How to
Nollie Kickflip
The short answer
A nollie kickflip is a kickflip popped off the nose, with your back foot doing the flick instead of your front. Set your front foot on the nose in the heel-side pocket, and your back foot near the back bolts at about 45 degrees, heel off the heel side. Pop the nose with your front foot, then flick off the tail's heel-side edge with your back foot and catch it.
Front foot on the nose, in the heel-side pocket. Back foot near the back bolts at about 45°, heel hanging off the heel side. Pop the nose and flick off the heel-side edge of the tail with your back foot.
Step by step
Land your
first Nollie Kickflip.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Set up
Front foot on the nose, in the heel-side pocket. Back foot near the back bolts at about 45 degrees, heel hanging off the heel side.
- 02
Pop
Pop the nose straight down off your front foot, same commitment as a nollie.
- 03
Flick
As the board rises, flick off the heel-side edge of the tail with your back foot.
- 04
Catch
Pull your feet up and let the board flip once underneath you, then catch it with both feet.
- 05
Land
Land with both feet over the bolts and roll away.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
The nose pops but nothing flips
- Why
- Your back foot isn't flicking, it's just riding along.
- Fix
- Actively flick off the heel-side edge of the tail with your back foot, don't leave it passive.
It flips but you lose the pop
- Why
- You're focused on the back foot flick and letting the front foot pop go soft.
- Fix
- Commit to the front foot pop first, exactly like a regular nollie, then add the flick.
The board spins out sideways
- Why
- The back foot flick isn't running straight off the tail's edge.
- Fix
- Flick straight off the heel-side edge, not at an angle.
You catch it off balance
- Why
- You're not used to reading the flip timing off the back foot instead of the front.
- Fix
- Practice nollies alone first so the pop and catch off the nose feel automatic before adding the flick.
DrillGet your nollie consistent first, then 10 nollie kickflips on flat ground focused on the back foot flick.
Still not
landing it?
Film your nollie kickflip. 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
Nollie Kickflip
FAQ
Should I learn a nollie and a kickflip before a nollie kickflip?
Yes, both are prerequisites. The nollie gives you the pop, and the kickflip gives you the flick motion, just on the opposite foot.
Why does the flick feel so much harder with my back foot?
Most skaters have far less practice flicking with their back foot, since a regular kickflip uses the front foot.
How long does it take to learn a nollie kickflip?
Often several weeks to a couple of months once your nollie is solid, since the back foot flick takes real repetition.
Why does my board only pop, with no flip at all?
Your back foot is staying flat instead of flicking. Focus on adding a real flick off the tail's heel-side edge.