How to
Impossible
The short answer
An impossible wraps the board end over end around your back foot, nose up and back over the top, and lands grip-up under you. Put the ball of your back foot in the toe-side pocket of the tail, toes about 5 cm over the toe side, and your front foot just below the front bolts at about 45 degrees, half of it off the heel side. Scoop the tail forward instead of popping it, keep the back foot on the grip as the board wraps round it, and lift the front foot out of the way.
Ball of the back foot in the toe-side pocket of the tail, toes about 5 cm over the toe side. Front foot just below the front bolts at about 45°, half of it off the heel side. Scoop the tail forward instead of popping it, keep the back foot on the grip as the board wraps round it, and lift the front foot out of the way.
Step by step
Land your
first Impossible.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Set up
Ball of the back foot in the toe-side pocket of the tail, toes about 5 cm over the toe side. Front foot just below the front bolts at about 45 degrees, half of it off the heel side.
- 02
Scoop
Scoop the tail forward instead of popping or snapping it.
- 03
Wrap
Keep the back foot on the grip the whole way as the board wraps round it.
- 04
Clear
Lift your front foot out of the way so the board can come over the top.
- 05
Land
Stomp it once it is grip-up under you, over the bolts, and roll away.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
The board never wraps
- Why
- You are popping the tail instead of scooping it forward.
- Fix
- Scoop the tail forward, do not snap it down.
The board comes off your back foot
- Why
- Your back foot is lifting off the grip.
- Fix
- Keep the back foot on the grip the whole way round.
The board hits your front foot
- Why
- The front foot stays in the way.
- Fix
- Lift the front foot out of the way, then stomp.
You land on it upside down
- Why
- You are stomping before the board has finished wrapping.
- Fix
- Wait until it is grip-up under you.
DrillPractice the forward scoop on its own, back foot staying on the grip, before you try to wrap the whole board.
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 impossible. 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
Impossible
FAQ
What is an impossible?
The board wraps around your back foot end over end, nose up and back over the top, and lands grip-up under you.
Is an impossible a flip trick?
Not in the kickflip and heelflip sense. The board turns end over end around your back foot rather than flipping sideways.
Why is an impossible level 5?
The board wraps around your back foot, so the scoop, the wrap and clearing your front foot all have to be right.
What should I learn before an impossible?
Start with the pop shove-it. It uses the same idea of scooping the tail with your back foot instead of popping it straight down.