Frontside 180

This trick is the logical next step after the ollie

Easy

Prerequisites

Ollie

Position

Quick start

Bend on your knees

Open your front arm, and so your shoulders

Pop and slide up your front foot as you would for an ollie

Let your front foot move also slightly frontside

Lift up your back foot

Be ready to land in switch stance

Sensation

Keep an even balance on both feet, keeping your weight on your heels. Keep your body centered. Shift your weight to your front foot as you jump

Interactive skateboard diagram for learning Frontside 180

Tips

Put your front foot under the bolts, or a bit further if you want to

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Let your front toes hang off the board a bit, as your front foot will move backwards during the trick

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Put your back foot in the inner pocket, with a slight angle if you want to

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Apply some pressure on your front heel, but do not lean backwards

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

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Keep looking at your front 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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Pop the board straight down, do not scoop it

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Slide your front foot up as you would for an ollie

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Slightly slide your front foot sideways as well, to make it follow your shoulders

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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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Push your back foot slightly forward to make it follow your front foot and take the lead

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

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Be ready to roll in switch, as you will land in a switch stance after completing the rotation

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Mistakes

'I can't turn frontside'

'You are not using your shoulders. Turn your head (look at your front foot), swing your front arm sideways hard enough, and pivot your hips'

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'I lose the board while in the air'

'Your front toes are not hanging off, or you are leaning backwards. Adjust your foot positioning if needed and keep an even balance Do not lean backwards, simply apply pressure'

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'My heels touch the ground when I land'

'Your front toes are not hanging off, or you are leaning backwards. Adjust your foot positioning if needed and keep an even balance Do not lean backwards, simply apply pressure'

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'I can't do the whole rotation'

'You are not rotating enough. Make sure you always look at your front foot, swing your front arm hard, and open your shoulders. You also might not be jumping high enough'

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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 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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'I land the back foot on the tail'

'Focus on landing in switch rather than in an akward fakie position. Shift your weight before landing, slide your front foot a bit further and work on your switch stance (rolling and tic-tacs)'

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Helpers

Pivot feeling

You can start with fakie frontside pivots to get used to the frontside rotation. Then, you can move on regular frontside pivots to get used to the proper frontside motion

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One foot practice

Do a frontside 180 and try to land it with your front foot only. Focus on keeping control and feeling the rotation

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Switch simulation

Rolling in switch stance will help improve your balance and crontrol after landing a 180-degree rotation

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Specific module

You can practice the frontside 180 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

The lower your front foot is on the board, the higher it gets

Transition

You can scoop slightly instead of popping, but this is less reliable. You can wind your shoulders if you need more power, but this might affect your balance. You can consider you are landing this trick in fakie if you don't feel comfortable with the switch stance, but this might lock your feet in 'regular' position. Also, you can rotate 90 degrees and land on the front truck, then complete the rotation with a 90-degree pivot if that feels easier for you