How to Kickflip on a Skateboard

Co-authored by Jon Depoian

Last Updated: March 25, 2023 References Approved

A kickflip is a cool, clean-looking skateboarding trick which is basically a variation on the ollie. In a kickflip, you jump vertically, then use your front foot to flick or "kick" the board so that it spins in the air before you land. Kickflips can be a little hard at first, but once you get the hang of them they'll become one of your go-to tricks!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Learning to Kickflip

1
Get the right foot position. The first thing you need to look at is your foot placement:^{[1]
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- Your front foot should be placed just behind the bolts on your board, pointing slightly towards the front at a 45 degree angle. If you're just starting it may also help to put it a little bit lower to make the board flip faster.
- The ball of your back foot should be perched on the tail of your board.
- Don't hunch forwards, keep your shoulders in line with your board.
2
Ollie. Hopefully you already know how to ollie, but just to recap:^{[2]
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- Bend your front knee and put all of your weight on the ball of your back foot.
- This causes the front of the board to lift, while the back pops off the ground and then bounces up.
- Try to ollie as high as you can, as this will give you more time to complete the kickflip.
- Ollie involves quite simple steps.^{[3]
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- But you need a lot of practice to become good at it.^{[4]
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- To learn Ollie, you have to practice timing, watch slow-motion videos, and look at the details.
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3
Use your front foot to flick the board. While you're in the air, slide your front foot towards the front heel-side edge of the board. Kick your leg out, flicking the edge of your deck with your baby toe. This is what gives it its spin. When kicking make sure to flick up and off the nose so rather than down so you can get your front foot back on.^{[5]
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- This move is a little tricky, so make sure you understand it fully before you try it. Make sure you are kicking your leg outwards and upwards, not downwards. Otherwise your foot will end up beneath the board and you won't be able to land properly.
- Don't kick too hard either, otherwise you'll send your board spinning away from you. Also be sure to jump high enough so that your back foot comes off the board (though not as high as the front foot).^{[6]
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4
Catch the skateboard with your back foot, then your front. Once the skateboard has completed a full rotation in the air, catch it with your back foot and slam it towards the ground. Once your back foot hits the board, your front foot should follow suit.^{[7]
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- In order to figure out when your skateboard has a full rotation, you will need to keep your eyes on it as you jump, which can be tricky. Do your best to get the timing right, and land with your feet over the bolts on the front and back of your deck.
- Another important point to remember is to try to keep your shoulders level (as opposed to having one higher than the other) and facing in the direction you're going. This will help you to keep your balance as you land your flip.
5
Bend your knees as you land. As your board hits the ground, bend your knees in order to absorb the shock.^{[8]
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- This will also help you to maintain control of the skateboard.
- If you're practicing your kickflip while rolling, just continue on, trying your best to look cool.
6
Practice, practice practice. Kickflips are the most difficult of the basic tricks, so it can take a while to get them down perfectly. Don't let yourself get frustrated - just keep practicing until you get it right.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Kickflip Variations

1
Do a double kickflip. A double kickflip is when the board flips over twice in the air before you land. It involves the same technique as a regular ollie, you just need to flick the board a little harder and faster. You can also try for a triple kickflip, where the board flips over three times before landing.
2
Do a varial kickflip. A varial kickflip is a combination of a kickflip and a shove-it, where the board spins around 180 degrees as it flips. You can achieve the shove-it rotation by popping the board on the toe side of the tail, then flicking the nose with your front foot to achieve the flip.
3
Do a kickflip body varial. A kickflip body varial involves the skater switching their position mid-air, instead of the board. With this particular trick, the skater flips their body 180 degrees frontside, then lands in a switch stance.
4
Do a kickflip indy. With a kickflip indy, you do a kickflip, flicking the board a little further out than you normally would, and grab the board in your hand before you land. You need to be rolling pretty fast and jumping high for this one.
5
Do a kickflip underflip. The kickflip underflip is a very advanced trick that takes lots of practice to master. After the board has completed one rotation during a kickflip, you use the top of your toe to flick the board so it spins in the opposite direction.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Preparation

1
Be prepared. Before you attempt to kickflip, you should probably be pretty comfortable on a skateboard.
- You should be familiar with all the parts on a skateboard, have decent balance and know how to ollie.
- You can practice your kickflip while rolling or stationary - it really depends on personal preference.
- Extremely important to have learnt before you even attempt to practice Kickflips: Ollie, Frontside 180, Backside 180, Pop-shuvit, and Frontside Pop-shuvit. Successfully learning these tricks will have increased your board control significantly for much faster progression when learning the Kickflip.
- Some people find it easier to learn while rolling, while others prefer to get their technique down in a stationary position first.

Community Q&A

Question

I get the rotation but how do you jump?

Community Answer

Use normal foot positions, then push the back foot down, slide the front foot up and jump all in one. It will likely take a little practice to get used to the flow-through motions.
Question

How do I flick it under me not in front of me?

Community Answer

Try jumping higher and focus on the flick. You need to flick up and out. Don't flick too hard because it will over flip.
Question

What do I do if I can jump, but when my board lands, it runs away and I land on my butt?

Community Answer

Lean forward more after you catch the board with your front foot which should be the second foot to land on the board.

Warnings

If you flick the board incorrectly, it could spin vertically instead of horizontally and end up hitting you in the groin. This is known as "credit carding" and is pretty unpleasant, so make sure to get your technique right.

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