The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Skateboard Tricks

This quirky skateboard is an exciting sport that also gives freedom to ride creatively and learn tricks. No matter whether you’re a beginner or a graphics pro craving to get the old skateboard tricks back, it’s essential to learn the basic skills of it. In this guide we’ll run through some basics and tips for moving forward in the skateboarding world. Check out the latest skateboard gear and innovations at https://www.carver-skateboards.eu.

1. The Fundamental Trick – Ollie

The Ollie is the most important trick in skateboarding (and the basis for most other tricks). Learning this trick is the first one you’re going to want to learn because it teaches you how to pop your board off the ground using your feet instead of your hands. Here’s how to perform an Ollie:

• Position: If you’re in the beginner position, put your back foot on the tail of the board with your front foot in the middle.
• The Motion: Press down with the tail of the board using your back foot and quickly drag up with your front foot. The motion will allow your skateboard to pop off into the air and your front foot will straighten it out.
• Landing: Once you are good in the air, aim to land while your knees are bent to absorb the fall.

Ollie is the beginning of almost every single trick you’ll do later, so it really makes good sense to perfect it.

2. The Kickflip – Add Some Style

Spin the board in the air while your feet stay on the board and you will have your upside down board with an immature trick called simply as Kickflip. It takes good timing, control and balance. Here’s how to do it:

• Position: As you start, your front foot should be angled slightly diagonally, in the same stance as the Ollie, while your feet are positioned where you normally would for an Ollie.
• The Motion: Do an Ollie, however as you swing your foot up the board, swing the front foot up out towards the side and close to the corner of the skateboard’s nose.
• Spinning and Landing: The board flings in the air when the flick happens. When it flips, keep your eyes on the board and land on your knees to soften the fall.

It takes some time to master kickflips but once you get it they are going to be a signature move in your skateboarding repertoire.

3. Flip it the Other Way – The Heelflip

The Kickflip is very similar, except you need to use your heel instead of the toe of your foot. This trick is a bit different and adds a little style into your skateboard moves.

• Position: If you’re skating with your front foot, point your toes towards the edge of the skateboard and your heel in the middle.
• The Motion: But rather than flicking with your toes, pop the board up with your back foot and use your heel to push outward at the edge of the skateboard.
• Spinning and Landing: Your board will spin in the air just like the Kickflip. Watch the skateboard, landing with bent knees once it lands out of the flip.

Another critical trick to unlock combo and variations on is Heelflip.

4. The Shuvit – A Simpler Spin

The Shuvit is a great option if you are looking for something a bit easier than Kickflip, but still impressive. Here’s a trick in which the board spins 180 degrees beneath your feet, while you ride it.

• Position: Put your feet in the same position as you would do with an Ollie.
• The Motion: Don’t pop the tail to pop the board up; but scoop the tail of the skateboard, it around, in 180 degrees.
• Spinning and Landing: While staying above the board, your feet will rotate the board. Try to land smoothly, try to catch the board with your feet.

As with many things, the Shuvit is cool and fun to learn, once you’ve sort of got a hang of it, moving on to additional spins can be a fun challenge like 360 Shuvit.

Final Thoughts

Learning skateboard tricks takes time. The Ollie is a good place to start because then you can focus on building a good foundation and then starting to work on more complex tricks like the Kickflip, Grinds, etc. 

So, wear proper safety gear like helmet and pads to protect yourself and of course – have fun pushing limits. Just keep practicing and before you know it you’ll be landing tricks that will amaze your friends and have you feeling more confident as a rider.