Skateboarding is cool and all, but it's sure not easy to learn. To improve your chances of succeeding at learning new tricks quickly, let us hook you up with a little tutorial. This week, the KickFlip!

Read carefully and remember that after the technique, the number one secret to skateboarding is practice!

To land a kickflip, you must jump vertically and use your front foot to flick or hit the board on it's upper side so it rotates under your feet before you land back on it. The kickflip may seem difficult at first, but once you get it right, a world of opportunities will open in front of you!

Know how to ollie

The kick flip has a lot in common with the ollie, the first maneuver you need to learn when you start skating. The difference lies in the "kick" and the fact that the board rotates under your feet instead of sticking to it. In order to learn how to do kickflip, it is important to know how to do a proper ollie.We assume that you already know how to ollie, but if you need a little help, here is the simplified method:

Place your foot back on the tip of your tail and your front foot a little under the bolts at an angle of almost 90 degrees. Bend you knees and prepare to jump. As you take off from the ground,Apply a strong pressure on the tail of your boards and tap it on the ground so the front of the board lifts into the air. Slip your front foot to the top of the board to level it in the air. Once you are all levelled up, let yourself fall back on the ground and absorb the impact by bending your knees.

The foot placement

Once you get how to do an ollie, it's time to go for the kick flip. First of all, it's important to know that the kickflip's foot placement, though similar to the ollie, is a lot different, especially for the front foot. It will be positioned in a slightly more pronounced angle, with the toes pointing slightly forward, which will facilitate your kick when it comes time to "flick" your board.

Your back foot, like the ollie, is firmly resting on the tail of the board. Our tip: Do not lean forward too much when popping and make sure your shoulders are opened forward for more balance.

OLLIE

KICKFLIP

the "flick"

The flick is the foot movement that will allow you to make your skateboard rotate. For someone who has never done it, it can look a bit complex, but it's just a simple kick. All you need is the right timing.

Get ready to pop up as if you were doing an ollie, but with the kick flip foot placement you learned in the previous step. As you begin to jump, slide your front foot toward the front edge of the board pointing more and more towards the toes and BANG, kick forward making sure the toes of your front foot hit the side of the board in a quick and firm way.

Two things you need to know: One, when you kick, aim your front foot up, not down. This will allow your two feet to stay above the board in order to land on it and not on the ground. Two, do not try to kick too hard as your board could move away from your feet.

The Catch

Once the skateboard has completed a full rotation under your feet while you are in the air, catch it with your back foot first to stop the rotation. The front foot will get back in it's place automatically.

To find out if your skateboard has completed its rotation, you will have to keep your eyes on it while you do your kick flip, which can be difficult. Do your best to have the right timing and try to land with your feet on your skateboard's screws for more style and ease.

Tip: Keep your shoulders aligned with the direction in which you are heading. This will help you keep your balance as you set up for your kick flip.

 Absorb the impact and keep practicing

The moment we've all been waiting for, the landing! After catching your board in the air, stomp it to the ground and don't forget to bend your knees to absorb the impact and for landing style points. This will also allow you to keep better control of your skateboard while you roll away.

That's it! Now, PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!