# How to Varial Heelflip

> A varial heelflip combines a heelflip with a frontside pop shove-it in one motion. A step-by-step guide from Skate AI (getskateai.com).

Canonical: https://getskateai.com/tricks/varial-heelflip
Last updated: 2026-10-19

Flat ground · Level 3 of 5 · Learn first: [Heelflip](https://getskateai.com/tricks/heelflip)

## The short answer

A varial heelflip combines a heelflip with a frontside pop shove-it in one motion. Set your back foot in the heel-side pocket of the tail, heel hanging off, and your front foot just before the front bolts with your toes hanging off the toe side. Scoop the tail forward while your front foot kicks off the toe-side corner, staying over the board, and catch it level once the spin comes around.

## Where your feet go

- **Regular:** Back foot in the heel-side pocket of the tail, heel hanging off. Front foot in the middle of the board, toes hanging about 3 cm off the toe side. Scoop forward while the front foot kicks off the toe-side corner.
- **Goofy:** Back foot in the heel-side pocket of the tail, heel hanging off. Front foot in the middle of the board, toes hanging about 3 cm off the toe side. Scoop forward while the front foot kicks off the toe-side corner.

## Step by step

Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.

1. **Set up:** Back foot in the heel-side pocket of the tail, heel hanging off. Front foot just before the front bolts, toes hanging off the toe side.
2. **Pop:** Pop down while scooping the tail forward, the same motion as a frontside pop shove-it.
3. **Kick:** At the same time, kick your heel forward off the toe-side corner of the nose.
4. **Catch:** Stay over the board and catch it level once the grip tape lines back up.
5. **Land:** Land with both feet over the bolts and roll away.

## Troubleshooting

### It flips but doesn't spin

**Why:** You kicked the heelflip without scooping the tail forward.

**Fix:** Add the frontside scoop first, then layer the heel kick on top of it.

### It spins but stays flat, no flip

**Why:** The heel kick is too light or missing under the scoop.

**Fix:** Keep a real heel kick off the toe-side corner, just lighter than your normal heelflip.

### You lean back and miss the catch

**Why:** You're leaning away from the board instead of staying centered over it.

**Fix:** Stay stacked over the board through the pop instead of leaning back.

### The flip and spin land out of sync

**Why:** You're timing the scoop and the kick as separate motions.

**Fix:** Pop, scoop, and kick all at the same moment.

## Drill

10 varial heelflips on flat ground, focused on staying centered over the board through the spin.

## FAQ

### Should I learn a heelflip and frontside pop shove-it first?

Yes, both need to be consistent on their own before you combine them into one pop.

### Is a varial heelflip harder than a varial kickflip?

Many skaters find it harder, since it pairs a heelflip with the less common frontside shove-it direction.

### Why does my board undershoot the spin?

The scoop isn't forceful enough. Commit more to the frontside scoop, not just the heel kick.

### How long does it take to learn a varial heelflip?

Once you have both component tricks, expect a few weeks of combining practice, often longer than a varial kickflip.

## What to learn next

- Learn first: [Heelflip](https://getskateai.com/tricks/heelflip)
- Learn first: [Frontside Pop Shove-It](https://getskateai.com/tricks/frontside-pop-shove-it)
- Next: [Inward Heelflip](https://getskateai.com/tricks/inward-heelflip)

App: [Skate AI: Kickflip Ollie Coach on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6814983538)

## Related

- [Intermediate tricks, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/intermediate-skateboard-tricks)
- [All 21 flip tricks, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/skateboard-flip-tricks)
- [Foot placement chart for every flat trick](https://getskateai.com/skateboard-foot-placement-chart)
- [All 64 trick guides](https://getskateai.com/tricks)