Skateboarding - How to Heel Flip

Skateboarding - How to Heel Flip
By Geoff Wheeler

OK, so you have ollies and kick flips down solid it's now time to progress on to something a bit more challenging. The Heel flip. Here's how you do one: Pop your tail, kick your foot out, catch it and ride away...yeah right. Unfortunately this is how most Heel flip tips out there go. Not here. Here I'm going to break it down and give you in depth tips on how to pull this trick off correctly and with style. Ready?...here we go.

Moment of Zen before you try any new skateboarding trick I have always found its a great idea to visualize it clearly in your mind how the trick will look. Do this before you do the heel flip and even during it. Maybe imagine a heel flip from one of your favorite skate videos or one of your favorite pros pulling it off. This visualization really really works. So much like a kick flip uses the toe and kicks off at a slightly less then 180 degree angle, the heel flip is the same but you use your heel and you are kicking in the opposite direction. Do not kick straight out to the side and do not kick right out in front...make it in between the two. Get rolling with a little speed and give your board a good pop. When kicking your front foot out make sure to twist your foot and ankle to the side a bit...similar to how you slide your foot up the board somewhat sideways for an ollie the same is done for a heel flip. Only you kick out at an angle and completely off the board.

Airwalk it! Most people are paying so much attention to what their front foot is doing during this tricks they pretty much don't think about the back. Well here's another tried and true secret I've found when doing these. Kick your back foot out the opposite direction to the front foot. So essentially you are doing almost a scissor kick in the air or an "airwalk" visualize your legs doing this as you begin to kick. Don't just jump straight up and kick...that wont do it. You need to kick your back leg somewhat in the opposite direction.You don't have to over do it or kick out big time like with the front foot...just a little movement with the back foot will do it.This method has always worked for me and keeps my heel flips looking big, clean and stylish.

Ride away clean Catch your board in the air and land solid. OK the ending sounds too simple but, if you follow the above tips it is that simple.

In conclusion be sure to think about how awesome the trick will look in your mind and really see yourself pulling it off. Slide your front foot off the board at an angle while popping off the ground and kick your back foot in the opposite direction slightly.

I hope this helps you and happy skating!

Geoff Wheeler has been involved in skateboarding for the past 20 years and writes about skate shoes including Ipath skate shoes and Globe shoes.

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