How to
Drop In
The short answer
A drop in is how you start riding a ramp from the top, tipping the board forward off the coping instead of rolling in from flat ground. Set your tail on the coping with your back foot and all your weight there, front foot on the front bolts with no weight yet. Stomp the front foot down and lean forward to ride away.
Step by step
Land your
first Drop In.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Set tail
Stand at the top of the ramp with your tail resting on the coping and your back foot centered on it, taking your full weight.
- 02
Front foot
Set your front foot on the front bolts, parallel to your back foot, without putting weight on it yet.
- 03
Commit
Stomp your front foot down onto the board in one confident motion, no hesitation.
- 04
Lean forward
Lean your shoulders and hips forward over the nose as the board tips down into the ramp.
- 05
Ride away
Keep your knees bent and weight centered as you roll down the transition.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
You catch the nose and stop short
- Why
- You leaned forward without stomping the front foot down first.
- Fix
- Commit the front foot down hard before you shift your weight forward.
You sit back and the tail skids out
- Why
- Your weight stayed on the tail instead of moving forward with the board.
- Fix
- Once you stomp down, keep leaning forward through the whole drop.
You hesitate at the top and back out
- Why
- Committing to the drop before you're ready feels scary, so you pull back at the last second.
- Fix
- Practice the front-foot stomp motion on flat ground first, then commit fully once you start.
You land off balance and wobble at the bottom
- Why
- Your knees are locked straight instead of absorbing the transition.
- Fix
- Bend your knees more as you level out at the bottom of the ramp.
DrillPractice standing at the top of the ramp and stomping your front foot down without dropping in first, just to build the motion. Then commit on a small, mellow ramp.
Still not
landing it?
Film your drop in. Skate AI shows you which part went wrong and the one fix for your next try.
FAQ
Drop In
FAQ
How do I stop being scared to drop in?
Start on the smallest ramp available and practice the front-foot stomp on flat ground first so the motion feels automatic. Most falls come from hesitating halfway, so commit fully once you start.
Do I need pads to learn drop in?
Pads and a helmet make the learning curve less painful and help you commit without hesitating, especially on your first few tries.
Why do I keep catching my nose?
You're leaning forward before your front foot is stomped down and in control. Get the front foot planted first, then lean.
What size ramp should I learn on?
A small mini ramp, waist height or lower, with mellow transition. Taller ramps and steeper transitions get much harder to drop in on.