How to do a Kickflip

From ArticleWorld

When you are serious about skateboarding, learning how to do a kickflip is essential. Originally called ‘magic flips’, these things aren’t easy, but they are well worth the struggle. The basic intent is to kick the board in such a way as to have it spin beneath you while in the air.

Method

Stand on your board as though you were about to do an ollie. Your front foot should be in the centre of the board, and the back foot should be near the tail. This trick is easier to do while moving.

Perform a pop, as you would with an ollie. You will need a strong pop to get the board flying. Instead of lifting your front foot directly off the board, slide it along to the side, towards the nose. You should give the nose a flick, as though you were swatting a fly. This manoeuvre should start to flip the board.

You should be able to stay in the air long enough for the board to come around. Look out for the grip tape; when that has come round again, land the jump.

Put your back foot down to stop the board turning again. Then put your front foot down. Just like with an ollie, there will be a split second where one foot is on the board and the other is not, but it will look instantaneous to everyone else.

Hints

When you flip the board out, don’t push it so far that you cannot get it back under your feet. Also, don’t let your front foot (the kicking foot) end up on the underside of the board.

After you have flipped the board, lift your feet in the air, as you don’t want to impede the spin of the board.

When you push the board, keep your weight above the board, else you’ll find yourself driving the board away from you. Try to stay parallel with the board.

Be careful not to let the board ‘credit card’, or flip horizontally. This is where the back end comes up and hits you in the legs. It can be very painful.

If your board only turns 180 degrees, practice the flip, and make sure that you are flicking the nose out and down. If you are just running out of steam, just flick harder.