How to Do a Tre-Flip

The tre flip, often referred to as a 360 flip, is an advanced skateboarding trick. The board performs two rotational movements at once. It flips on its central axis, like a bullet or a thrown football. At the same time, it spins in a circle, parallel to the ground. It completes a full 360-degree rotation along both axes simultaneously before the skater catches it and pushes it to the ground. Originally a freestyle trick, it was invented by Rodney Mullen.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot about two inches behind the front truck bolts, just as you would to perform an Ollie -- a straight jump. For a tre flip, edge your front foot back a couple more inches. You'll need to swipe the nose of the board at a sharper angle than usual, as it will be rotating when you do it. Your back foot should be at the tip of the tail, but your toes should be moved slightly farther off the tail. This will help you "scoop" the tail as you pop your Ollie.

    • 2

      Bend your knees and make your jump. Scoop the tail of the board, imagine trying to make the tip of the tail hit the rear wheel on your heel side. Scrape the toe of your front foot across the nose of the board as you would for a regular kick-flip.

    • 3

      Tuck your back foot underneath you as if you were crouching, and kick your front foot out in the direction you're traveling. Watch the board spin underneath you, and extend your legs into it as soon as you see the grip tape. Position your feet over the truck bolts as you guide the board down to the ground, landing with all four wheels at once and your weight centered over the board.

    • 4

      Analyze your flip. Chances are, it didn't go exactly as described in Step 3. Look specifically at what did and didn't go right, and alter your technique to correct it. There's a lot going on in the tre flip and it's easy to neglect a step. If your board isn't flipping enough, remember to make more of a pronounced flick with your toe, instead of just dragging it off. If it's spinning out or not making it all the way around, then you need to work on your scoop. Applying the right amount of pressure through the tail is vital to making the board spin 360 degrees. This can only be worked out through practice.