Backside Kick Flip

Backside 180 + Kick Flip

This trick requires precision and control, and is fancied by skaters because of how the board is driven into a blind rotation and how it can look over obstacles

Hard

Prerequisites

Backside 180

Kick flip

Position

Quick start

Put some pressure in both of your feet toes

Open your back arm, and so your shoulders

Pop and slide up your front foot toward the corner

Flick your ankle sideway when reaching the nose

Lift up your back foot and keep turning

Sensation

Keep an even balance on both feet, keeping your weight on your toes. Keep your body centered, or lean slightly forward

Interactive skateboard diagram for learning Backside Kick Flip

Tips

Put your front foot on the bottom edge bolt and angle it toward the nose

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Put your back foot in the outer pocket and angle it toward the tail

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You can use a standard kick flip foot position if you prefer to

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Apply some pressure on both of your feet toes as you bend on your knees

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Try not to lean forward too much

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Open your back arm sideways to make your shoulders rotate and guide your body in the new direction

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Keep looking at your back foot, or even further ahead under your arm if you need to

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Make sure you are facing the direction you are moving when you are about to pop

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Your shoulders have to turn first, they initiate the rotation. Your legs only catch up with the motion, they do not generate it

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You can wind up your back shoulder if you want to, but do it with your back leg, not your back arm

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Pop the board straight down, do not scoop it, and stand upright as you pop

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Move your front foot toward the inner pocket of the nose just as the nose starts to rise

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Lift up your back foot to give the board room to rotate

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When your front foot reaches the pocket, flick your ankle hard outward to accelerate the flip motion

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Turn your hips, this will help you commit into the backside rotation

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Lift up your back foot to get some height and to give time to your rotation to complete before landing

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As you flick the board, your front foot will move over the nose, and your front knee should extend well over it

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Apply some pressure on your new front foot just before landing to shift your weight

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Use it to pull the board if you under rotate. Be careful not to lean backward too much after landing, nor toward the nose

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Mistakes

'My backside flip looks like a weird varial flip body varial'

'You are not involved in the trick enough. Work on lifting your front foot up and on the opening of your shoulders. Try to feel the control of the rotation'

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'I can't do a whole flip'

'You are either not flicking your front ankle, or not flicking in the corner. Focus on flicking hard after lifting up your front foot'

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'I can't do a whole backside 180'

'You are focusing on the flip too much. Focus on opening your body (look, back arm, shoulders and hips). You can pivot or power slide to complete the rotation'

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'I sometimes totally lose the board control while in the air'

'You are flicking the board too much on the nose. This happens sometimes, ending up into a weird forward flip or front foot impossible. Focus on flicking into the nose corner'

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'I slip out when I land'

'You are leaning on your nose as you jump. Try not to 'throw' your body. Control the rotation, shift your weight but not your balance, and stand upright as you pop'

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'I slightly fall backward after landing'

'You are leaning backward too much. Try to stand upright without leaning backward. Use your heels and pull the board as you land if necessary'

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'I stop after having landed'

'You don't have enough speed. Adjust your rotation to achieve a full 180-degree rotation. The further you are from this, the more you will be slowed down'

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'My flip is rocket'

'Your front foot slides too far away or you are flicking too soon. Emphasize the flick at the nose, ensure your front knee goes over the nose, and make sure your front foot travels far enough on the board'

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Helpers

Grass simulation

Try the backside kick flip on grass. This helps if you are scared of the trick. The feeling is not quite the same as the real trick because you will miss the pop. On the other hand, you will have a better balance without moving

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Little by little

You can start turning 20 degrees, then increasing to 40, and so on until you reach the full rotation. You can do this both rolling and stationary. Using lines on the ground can help

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Specific module

You can practice the backside kick flip on bank ramps or pyramid transfers, as the rotation in both cases is less than 180 degrees, requiring less effort and technique to success

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Variations

Lowering and centering your front foot, as well as angling your back foot toward the nose will make it harder but much higher and catchable

Transition

Leaning toward the nose helps complete the rotation with a pivot or a power slide, but this will make you uncomfortable over obstacles