way, two different flips would come from two different positions.

Mechanical: This simply comes from how hard you flick. Not as important until you get to double/triple flips. If you can find the position that gives you the best natural flick then you won't need to roll your foot as hard.

Now, the real reason I'm writing all of this, and the reason you're reading.

Common Problems:
My board keeps shooting out in the air. Problem Areas: Step 3
The problem is that you're leaning slightly (or more so) towards your back leg before your pop. Try to keep your weight balanced directly over the board as you bend your knees. Only as you're going back up do you shift your weight to you back legs. Do NOT lean back to shift your weight, just push down with your back leg. If you can, try to pop down while leaning forward to get used to not leaning back.

The board always lands behind me. Problem Areas: Step 1,3
Two reasons here. Either you're going too fast or you're popping wrong once more. Try to pop straight down and not pop backwards in any way. You may also be trying to flick before the board can fully pop. All i can say is to watch some videos and try to learn the timing.

I can only get half a spin Problem Areas: Step 4
Try hanging your heel off of the edge more and angle your toes towards the nose a bit more too. Also remember that it is a variation of your ollie, therefore, you have to drag your foot to bring your board up higher as well as turning it. Slide your foot to increase height and to level out the board before flicking. If the board has more time before hitting the ground again, the board has more time to spin. Simple, ey?

My nuts hurt Problem Areas: Step 4
You're not dragging your foot. Basically, your trying to flick without dragging and your missing the board. Simply remember to ollie with a flick at the end of it. Also make sure you put a slight downwards pressure to level out the board, the last thing you want is to get nutted (or clitted, which is ten times worse girls).

I keep doing a varial Problem Areas: Step 3
You are pushing down and back with you back foot. Keep your foot flat, right in the middle of the tail. Pop STRAIGHT DOWN and continue with the trick. Do not set your foot on the front edge of the tail or the board will be pressured into a spin.

I keep doing a sexchange/my feet land one on each side of the board Problem Areas: General
Keep your shoulders parallel to the board throughout the trick. You are not trying to turn your body, that's for a later trick.

I always land one-footed Problem Areas: Mental Problem and Step 4
You simply aren't committing. Force yourself to land on the board and don't be afraid to fall. Visualize yourself landing it and do it. If you want, wear some pads to help you lose your fear of falling and take them off when you can do them better.

Something else you can do is to try to flick harder to flip the board faster. Faster flip=more time to land. Remember to time it correctly.

The nose always slams on the ground or out into the air Problems Areas: Step 4
You are simply flicking the middle of the nose instead of it's "pocket". Put your front foot into more of an angle and flick forward and outward. It's a diagonal flick. It should look exactly like this - \ - if you're regular and this - / - if you're goofy.

My kickflips look ugly Problem Areas: Step 4
You are trying to kick your foot back to do the kickflips. You have to drag your foot towards the nose and flick out. Otherwise your board won't level out probably. Try to break this ugly habit and force yourself to flick at the pocket of the nose.

My kickflips kind of "roll" on the ground. Problem Areas: Step 3,4
You simply aren't popping. Really try to pop down as your rising back up. Let the board pop first! Then drag your foot UP to get the board higher. Most people just do a halfass pop and some don't wait for the pop at all, trying to get the board up with just their front foot. DON'T do this. You have to use both of your legs correctly, just practice as skateboarding is a hard sport. Read my note on popping and try to think in that form/apply that.

When I try to kickflip up/down something, my board goes in front of/behind me Problem Areas: Step 3, General
Try to keep your body equally balanced. You are either leaning too far forward and leaving your board behind when you pop, or leaning too far back and throwing your board in front of you with your back leg. Stand off of your board and do a squat, if your leaning too much on one leg then focus on fixing that.

When i try to kickflip down something big, i can't get the board to do just one flip. Problem Areas: Step 4
Just a simple correction is needed. Try to put more of your front foot on the board or move it closer to the nose. If you flick the same, you should have a slower kickflip. This is fine to learn for know. If it's a really big drop, simply pop harder and jump lower to get the board closer to you. When the flip finishes, it should be easier to catch the board. If you can't catch the board you won't be able to do tricks off of the higher stairs so practice that a bit.

How can i get them higher? Problem Areas: Step 3,4
Simple here. Pop harder and adjust your foot to get a slower flip. Either move it closer to the nose or the toe-side edge. Focus on getting a higher, slower flip and eventually they'll get faster at the same height.

I do a no-comply when I kickflip. Problem Areas: Step 3
You are putting to much weight on your front foot when your popping. It'll feel like dead weight and just drop to the ground when you pop. Remember to shift your weight to your back leg just before the pop and continue withe the trick.

I do toe-touchs when I do them. Problem Areas: Step 4
Your karate-kicking with your front foot. Try to find your best natural flick so you don't have to kick so hard. After you flick, force your knee to your chest and your foot below you to be in the best position to catch the board again. You might also be dragging too much so watch out for that.

My front foot lands under the board. Problem Areas: Step 3
You're flicking down and not out. You need to drag your foot and flick outwards. If your worried about not leveling back out, use the pressure from your foot to fix that but don't try to level it out using the flick. Aim for the pocket of the nose, right where it starts to curve back up.