Skateboarding is a thrilling and exciting sport that calls for lots of practice and commitment to master. To begin, it’s essential to start with the fundamentals and progress slowly toward more complicated tricks. As a new skateboarder, it can be hard to know how to kick off – don’t fret, we’ve got you covered!
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through 10 of the most straightforward skateboard tricks for starters.
Riding and Turning
Skateboarding is a great way to stay active and have fun! Before trying out any tricks, it’s important to learn the basics – how to ride and turn on the board. To start, stand on the board with both feet parallel to each other and your toes slightly overhanging the edges of the deck. Bend your knees slightly for balance.
To ride, push off with one foot (usually your back foot) and use your other foot to steer by applying pressure either above or below the board’s trucks (the metal axles connecting the wheels). Keep your legs bent for better control.
To turn, shift your weight onto your toes, lean in the direction you want to turn, and use your feet to steer as you would while riding straight. Once you get comfortable balancing on the board and steering it around, you can progress to more advanced riding techniques like carving turns or pumping.
Ollie
The Ollie is an iconic skateboarding trick that involves popping the board off the ground while keeping it attached to your feet. To start, stand on the board with both feet parallel and slightly wider than the shoulders’ width apart. Bend your knees and prepare to jump by transferring weight onto your toes.
To begin the Ollie, use your back foot to forcefully kick out and up at the same time – this is called the “pop”. As your back foot pops up, slide your front foot forward until it reaches the nose of the board then keep pushing down.
After you get used to popping the board off, try higher Ollies by pushing extra hard with each pop. With practice, you’ll be able to pull off impressive mid-air tricks!
Shuvit
A Shuvit is a basic skateboarding trick that involves spinning the board 180 degrees without your feet touching it. To do this, stand on the board in your normal riding position and bring your front foot back up to the middle of the board. Place your back foot on the tail of the board and press down slightly so you can feel its edge.
Now, use a quick flick of your back foot to spin the board in the direction you want – either clockwise or counterclockwise. The spinning motion should come from your ankle and not just your toes.
Keep trying until you can land it consistently from a stationary position; once you’re comfortable, practice doing it while riding for more flow!
Kickturn
A Kickturn is a fundamental skateboarding trick that involves lifting the front wheels of the board up and rotating it 90 degrees. It’s useful for getting around tight spots and changing direction while riding.
To do a Kickturn, stand on your board in your normal riding stance and place your back foot on the tail of the board. Position your front foot about halfway down the side of the deck, then apply pressure so that you can feel its edge.
Now, use your back foot to press down hard and pop the front wheels off the ground at a slight angle. When they’re airborne, rotate them in the direction you want to turn – either clockwise or counterclockwise – until they reach 90 degrees. Keep practicing until you get it right!
Manuals
A Manual is a skateboarding trick where you ride on the back wheels of your board without allowing the front wheels to touch the ground. It’s a difficult trick to master, but one that will give you great balance and stability skills.
To get started, try practicing balancing on the back wheels while stationary. Stand in your normal riding stance, then slowly shift your weight backward until your front wheels are off the ground. Once you’re balanced, keep your arms out and focus on keeping your center of gravity aligned with the board.
Once you can stay in this position for a few seconds without falling over, it’s time to practice longer manuals. Roll forward slowly and use subtle shifts of pressure to help you stay in balance or pivot slightly as needed. Don’t be disheartened if it takes some time to get it right – manual tricks involve lots of dedication and patience!
Boneless
A Boneless is a basic skateboarding trick that involves taking your front foot off the skateboard and jumping off the back foot to catch the board and land back on it. It’s a great way to show off some style, as well as improve your coordination and balance.
To do a boneless while riding, start by rolling forward at a slow speed. When you’re ready, lift up your front foot slightly so that only your back foot is on the tail of the board. Push down with your back foot to give an extra bit of pop, then jump off the board and catch it in mid-air.
Land with both feet firmly planted and keep rolling! You can also practice this trick stationary – just stand in your normal riding stance and jump off the board as before. Keep practicing until you master it!
No-Comply
A No-Comply is a skateboarding trick that involves lifting the front foot off the skateboard and using the back foot to spin the board 180 degrees. It adds style and flair to your riding, as well as gives you great board control skills.
To do a No-Comply, start by lifting up your front foot and slightly extending your back leg behind you. Quickly slide your back foot in a circular motion to spin the board 180 degrees while keeping your center of gravity aligned with the deck.
As soon as you feel the tail of the board touches down, press down with both feet to absorb some of the impacts. Make sure to keep spinning until you reach 180 degrees – this will help build momentum and make it look better! Practice this one slowly at first and then gradually increase your speed until you master it!
Boardslide
A Boardslide is a classic skateboard trick that involves sliding your board along a rail or ledge with the trucks and wheels on one side and the deck on the other. It’s a great way to show off your skills and can be done on a variety of obstacles.
To do a boardslide, start by rolling up to the rail or ledge at a moderate speed. When you’re ready, place your back foot on the tail of the board and lean forward so that the front truck is higher than the back truck. Ollie onto the rail or ledge, then quickly lower your back foot to slide along the surface.
Keep your balance and weight distributed evenly to avoid falling off. When you reach the end of the obstacle, jump off and land safely! Practice this trick on different surfaces and objects until you master it!
50-50 Grind
A 50-50 Grind is a slightly more advanced skateboarding trick that involves sliding the trucks of the board along a rail or ledge with both wheels on either side of the obstacle. It takes some skill and practice, but it is achievable for beginners.
To do a 50-50 Grind, start by rolling up to the rail or ledge at a moderate speed. When you’re ready, ollie onto the rail or ledge and place your back foot on the tail of the board while keeping your front foot off. Then slide along the rail or ledge while balancing your weight evenly between both feet. Keep your front foot raised as you grind to prevent it from getting caught in the rails. As soon as you reach the end of the obstacle, jump off and land safely! Practice this one slowly at first and then gradually increase your speed until you master it!
Rock to Fakie
A Rock to Fakie is a fun and relatively easy skateboarding trick that involves riding up a ramp, rocking back to the tail of the board, and then riding back down in the opposite direction. It’s a great way to show off your skills and can be done on mini ramps or quarter pipes.
To do a Rock to Fakie, start by rolling up to the ramp at a moderate speed. When you’re ready, ollie onto the ramp and lean back onto your tail so that you’re facing downhill. Push off with your back foot and begin sliding down the ramp in the opposite direction of where you just came from.
Keep your balance and weight distributed smoothly between both feet to avoid falling off. When you reach the bottom, land safely! Practice this trick slowly at first and then gradually increase your speed until you master it!
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the basics is essential for becoming a proficient skateboarder. Start with the fundamental tricks such as riding and turning, Ollies, Shuvits, and kickturns. This will help you to develop your balance, timing, and coordination.
Once you’ve got these skills down, it’s time to move on to more advanced tricks like Boardslides, Grinds, and Rock to Fakies. Remember that you can’t learn these overnight; it takes practice and dedication.
Keep challenging yourself to try new things and don’t be discouraged if you fail at first – with enough effort and patience you will eventually get the hang of it!
I’m John Peterson, a passionate skater, blogger, and lifelong enthusiast. I’ve been skating for over 9 years and have gone on to write a blog dedicated to the sport of skating and its culture. Through my blog, I strive to share my knowledge and experience of the sport with all who are interested. From beginner tips, tricks, and equipment reviews to interviews and event coverage, I cover it all. So read my blog as I explore the wonderful world of skating!