How to
Rock and Roll on a Skateboard
The short answer
A rock and roll rocks the middle of the board on the coping, then kickturns 180 back into the ramp so you ride away forward instead of fakie. Ride straight up so the board rocks flat on the coping, then weight your tail, turn your shoulders, and kickturn all the way around. Roll back down the transition facing forward.
Step by step
Land your
first Rock and Roll.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Ride up
Ride straight at the coping with enough speed for the board to rock flat on top of it.
- 02
Rock
Let the middle of the board settle on the coping, weight spread between both feet.
- 03
Shoulders
Turn your head and shoulders to start leading the board around.
- 04
Kickturn
Weight your tail and kickturn a full 180 so the board points back down the ramp.
- 05
Roll away
Roll back down the transition riding forward, knees bent.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
You drop back in fakie instead of forward
- Why
- The kickturn didn't go all the way around to 180.
- Fix
- Keep turning your shoulders until the board is fully pointed back down the ramp.
You get stuck on the coping mid-turn
- Why
- Your weight isn't on the tail enough to pivot the board freely.
- Fix
- Weight your back foot more as you start the kickturn.
You lose your balance during the turn
- Why
- Your shoulders and hips are turning at different times instead of together.
- Fix
- Lead with your head and shoulders, and let your hips and the board follow right behind.
The board slips out from under you at the coping
- Why
- You're rocking with too much speed for the turn to hold.
- Fix
- Ease off the approach speed slightly, just enough to still rock the board flat.
DrillGet a solid rock to fakie first, then practice the shoulder-led kickturn on flat ground before combining it with the rock at the coping.
Still not
landing it?
Film your rock and roll. 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
Rock and Roll
FAQ
What's the difference between rock and roll and rock to fakie?
Both rock the board on the coping, but a rock to fakie rolls back down fakie, while a rock and roll kickturns 180 to roll back down forward.
Do I need to know kickturns first?
Yes. The kickturn back into the ramp is the same motion as a frontside or backside kickturn, just done from a rocked position on the coping.
Why do I keep dropping in backward?
Your kickturn is stopping short of the full 180. Keep your shoulders turning until the board points straight down the transition.
What ramp size is best for learning this?
A small mini ramp, the same size you'd use for rock to fakie, so the coping is easy to reach and the fall is short if the turn doesn't fully come around.