How to
Backside Heelflip
The short answer
A backside heelflip is a heelflip with a backside 180: you and the board turn together, back first, while it flips the heelflip way. You roll away fakie. Put the ball of your back foot about 2 cm from the tail tip, near the middle, and your front foot about 5 cm behind the front bolts, nearly straight across, toes over the toe side. Pop like a backside 180, swiping the tail slightly toward your heels, and kick forward and out off the toe-side corner of the nose.
Ball of the back foot about 2 cm from the tail tip, near the middle. Front foot about 5 cm behind the front bolts, nearly straight across, toes over the toe side. Pop like a backside 180, swiping the tail slightly toward your heels, and kick forward and out off the toe-side corner of the nose.
Step by step
Land your
first Backside Heelflip.
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, near the middle. Front foot about 5 cm behind the front bolts, nearly straight across, toes over the toe side.
- 02
Pop
Pop high, like a backside 180, swiping the tail slightly toward your heels. It needs room to flip and turn.
- 03
Kick
Kick forward and out off the toe-side corner of the nose right after the pop, a bit harder than a plain heelflip.
- 04
Catch
Catch it halfway round and finish the turn together with the board.
- 05
Land
Land over the bolts, knees bent, and roll away fakie.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
It turns but does not flip
- Why
- The kick is too soft for a board that is also turning.
- Fix
- Kick a bit harder than a plain heelflip, off the toe-side corner of the nose.
It flips but only turns 90
- Why
- Your shoulders are not leading the backside turn.
- Fix
- Turn your shoulders backside from the pop, like a backside 180.
You land before it finishes
- Why
- The pop is too low.
- Fix
- Pop higher. The board needs room to flip and turn.
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 heelflips, repeated. Then combine them on flat ground, kicking right 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 heelflip. 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 Heelflip
FAQ
Which way does a backside heelflip turn?
Backside, toward your toe side with your back leading. It flips the heelflip way, and you roll away fakie.
What should I learn before a backside heelflip?
The backside 180 and the heelflip.
What is the difference between a backside heelflip and an inward heelflip?
In an inward heelflip the board spins under you with a backside shove-it while you stay facing forward. In a backside heelflip you turn with the board.
Is a backside heelflip harder than a heelflip?
Yes. It is level 4 of 5 in our guides because the board has to turn and flip together.