Skateboarding is an art form on four wheels, a sport that involves style, creativity and courage. Whether you’re an experienced skateboarder or just starting out, mastering new tricks is an exciting part of the skateboarding journey. In 2023, the possibilities are endless, with skaters around the world constantly raising the bar. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 most incredible skateboarding tricks for you to master this year.
Table of Contents
1. Ollie
If you are just entering the world of skateboarding or are already an experienced skateboarder looking to improve your skills, the Ollie is a maneuver that cannot be ignored. This is the fundamental maneuver in skateboarding, serving as the basis for many other more advanced maneuvers. Here’s an overview of Ollie and how to master it:
What is Ollie?
- The Ollie is a maneuver that involves the skateboarder making the board jump off the ground without using their hands, just the back foot.
How to Perform Ollie:
- Place your front foot on the front of the board, with your toes over the edge and your heel hanging slightly.
- Place your back foot on the tail of the board, with the center of your foot positioned towards the back.
- Bend your knees slightly and squat down.
- Quickly apply pressure with your back foot on the tail, making the board touch the ground.
- Simultaneously, slide your front foot forward, scrape the tail of the board across the floor, and jump.
- While in the air, bring your knees to your chest and prepare to land.
- When landing, make sure you land with both feet on the board and absorb the impact by bending your knees.
Tips for Perfecting the Ollie:
- Start by practicing on smooth, flat surfaces before trying on obstacles.
- Maintain control of your body during the jump by maintaining balance.
- Practice repeatedly to perfect your coordination and jump height.
Mastering the Ollie is essential to progress in skateboarding. As you become more comfortable with this maneuver, you can use it as a foundation to perform many other incredible maneuvers in the future. So start with the basics and you’ll soon be ready to master more advanced tricks in the exciting world of skateboarding.
2. Kickflip
The Kickflip is one of skateboarding’s most iconic maneuvers, known for its complexity and style. If you’re looking to challenge your skateboarding skills and impress with an impressive trick, the Kickflip is an excellent choice. Here’s what you need to know about this maneuver and how to master it:
What is the Kickflip?
- The Kickflip is a maneuver in which the board rotates 360 degrees longitudinally while in the air, making a complete rotation, and the skateboarder lands with the board turned upside down.
How to Perform the Kickflip:
- Position your front foot on the board, close to the screws, with a slight tilt to the side.
- Place your back foot on the tail of the board, as you would in an Ollie.
- Initiate the movement by scraping the side of the board with the top of your front foot and tilting your back foot outward.
- As the board rotates, pull your legs up to prevent them from getting in the way of the rotation.
- Follow the rotation of the board and be prepared to land on both feet.
Tips for Perfecting the Kickflip:
- Start with slower, lower movements before trying higher kickflips.
- Maintain your balance and keep your feet ready to land.
- Practice on flat surfaces before attempting obstacles.
The Kickflip is a challenging maneuver that requires constant practice to master. As you perfect this technique, you’ll have one of the most impressive maneuvers in your repertoire. Remember that style and fluidity are just as important as technical execution, so have fun while improving your kickflip and be amazed at the progress you make.
3. Heelflip
If you’re looking for a skateboarding trick that combines style and advanced technique, the Heelflip is an impressive choice. This trick is known for its rotation and inverted spin, which challenges skateboarders to improve their control and precision skills. Here’s what you need to know about the Heelflip and how to master it:
What is Heelflip?
- The Heelflip is a maneuver in which the board rotates 360 degrees longitudinally while in the air, making a complete rotation, and the skateboarder lands with the board turned upside down. The main difference in relation to the Kickflip is in the rotation, which is performed with the back of the front foot, instead of the top.
How to Perform the Heelflip:
- Position your front foot on the board, close to the screws, with a slight inclination to the opposite side of the Heelflip.
- Place your back foot on the tail of the board, as you would in an Ollie.
- Start the movement by scraping the side of the board with the back of your front foot and tilting your back foot outward in the opposite direction of the Heelflip.
- As the board rotates, pull your legs up to avoid disturbing the rotation.
- Follow the rotation of the board and be prepared to land on both feet.
Tips for Perfecting the Heelflip:
- As with any maneuver, start with slower, lower attempts before increasing the height.
- Stay focused on control and precision, as the Heelflip requires more deliberate movements.
- Practice on flat, consistent surfaces to develop technique.
The Heelflip is a challenging and rewarding trick that allows skateboarders to elevate their skill level. As you improve this trick, not only will you have an amazing trick in your repertoire, but you will also improve your skateboarding control and coordination abilities. So dive in and get ready to impress with your Heelflip.
4. Tre Flip (360 Flip)
The Tre Flip, also known as the 360 Flip, is one of the most impressive and challenging tricks in the world of skateboarding. This is a maneuver that requires a high level of skill and precision, but the results are extremely rewarding. If you’re looking to expand your trick repertoire and impress with style, the Tre Flip is an incredible choice. Here’s what you need to know about this maneuver and how to master it:
What is the Tre Flip (360 Flip)?
- The Tre Flip is a maneuver in which the board rotates 360 degrees longitudinally while in the air, making a complete rotation, and the skateboarder lands with the board turned upside down. Furthermore, the board performs a flip (rotating about its longitudinal axis) during the movement.
How to Perform the Tre Flip:
- Position your front foot on the board, close to the screws, with a slight tilt to the side opposite to the rotation.
- Place your back foot on the tail of the board, as you would in an Ollie.
- Initiate the movement by scraping the side of the board with the back of your front foot and tilting your back foot outward in the opposite direction of the rotation.
- As the board rotates, pull your legs up to avoid disturbing the rotation.
- Simultaneously, use the front of your front foot to flip the board.
- Follow the rotation and flip of the board and be prepared to land on both feet.
Tips for Perfecting the Tre Flip (360 Flip):
- Master fundamental maneuvers like Ollie and Kickflip before trying the Tre Flip.
- Practice on flat, consistent surfaces to develop technique.
- Stay focused on precision and balance throughout the movement.
The Tre Flip is a maneuver that challenges the limits of skateboarding and allows skaters to showcase their dominance on the board. Although it is a complex maneuver, with dedication and practice, you can improve it and impress with your style and skateboarding skills. So don’t be afraid to accept the challenge and start practicing the Tre Flip today.
5. Backside 180 Kickflip
This maneuver combines a 180-degree turn with a kickflip. It requires precise board and body control and is one of the most stylish tricks in modern skateboarding.
6. Frontside 360
The frontside 360 is a turning maneuver in which the skateboarder rotates the skateboard and body 360 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on preference. It is a maneuver that requires strength and balance.
7. Varial Heelflip
A variation of the heelflip, the varial heelflip involves a horizontal turn of the skateboard and a heel turn at the same time. It’s a challenging maneuver that adds complexity to the basic heelflip.
8. Hardflip
The hardflip is an elegant maneuver that combines a horizontal spin and a flip. It’s an advanced maneuver that requires full control of the board and is impressive to see when executed perfectly.
9. Frontside Feeble Grind
Grinding tricks are an essential part of skateboarding. The frontside feeble grind involves sliding the base of the skateboard on the edge of a surface while the top of the wheels are locked onto the edge. It is a maneuver that requires balance and precision.
10. Backside Smith Grind
The backside smith grind is another grind maneuver, but this time the board is facing away from the edge. It’s a challenging maneuver that adds variety to your grinding game.
Tips for Mastering These Maneuvers
- Practice Regularly: Constant practice is the key to mastering any maneuver. Dedicate time daily to training and improving your skills.
- Wear Proper Equipment: Make sure your skateboard is in good condition and that you are wearing protective equipment such as a helmet and knee pads.
- Watch and Learn: Watch videos of professional skateboarders performing these tricks to understand the correct technique.
- Gradual Progression: Don’t try to master all of these maneuvers at once. Start with the most basic ones and, as you feel more confident, move on to the more advanced ones.
- Maintain Persistence: Skateboarding is challenging, and you will fall many times before you master a trick. Stay persistent and keep trying.
Remember that skateboarding is about fun and authenticity. Don’t constantly compare yourself to others, as each skater has their own rate of progress. Enjoy the learning process and have fun as you explore the endless possibilities of skateboarding in 2023.