A rock to fakie is one of the first ramp tricks most skaters learn, and it is the foundation for rock and rolls, disasters, and every other trick that involves rocking up onto the coping. It looks simple from the side, but timing the weight shift wrong sends plenty of beginners sliding back down the transition awkwardly. Here is how to do it cleanly on a mini ramp or quarter pipe.
What Is a Rock to Fakie?
A rock to fakie means riding up the transition of a ramp, rolling the front trucks up and over the coping so the board balances on top of it, then rocking back down the same transition in fakie (backwards). Unlike a rock and roll, there is no 180 turn involved, which makes it the easier of the two tricks to learn first and the natural entry point into coping tricks.
Prerequisites Before You Try It
You should already be comfortable riding transitions and dropping in before attempting a rock to fakie, since the trick happens at the top of a ramp where a fall has more consequences than on flat ground. You also need a solid fakie riding stance, because you will be rolling backwards down the transition immediately after the rock. If pumping up a transition still feels shaky, spend another session or two on that before adding the coping into the mix.
How to Rock to Fakie: Step-by-Step
1. Approach With Controlled Speed
Ride up the transition with enough speed to reach the coping comfortably, but not so much that you launch past it. A moderate pump is usually enough on a mini ramp. Keep your knees bent and your weight centered over the board as you approach the top.
2. Let the Front Trucks Roll Over the Coping
As your nose reaches the lip, let your front wheels roll up and over the coping so the board’s front trucks rest on top of it while the back wheels stay on the transition. Do not try to ollie onto the coping, this trick is about rolling the trucks over smoothly, not popping.
3. Balance and Pause Briefly
Once the front trucks are over the coping, you will naturally slow down and briefly balance with your weight centered. Keep your front foot light and your back foot pressing down slightly on the tail for control. This pause can be a split second, it does not need to be a dramatic stall.
4. Shift Your Weight Back and Roll Down Fakie
Lean your weight back toward your tail so the front trucks roll back off the coping and the board settles back onto the transition. Ride down the ramp backwards in fakie, keeping your knees bent to absorb the transition as it steepens. Look over your shoulder briefly to stay oriented as you roll away.
Common Rock to Fakie Mistakes (and Fixes)
Popping instead of rolling: beginners often try to ollie the front trucks onto the coping like a lip trick. Slow the approach down and let the nose roll up naturally instead of forcing it with a pop.
Leaning too far forward at the top: this sends riders over the coping and off the ramp entirely. Keep your weight centered, not forward, the moment your front trucks touch down on the coping.
Stalling out too long: holding the balance point too long makes the transition back to fakie harder to control. Treat the pause as brief, and start shifting your weight back almost as soon as you feel balanced.
Drills to Build Rock to Fakie Consistency
Start on a mellow mini ramp with low coping rather than a tall vert ramp, since the consequences of a mistake are much smaller. Practice rolling just your front wheels up to the lip without going over it first, so you get a feel for how much speed is needed. Once that feels comfortable, commit to letting the trucks fully roll onto the coping and focus only on the weight shift back to fakie, the rest of the trick tends to fall into place once that transition feels natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a rock to fakie different from a rock and roll?
A rock to fakie has you roll back down the same way you came up, riding away backwards. A rock and roll adds a 180 turn at the top of the coping so you ride away forwards instead.
What size ramp should I learn this on?
A mini ramp or quarter pipe with coping around three to four feet high is ideal for learning. Taller ramps make the balance point at the top feel more intimidating and are best saved for once the trick is consistent.
Do I need special trucks or wheels for coping tricks?
No special setup is required for a rock to fakie itself, though riders who progress into grinds and slides on coping often add coping-friendly hardware later. A normal street setup works fine to learn this trick.
Why does my board slide out from under me at the top?
This usually happens when your weight shifts too far forward or too far back too quickly. Focus on keeping your weight centered directly over the trucks as they roll onto the coping, and make the transition back to fakie gradual rather than sudden.
What tricks should I learn after rock to fakie?
Once rock to fakie feels automatic, rock and roll is the natural next step, followed by disasters and eventually grinds and slides along the coping itself.
