Kickflip
How to kickflip on a fingerboard
A kickflip starts like an ollie. Pop the tail with your middle finger the same way, but instead of sliding your index finger toward the nose, flick it off the near edge of the deck — down and toward you. The board flips a full turn along its long axis under your fingers. Wait until the grip faces up again, then catch and land all four wheels.
Step by step
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Set your fingers
Index behind the front bolts, angled toward the near edge
Middle finger on the tail, the same as an ollie. Index just behind the front bolts, but with the fingertip angled toward the near edge — the side closest to you. Test a small flick without popping: if the fingertip would leave off that near edge, you are in kickflip position. If it would slide straight toward the nose, you are still in ollie position.
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Pop and flick
Snap the tail and flick the index down off the near edge
Pop the tail with your middle finger and, in the same motion, flick your index finger down and toward you off the near edge of the nose. This is not a slide toward the nose. Same timing as the ollie drag, different direction.
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The board flips toward you
Lift your fingers so it has room; the grip comes into view
After the flick, the board flips toward you. Raise your fingers slightly so it can rotate. Reaching down too early stops the flip.
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Wait for the grip
At halfway the graphic is up and the wheels are up
Mid-flip you will see the underside of the deck and the wheels pointing up. Do not catch here. Wait until the grip faces up again before you reach down.
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Catch
Both fingers over the bolts when the grip is back
When the flip has finished and the grip is up, catch with both fingers over the bolts to stop the rotation.
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Land and roll away
All four wheels together, then roll away
Bring the board down so all four wheels touch the table at the same time. Do not land on just the front or just the back trucks.
Common mistakes
- Flicking too softly, so the board under-rotates or wobbles instead of flipping cleanly.
- Sliding the index finger straight toward the nose, like an ollie, so the board does not flip.
- Catching too early, while the board is still flipping, and landing on the trucks.
- A weak pop, so there is not enough air for a full flip.
- Flicking so hard the board spins past your fingers. Aim for one clean rotation.
Session tips
- Land clean ollies on all four wheels before you add the flick.
- Practice pop-and-flick without trying to catch, until the board completes a full flip on its own.
- Wait until you see the grip face up again before you reach down.
- Deck concave gives the fingertip an edge to leave from — use that edge for the flick.