How to Catch the Skateboard Doing a Kickflip

Doing a kickflip is a fun trick most skateboarders master fairly early on. The most important part of the kickflip is being able to catch the skateboard with your feet before you land back on the ground; otherwise, you could land on the board incorrectly and risk injury. These steps will help you understand about catching your skateboard during a kickflip.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Position your feet on your skateboard in ollie stance, back toe on the tail and front feet on the front bolts.
2. Pop the tail as if going into an ollie, starting to slide the front foot up the nose. When both you and the board are airborne, flick the board sideways with both feet, starting its rotation side over side, not end over end.
3. Watch the board under your feet, staying centered over it. When you can see the grip tape (top of the deck), catch the board with your back toe as it comes around as soon as it is flat (parallel) to the ground. This will stop the rotation. Then land your feet flat on the board over the bolts.
4. Skate away or try the kickflip again until you can easily land it.

Tips & Warnings

• A kickflip spins the board in the opposite direction from a heel flip.
• If you wait too long to catch the board with your feet, it'll will start to flip again and you could stick primo (land on the edge of the board). Landing in this manner could lead to a fall or result in a foot injury from landing on the board's edge.
• As always, when attempting a trick in skateboarding, wear a helmet and protective pads.
• Skateboard tricks are much easier to complete successfully when you wear skate shoes (flat and tread-free) and when you have good grip tape on your deck.