How to
Backside Flip
The short answer
A backside flip is a kickflip with a backside 180: you and the board turn together, back first, while it flips once. You roll away fakie. Put the ball of your back foot about 2 cm from the tail tip, centered, and your front foot about 6 cm behind the front bolts at about 45 degrees, heel hanging off the heel side, like a kickflip. Pop like a backside 180, nudging the tail toward your heels, and flick off the heel-side corner of the nose a beat later.
Ball of the back foot about 2 cm from the tail tip, centered. Front foot about 6 cm behind the front bolts at about 45°, heel hanging off the heel side, like a kickflip. Pop like a backside 180, nudging the tail toward your heels, and flick off the heel-side corner of the nose a beat later.
Step by step
Land your
first Backside Flip.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Set up
Ball of the back foot about 2 cm from the tail tip, centered. Front foot about 6 cm behind the front bolts at about 45 degrees, heel hanging off the heel side, like a kickflip.
- 02
Pop
Pop like a backside 180, turning your shoulders backside from the pop and nudging the tail toward your heels.
- 03
Flick
Flick off the heel-side corner of the nose a beat after the pop, not at the same time.
- 04
Catch
Catch it high, halfway round, with the board and your body facing the same way.
- 05
Land
Land over the bolts, knees bent, and roll away fakie.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
It turns but never flips
- Why
- The flick is missing or comes too early to count.
- Fix
- Pop first, then flick off the heel-side corner a beat later.
It flips but only turns 90
- Why
- Your shoulders are not committing to the backside turn at the pop.
- Fix
- Turn your shoulders backside from the pop, like a backside 180.
You land before it finishes
- Why
- The pop is too low for a flip and a turn together.
- Fix
- Pop higher. The board needs time to do both.
You land blind and off balance
- Why
- You are not spotting the landing during the turn.
- Fix
- Look for the landing over your shoulder before you commit your weight.
Drill5 backside 180s, then 5 kickflips, repeated. Then combine them on flat ground, flicking a beat after the pop.
Not sure which one is yours? Film a try with Skate AI and it names the one fix that matters most.
Still not
landing it?
Film your backside flip. Skate AI shows you which part went wrong and the one fix for your next try.
On a computer? Point your iPhone camera here.
FAQ
Backside Flip
FAQ
Which way does a backside flip turn?
Backside, toward your toe side with your back leading, the same turn as a backside 180. You roll away fakie.
What should I learn before a backside flip?
The backside 180 and the kickflip. The turn comes from the 180 and the flip from the kickflip.
Why flick a beat after the pop?
The pop and the turn come first. Flicking a beat later gives the board its flip once it is already turning, so the two do not fight each other.
Is a backside flip harder than a backside 180?
Yes. It is level 4 of 5 in our guides, one level above, because the board has to flip as well as turn.