Heel Flip

This trick is underrated, looks pretty different from the kick flip and requires power over finesse

Medium

Prerequisites

Ollie

Position

Quick start

Make a snappy pop, leaning slightly backwards

Slide your front foot to the outer pocket, toes down

Flick your front ankle up when reaching the nose

Push your front foot slightly forward

Lift up your feet high, the board flips slowly

Catch the board with both of your feet

Sensation

Keep an even balance on both feet, applying pressure to your front toes while but leaning a bit backwards

Interactive skateboard diagram for learning Heel Flip

Tips

Put your front foot under the bolts, a bit lower if you prefer, and make your toes hang off

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You can increase or reduce this hanging off of your toes as you feel comfortable with the flip

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You can angle a bit your front foot towards the nose if you wish

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Put your back foot in the back pocket, this gives much more strenght for the flip

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You can slightly point your back foot towards the tail if you want to

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Lean slightly backwards right before you pop, but apply some pressure on your front toes as well

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Slide your front foot up as you pop, toes down, slightly towards the outer pocket

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Keep the pressure on your front toes and stay on your tip toes as long as you can

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Flick your ankle up when you reach the outer pocket. Slightly delay the flick from the sliding up

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Slide your front foot much more sideway if you want to use your heel instead of your toes to make the board flip

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Lift up your back foot to give the board enough room and time to flip

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Catch the board with both feet

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Mistakes

'The board does not flip at all'

'You are most likely kicking your front foot away. Slide it up as you would for an ollie, but toward the outer pocket. Flick it up, but do not kick it'

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'I can land it with either of my feet but not with both'

'You are not jumping as you pop. One of your feet goes straight to the ground. Keep both feet up in the air as you pop'

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'I can land a half heel flip but not the whole motion'

'You are either not flicking enough with your ankle or not lifting your feet high enough'

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'I land in front of the board'

'You are leaning forward. Focus on leaning backward while still applying some pressure on your toes'

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'My flip is too slow'

'You are not flicking hard enough, or you are flicking too soon. Focus on the outer pocket, and slightly delay the flick from the sliding up'

5 / 6

'My flip is rocket, or I credit card'

'You are either kicking your front foot away or lifting it too much. Focus on the ollie movement, sliding your foot along the board, more horizontally if needed'

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Helpers

Under flip exercice

Place your feet under your board, jump and make it flip with your front foot at the same time. Try to land it

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Muscle memory

Stand on your back foot as if you were popping, then slide your front foot toward the outer pocket and flick your ankle. Repeat this over and over

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One foot practice

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

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Hold on flip

Do a heel flip by holding yourself on a rail

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Variations

There are two ways to do this trick : with the heel or the toes

Transition

Hanging off more of your toes and jumping backward can help you land it, but you will lose comfort and control