How to Do a Fakie 180 on a Skateboard

The half cap trick in skateboarding starts with a fakie (you skating backwards, with your tail foot forward) that ollies into a 180 to set you back to skating forward. The trick is fun, impressive and useful for transitioning out of tricks that land you backwards.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Place your back foot on the tail of the board and start pumping with your your front foot so you skate backward. Get to a moderate, controlled speed in this backward skating position and make sure you have correct balance.
2. Pop your tail foot to ollie as you normally would. Jump up with your front foot and swing the arm on the same side as your front foot around your body. Allow your shoulders to follow your arm in the swing so your body twists and causes the skateboard to turn underneath you as you ollie.
3. Keep the board level in the air as you move through the 180. Land the half cap just as you'd land a regular forward moving ollie, paying attention to landing the front and back part of the deck at roughly the same time.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on regular fakie ollies (basically, a half cap without the turn) if you're having trouble learning the trick.
• The force of the 180 turn comes from your shoulders, so make adjustments to your shoulder turn to correct for an over- or under-turn.