The kickflip is the trick that separates skaters who can ollie from skaters who can actually skate. It looks complicated because the board flips underneath your feet in a split second, but the mechanics are simple once you break them down. This guide walks through the exact foot placement, flick motion, and catch technique you need, plus the mistakes that keep most beginners stuck for weeks longer than necessary.
What Is a Kickflip?
A kickflip is a skateboarding trick where the board pops into the air, spins a full 360 degrees along its long axis (flipping over), and lands back under your feet, wheels down. It was popularized by Rodney Mullen and is one of the four “core” flip tricks every street skater eventually learns, alongside the ollie, heelflip, and pop shove-it.
Unlike an ollie, where your front foot slides straight up the board, a kickflip requires your front foot to drag diagonally off the edge of the nose, which is what makes the board spin. Getting that diagonal flick right is 90% of learning the trick.
Before You Try a Kickflip
Don’t skip ahead to flip tricks before these are solid — trying a kickflip before you’re ready just burns weeks of frustration:
- A confident, consistent ollie. You should be able to ollie at a steady height on flat ground without thinking about your feet.
- Comfortable board control. You should be able to roll, turn, and stop confidently at a slow-to-moderate speed.
- The right setup. Grip tape with good bite and wheels no larger than 54mm make flip tricks easier to control than a longboard or cruiser setup.
Foot Placement for a Kickflip
Foot position is where most kickflip attempts go wrong before the board even leaves the ground.
- Back foot: Same as your ollie — ball of your foot on the tail, toes hanging slightly off the back edge.
- Front foot: This is the key difference from an ollie. Place your front foot at a slight angle (around 30-45 degrees) near the front bolts, with your toes angled toward the nose and slightly off the toe-side edge of the board. Your foot should be positioned so your toes can drag off the edge, not the middle of the board.
How to Kickflip: Step-by-Step
- Set up your ollie. Bend your knees, keep your weight centered, and pop the tail down just like a normal ollie.
- Slide and flick. As the board rises, instead of sliding your front foot straight up (like an ollie), drag your front foot diagonally off the front-toe corner of the board. The motion should feel like you’re flicking your toes off the edge, not stomping down.
- Let the board spin. The flick sends the board spinning underneath you. Keep your eyes on the board so you can time your catch — don’t look down at your feet, look at the board itself.
- Level it out and catch. Both feet should come back down toward the board as it completes its rotation. Catch it with your feet near the original bolt positions to level it out mid-air.
- Land and ride away. Land with your knees bent to absorb the impact, weight centered over the board, and roll away smoothly.
Common Kickflip Mistakes
- Scooping instead of flicking. If the board is flying out in front of you or behind you, you’re scooping with your whole foot instead of flicking with just your toes at the last moment.
- Front foot too far back. If your front foot is in the middle of the board instead of near the edge, you won’t get enough leverage to make it flip.
- Not enough pop. A weak ollie pop means the board doesn’t get enough hang time to complete its rotation before you land.
- Catching too early. Bailing or stomping down before the board finishes flipping is the most common reason kickflips land upside down (griptape up).
- Leaning back. Leaning your body weight backward during the flick throws off your balance and pulls the board out from under you.
Drills to Land Your First Kickflip Faster
- Practice the flick standing still. Stand next to your board (off it) and practice the diagonal foot-flick motion on the ground to build muscle memory before adding the ollie.
- Try it on grass or a soft surface first. Some skaters find it easier to isolate the flip motion on grass, where speed and pop matter less than the flick itself.
- Film yourself. A slow-motion video from the side instantly shows whether you’re flicking diagonally or just scooping straight up.
- Repeat in short, focused sessions. 20-30 focused attempts with breaks beats 100 tired, sloppy attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn a kickflip?
Most beginners with a solid ollie land their first kickflip within a few days to a few weeks of focused practice. It depends heavily on how consistent your ollie already is — skaters who rush into kickflips before their ollie is solid often take much longer.
Why does my board flip out from under me?
This almost always means you’re scooping with your whole front foot instead of flicking with just your toes at the very end of the slide. Focus on keeping your foot flat through most of the slide and only flicking at the last inch.
Why does my kickflip land upside down?
An upside-down landing (griptape facing up) means the board hasn’t finished its full rotation before your feet come down. Give it more pop and a slightly longer hang time, and resist the urge to stomp down early.
Should I learn a kickflip or heelflip first?
Most skaters find the kickflip more intuitive because the flicking motion follows the natural direction your toes already point. A heelflip uses the same idea in reverse and is often easier to learn once you’ve got the kickflip down.
Do I need special shoes to kickflip?
No special shoes are required, but flatter, thinner-soled skate shoes with a grippy sole make it easier to feel the board and execute a clean flick than thick-soled trainers.
Once the kickflip clicks, it opens the door to variations like the tre flip and varial kickflip. If your ollie still needs work before you get here, check out our guide on ollie higher, and make sure your bearings are in good shape so pop and roll speed aren’t holding you back.
