How to
Heelflip
The short answer
A heelflip is an ollie where your front foot flicks the board into a full flip the opposite way from a kickflip. Put your back foot on the tail like an ollie, and your front foot behind the front bolts, fairly straight, with your toes hanging off the toe side. Kick your heel forward off the toe-side corner of the nose, then pull your feet up and catch the board flat.
Back foot on the tail like an ollie. Front foot behind the front bolts, fairly straight, toes hanging off the toe side. Kick forward off the toe-side corner of the nose with your heel.
Step by step
Land your
first Heelflip.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Set up
Back foot on the tail like an ollie. Front foot behind the front bolts, fairly straight, toes hanging off the toe side.
- 02
Pop
Pop straight down off the ball of your back foot, same as your ollie.
- 03
Kick
As the board rises, kick your heel forward off the toe-side corner of the nose.
- 04
Catch
Pull your feet up and let the board flip once flat underneath you, then catch it with both feet.
- 05
Land
Land with both feet over the bolts, knees bent, and roll away.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
It flips out to the side instead of straight
- Why
- You're kicking your heel at an angle instead of straight forward off the corner.
- Fix
- Kick straight forward, out in front of you, off the toe-side corner of the nose.
It doesn't finish the flip
- Why
- The kick is too soft or comes off the middle of the nose instead of the corner.
- Fix
- Kick harder off the corner so your heel leaves the board right at the edge.
Your back foot never leaves the tail
- Why
- You're popping but not lifting your legs after.
- Fix
- Bring your knees up right after the pop, same timing as an ollie.
You catch it but it slides out from under you
- Why
- You're catching it off to one side instead of flat over the bolts.
- Fix
- Wait for the board to finish flipping flat before you catch it with both feet.
Drill10 heelflips on grass, landing with both feet on the bolts so the board can't roll away.
Still not
landing it?
Film your heelflip. Skate AI shows you which part went wrong and the one fix for your next try.
FAQ
Heelflip
FAQ
Is a heelflip harder than a kickflip?
Many skaters find it a bit harder, since the heel kick uses less foot surface than a kickflip's flick. It varies a lot by skater.
How long does it take to learn a heelflip?
It depends on how often you skate, but expect a few weeks to a few months if you already have a kickflip or a solid ollie.
Why does my board land upside down?
It's only flipping partway. Kick your heel harder and further off the corner, and jump higher to give the board time to finish.
Do I need a kickflip before a heelflip?
No, they're independent tricks. Some skaters learn heelflips first because the motion feels more natural to them.