How to Kickflip the Easy Way

For those who are unaware, a kickflip, originally known as the magic flip, is one of the most difficult, yet basic skateboarding tricks. Here, the skater has to combine the ollie with his/her skateboard while performing a barrel roll and the board rotates length-wise on an axis (mid-air). A clean kickflip requires the skater to kick the board at the top and side of his/her front foot. The board then flips and rotates (spins) once and the skater lands on the board, with the wheels on the floor. For amateur skateboarders, the first thing you should learn is the ollie. Once you get that down, you'll have no problem learning the trick.

As for the more aggressive learners (and other skateboarding enthusiasts), understanding, what it takes to perform a kickflip is the first step. In order to pick up perfect rhythm for the trick, here are some helpful kickflip tips you should be aware of. For a skater, properly dragged ollie is what makes the kickflip nice and quick to learn. Perhaps you already know how to do an ollie, so let's see how a kickflip is done, along with some variations as well.

Basic Kickflip

To do a basic kickflip, the most essential skill to get control over is turning the board as you do an ollie. If you can't understand the technique behind this, it would be difficult to go further with this trick. Try the following steps according to your comfort level and pace, and see if you can pull it off.

• Position your feet, as if you're about do an ollie. Set the ball of your front foot in middle of the skateboard, just below the front bolts.
• With a flicking movement, hit the tail similar to an ollie. To do the movement, don't drag the front foot upward on the board, just drag it close to the side of the board.
• In order to learn the technique, you'll have to flick the board really fast. If you're fast to do the flick, your board will also rotate (flip) fast as well. The movement should come from how fast you can jerk your ankle.
• Keep your body right over the board, as you jump and while the board spins. Don't push the board down when you're up.
• It should hit your back foot one time while it flips completely. When it does so, it's called "catching the flip".
• Make sure that your front foot isn't far away as it needs to come back on the board. Although your back foot will land on the board first.
• While placing the back foot first on the board, you can gain control of the trick while coming down.
• Land the board with both feet placed as close to the bolts as possible. Voila, you have successfully finished a basic kickflip.

More Kickflip Variations

For any skater, who wishes to learn different types of skateboard tricks, it is essential to gain control over your entire body, along with the board; it is a crucial step. This makes a huge difference between 'almost getting the trick' and 'actually pulling it off'. Once you master the basic kickflip, you can learn the variations of the first trick. Besides the skateboard tricks mentioned above, there are many variations on the kickflip. Of course, here as well you'll need to master the ollie in order to know the kickflip.

360/540/720 Kickflip Backfoot Lateflip Big/Bigger Flip Double/Triple/Quadruple Kickflip Fakie Kickflip Frontfoot Lateflip Frontside/Backside Kickflip 180 Frontside/Backside Kickflip 360 Hard Double Flip

Hardflip Hospital Flip Kickflip Indy Kickflip Melon Kickflip Underflip Late/Late Back-foot Kickflip Mother Flip Nightmare Flip Nollie Kickflip

So these were the instructions and tips for getting the trick right. A word of advice; skateboarding is a dangerous physical activity which should not be taken lightly. If taken frivolously, you could be seriously hurt or injured. Always seek training from a professional coach, while learning the sport. Always wear proper protective gear (pads, shoes, and helmet) and use maintained equipment before attempting any tricks.