The Struggle to Learn the Elusive Kickflip
Skateboarding is a sport that requires time, patience, and commitment. As a new skater, one of the most exciting yet challenging tricks to learn is the kickflip. A kickflip is a fundamental skateboard trick where you flip your board sideways while in the air.
It may seem like a simple trick to onlookers, but it takes time and effort to learn how to execute it correctly. Learning how to do a kickflip faster is important for several reasons.
For one, it helps you progress as a skateboarder and move on to more advanced tricks. Furthermore, it can improve your overall confidence on the board by proving that hard work pays off.
Learning how to do a kickflip faster can help you impress your friends and even make new ones at skateparks. My personal experience with trying to learn how to do a kickflip has been an arduous journey filled with frustration and disappointment.
When I first started attempting this trick, my board would often end up smacking me in the shins or flying out into traffic (much to my embarrassment). Despite numerous falls and near-misses, I was determined not just to master this technique but also to perfect it!
Mastering the basic importance of having a solid ollie before attempting a kickflip
Before you even think about trying to land a kickflip, it’s crucial that you have a solid foundation in the ollie. The kickflip is essentially an ollie with an added flick of the foot, so if you don’t have your ollie down pat, you’re going to have a tough time getting those flip tricks down. Make sure you can comfortably pop your board up into the air and land back on it with both feet before moving on to the next step. Tips for improving your Ollie technique
If your ollies are feeling shaky, take some time to focus on improving them before moving on to learning how to kickflip. Here are some tips to help you improve your technique:
- Start by bending down low and pushing off with your back foot.
- Snap your tail down hard against the ground while simultaneously sliding your front foot up towards the nose of the board.
- Jump straight up into the air as soon as your board pops off the ground.
- Try not to scoop or drag your feet too much – this will slow down and lower your jump.
- Make sure both feet land back on top of the board at roughly the same time.
Remember that practice makes perfect when it comes to skating – spend plenty of time perfecting these basic techniques until they become second nature. Once you’ve got them locked down, you’ll be well on your way to mastering more advanced tricks like kickflips!
Summary of how to do a Kickflip
- Stance: Position your front foot angled towards the nose and your back foot on the tail.
- Pop: Pop the tail down with your back foot to make the skateboard jump.
- Flick: Slide your front foot diagonally towards the edge of the nose, causing the board to rotate.
- Jump and Level: Jump up, bring your knees towards your chest, and level the board in the air.
- Catch: Use your front foot to catch the rotating board and guide it back under your feet.
Foot Placement and Body Positioning
When it comes to learning how to kickflip, foot placement and body positioning are crucial aspects that cannot be overlooked. To get started, you need to place your front foot in the middle of the board with your toes hanging off slightly.
Your back foot should be placed on the tail of the skateboard with your toes hanging off slightly, as well. The key to achieving optimal flipping motion when performing a kickflip is having your front foot angled towards the nose of the board at about a 45-degree angle.
This allows you to get a good flick with your toes while still maintaining control of the board. Your back foot should be positioned perpendicular to the deck for stability and control during takeoff and landing.
Proper Foot Placement on The Board for Optimal Flipping Motion
When it comes to getting that perfect kickflip, proper foot placement is everything. You want your front foot angled toward the nose of the board while keeping it centered over the bolts.
This will allow you to get a good flick off with your toes while still maintaining control over both sides of your board. On the other hand, having proper backfoot placement is equally important for successful takeoff and landing during a kickflip; you want it perpendicular to your skateboard’s deck for stability and control while popping up into an ollie or catching air beneath your feet on landing.
Body Positioning for Balance and Control
To gain balance during a kickflip trick, body positioning plays an essential role in keeping yourself upright on top of a fast-moving skateboard. As you set up with feet properly placed in their respective positions discussed earlier- keep weight evenly distributed between both feet so that lifting either one doesn’t affect balance too much. During execution: once you pop upwards as per usual ollie- extend arms outwards or forwards depending on the preference to help maintain your balance.
Keep the shoulders parallel to the skateboard, and align it with the front foot while keeping the head up for better balance. With a little practice and patience, you’ll have more control over your board during kickflips, which will help you land them faster than ever before!
Practice Drills
Becoming a proficient skateboarder takes a lot of practice and dedication. The key to mastering the kickflip is repetition.
By practicing the proper technique over and over again, your muscle memory will improve, which will result in greater consistency. Here are some simple exercises you can do to improve your kickflip:
1. Stationary Kickflips: Start by simply standing still on your board and practicing the flipping motion until you get comfortable with it. Keep your feet in position and focus on getting a smooth rotation of the board.
2. Rolling Kickflips: Once you have mastered stationary kickflips, it’s time to try them while rolling. Start by rolling slowly, and as you become more comfortable with the motion, increase your speed.
Simple Exercises to Improve Muscle Memory and Build Confidence
In addition to practicing the proper technique for kickflips, there are some simple exercises that can help improve your muscle memory and build confidence:
1. Bounce Your Board: Hold onto a wall or rail with one hand while bouncing your board up and down with your other foot until you get comfortable doing this consistently.
2. Practice Pivoting: Plant one foot on the ground while pushing out with the other foot like you’re doing an ollie but don’t actually lift off the ground – focus on pivoting around the planted foot to build strength in that leg. 3. Practice Jumping: Stand on flat ground or carpeted surface and jump repeatedly for ten or fifteen minutes at a time – this will help build up leg muscles which are essential for skateboarding.
Tips for Practicing Consistently
Here are some tips for practicing consistently: 1. Find a Comfortable Place: Look for an area that is convenient, free from distractions, and has good lighting so that you can practice comfortably.
2. Create a Routine: Make a plan for when and how often you will practice skateboarding and stick to it. 3. Take Breaks: Skateboarding is physically demanding, so take breaks to rest and recharge your batteries.
4. Practice with Friends: Find someone who is also trying to learn the kickflip, or other skateboard tricks, and practice together – doing this provides motivation, accountability, and feedback on how well you’re doing. With time and dedication, you’ll be impressing your friends with your kickflip skills in no time!
Common mistakes to avoid
Learning how to kickflip can be a frustrating experience, especially if you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. However, identifying common mistakes is crucial in order to correct them and make progress. One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is not committing fully to the trick.
They might hesitate mid-air or start to bail out before the board has a chance to rotate completely. This can be caused by fear of falling or lack of confidence in their abilities.
Another common mistake is kicking too hard or too late. A successful kickflip requires a quick and precise flick of the front foot, but if you kick too hard or too late, the board won’t have enough time to flip properly.
This can also cause your back foot to slip off the board, resulting in an unsuccessful landing. It’s important to find a balance between speed and control when attempting this trick.
Identifying common mistakes that can hinder progress
Identifying your own mistakes might be difficult at first, but it’s important to analyze each attempt and figure out what went wrong. Recording yourself on video can be very helpful in this process as you’ll be able to watch your attempts in slow motion and pinpoint areas that need improvement. It’s also helpful to ask for feedback from more experienced skaters who can offer advice on technique.
Some other common mistakes include improper foot placement on the board, not using enough pop for height, or rotating your shoulders too much during takeoff which throws off your balance mid-air. Don’t get discouraged if it takes time for you to identify these issues – it’s all part of the learning process!
Strategies for correcting mistakes
Once you’ve identified what needs improvement, it’s time to work on correcting those mistakes through practice and repetition. One effective strategy is breaking down the trick into smaller parts and focusing on improving each aspect individually. For example, you can practice the flick motion without jumping or rotating the board, then gradually add more elements as you gain more control.
Another helpful strategy is to practice consistently and with intention. Set specific goals for each practice session and track your progress over time.
Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and experiment with foot placement or body positioning until you find what works best for you. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the process – learning new tricks can be challenging but immensely rewarding in the end!
Fine-tuning your technique
Now that you’ve got the basics down and have been practicing consistently, it’s time to fine-tune your technique. There are a few advanced tips you can use to perfect your kickflip motion and take your skills to the next level. Firstly, try to flick down harder and faster with your front foot.
This will increase the speed of the board’s rotation and give you more time to catch it in the air. You should also focus on popping the board higher off the ground by pressing down hard on the tail with your back foot.
The higher you pop, the more time you’ll have to complete the trick. Another important aspect of fine-tuning your kickflip is adjusting your timing.
Experiment with different speeds and strengths of flicking until you find what works best for you. Pay close attention to how high and how fast the board spins, making adjustments as necessary until everything feels smooth and effortless.
Experimenting with different variations
Once you’ve mastered a standard kickflip, there are endless variations you can experiment with to keep things interesting and challenge yourself even further. Start by trying out different stances – switch, nollie or fakie – before moving onto more complex variations like double flips or 360 flips. When attempting these more difficult tricks, it’s important not to get discouraged if things don’t click right away.
Remember that mastering any new trick takes patience, practice, and persistence; stick with it and eventually, everything will start falling into place. Don’t forget that skateboarding is about having fun!
So be creative in coming up with new tricks or combining different elements together in unique ways – this is what will set you apart from other skaters on the ramp or street! Enjoy every step of your journey towards becoming a kickflip master; after all, skating is all about pushing yourself beyond your limits and discovering new ways to express yourself on the board.
Conclusion
Learning how to kickflip faster requires a combination of mastering the basics, practicing consistently, and fine-tuning your technique. The first step is to make sure you have a solid ollie before attempting a kickflip.
Remember to keep your foot placement and body positioning in mind as you practice. It’s important to avoid common mistakes that can hinder progress and focus on correcting them when they occur.
Practice drills are crucial for improving muscle memory and building confidence. Start with simple exercises and gradually work up to more advanced techniques.
Don’t forget to experiment with different variations of the kickflip once you’ve mastered the basic motion. Learning how to kickflip faster can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
Keep in mind that progress takes time and practice, so don’t get discouraged if it takes longer than expected. Always remember why you started skating in the first place and keep pushing yourself towards improvement.
With patience, persistence, and dedication, anyone can learn how to kickflip faster and take their skateboarding skills to the next level. Happy skating!
