How to Land a Kickflip Every Time

The kickflip is one of the most popular and widely recognized tricks in skateboarding. Even if you consider yourself a beginner or an amateur, you can master this trick in little time by using the right technique and practicing until you no longer need to think consciously about each movement. Just spend a little time each day practicing the basic movements, and before long you will impress your friends with your effortless kickflip.

Things You'll Need

  • Skateboard
  • Helmet
  • Knee pads
  • Elbow pads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Practice the ollie until you have it down to a science. In order to master the kickflip, you will first need the ability to jump flawlessly with your board, as kickflips require a lot of air. To perform the perfect ollie, simply bend your knees, pop the board by kicking down with your back foot, slide your leading foot upward to bring the rest of the board into the air and land with both feet on the board. Make sure to keep your feet above the board at all times.

    • 2

      Place the tip of your back foot near the bottom of the board and place your leading foot flat on the center of the board with the tip of your foot hanging off the side.

    • 3

      Jump up as you would when performing an ollie. Pop the board up with your back foot and slide your leading foot upward along the board diagonally. Keep both feet above the board.

    • 4

      Flick your leading foot off the side of the board, toward your back side. Whereas an ollie requires you to keep your leading foot toward the center of the board, a kickflip requires you to keep sliding your foot until it crosses diagonally along the board and completely off the upper edge. When your foot successfully slides off the board, the board will begin to flip.

    • 5

      Raise both of your feet so that the board has ample room to perform the full motion. Keep your feet above the board.

    • 6

      Watch the board spin and drop your feet back onto the surface when it returns to its face-up position. Maintain your balance as the board returns to the ground.

    • 7

      Practice. In order to develop the ability to land your kickflip every time, you will need to keep doing it until it becomes second nature. After a while, the physics of the trick will become natural and you will find yourself performing all of the right motions precisely without thinking about them.