Essential Names of Skateboarding Tricks: Ollie to Impossible

Skateboarding tricks are the heart and soul of the sport. From basic moves to advanced stunts, knowing the names of skateboarding tricks can help you progress and impress.

This article covers all the names of skateboarding tricks in the world. And it also provides step-by-step instructions to help you master each one.

Ready to take your skateboarding skills to the next level? Keep reading and start practicing these exciting tricks today!

Understanding Skateboarding Tricks

Definition of a Trick

A skateboarding trick is a maneuver performed on a skateboard while riding. Tricks range from simple jumps to complex flips and grinds.

Categories of Tricks

There are several main categories of skateboarding tricks:

• Flip Tricks: The skateboard flips in the air.
• Grab Tricks: The skater grabs the board while in the air.
• Grind Tricks: The skateboarder slides on the trucks.
• Slide Tricks: The skateboard slides on its deck or wheels.

Basic Skateboarding Tricks

Basic skateboarding Tricks List:

• Ollie
• Pop Shove-It
• Kickflip
• Heelflip
• Manual and Nose Manual

Ollie

The Ollie is the foundation of most skateboarding tricks. To perform an Ollie:

1. Place your back foot on the tail of the skateboard and your front foot in the middle.
2. Pop the tail down hard while sliding your front foot up the board.
3. Jump and level out the board in mid-air.
4. Land with both feet on the bolts.

Pop Shove-It

The Pop Shove-It is a classic trick that involves spinning the board 180 degrees under your feet.

1. Position your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle.
2. Pop the tail while scooping the board with your back foot.
3. Let the board spin 180 degrees and catch it with your feet.
4. Land smoothly and roll away.

Kickflip

A Kickflip requires flipping the board 360 degrees along its length.

1. Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot at an angle near the middle.
2. Pop the tail and flick the board’s edge with your front foot.
3. Let the board flip and catch it with both feet.
4. Land and ride away.

Heelflip

It’s similar to the Kickflip, but you flip the board with your heel.

1. Position your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle.
2. Pop the tail and flick the board with your heel.
3. Allow the board to flip and catch it with both feet.
4. Land and continue skating.

Manual and Nose Manual

These tricks involve balancing on the skateboard’s back or front wheels.

1. For a Manual, place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the front bolts.
2. Lift the front wheels off the ground and balance on the back wheels.
3. For a Nose Manual, switch the position, balancing on the front wheels.

Intermediate Skateboarding Tricks

Intermediate Tricks list:

• Varial Kickflip
• 180 Ollie (Frontside and Backside)
• 50-50 Grind
• Boardslide

Varial Kickflip

A combination of a Kickflip and a Pop Shove-It.

1. Position your back foot on the tail and your front foot at an angle.
2. Pop the tail and flick the board while scooping it with your back foot.
3. Let the board spin and flip, then catch it with both feet.
4. Land smoothly.

180 Ollie (Frontside and Backside)

A 180 Ollie involves spinning your body and board 180 degrees in the air.

1. Place your feet as you would for an Ollie.
2. Pop the tail and turn your body either front or backside.
3. Catch the board with your feet and complete the spin.
4. Land and ride away.

50-50 Grind

Grind both trucks on a rail or ledge.

1. Approach the rail with speed.
2. Ollie onto the rail and land with both trucks grinding.
3. Balance and slide along the rail.
4. Pop off the rail and land cleanly.

Boardslide

Slide the middle of the board along a rail or ledge.

1. Approach the rail at a slight angle.
2. Ollie and turn 90 degrees to land the middle of the board on the rail.
3. Slide along the rail, keeping your balance.
4. Pop off the rail and ride away.

Advanced Skateboarding Tricks

Advanced Tricks list:

• 360 Flip
• Laser Flip
• Inward Heelflip
• Blunt to Fakie

360 Flip (Tre Flip)

A combination of a Kickflip and a 360 Shove-It.

1. Position your feet like a Kickflip.
2. Pop the tail hard while scooping the board with your back foot.
3. Let the board spin 360 degrees and flip simultaneously.
4. Catch the board with both feet and land.

Laser Flip

It is a complex trick that combines a Heelflip and a 360 Shove-It.

1. Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle.
2. Pop the tail while flicking the board with your heel and scooping it with your back foot.
3. Let the board spin and flip, then catch it with both feet.
4. Land and ride away.

Inward Heelflip

An inward Heelflip combines a Heelflip and a Pop Shove-It.

1. Position your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle.
2. Pop the tail while flicking the board with your heel inward.
3. Allow the board to spin and flip, then catch it with both feet.
4. Land smoothly.

Blunt to Fakie

A Blunt to Fakie involves a Blunt Stall followed by rolling back in Fakie.

1. Approach the ramp and Ollie into a Blunt Stall.
2. Balance in the Blunt position, with the tail on the coping.
3. Shift your weight and roll back into the ramp fakie.

Air, Grab, and Ramp Tricks

Indy Grab

An Indy Grab involves grabbing the toe edge of the board in mid-air.

1. Ollie into the air.
2. Reach down and grab the toe edge of the board with your backhand.
3. Hold the grab and then release before landing.

Melon Grab

Grab the heel edge of the board with your front hand.

1. Ollie into the air.
2. Reach down and grab the heel edge of the board.
3. Hold the grab and then release before landing.

Boneless

Step off the board with one foot while grabbing the nose and jumping.

1. Place your back foot on the tail and front foot near the bolts.
2. Step off with your front foot, grab the nose, and jump.
3. Land back on the board and continue riding.

Method Air

A stylish grab where you arch your back while grabbing the heel edge.

1. Ollie into the air.
2. Grab the heel edge of the board and arch your back.
3. Hold the position and then release before landing.

Grind and Slide Tricks

Smith Grind

A Smith Grind involves grinding with the back truck while the front truck hangs off.

1. Approach the rail with speed.
2. Ollie onto the rail and landed with the back truck grinding.
3. Keep the front truck hanging off the side.
4. Pop off the rail and land cleanly.

Feeble Grind

Grind with the back truck while the front truck hangs below the rail.

1. Approach the rail with speed.
2. Ollie onto the rail and landed with the back truck grinding.
3. Keep the front truck hanging below the rail.
4. Pop off the rail and land smoothly.

Nose Grind

Grind with the front truck on the rail or ledge.

1. Approach the rail with speed.
2. Ollie went onto the rail and landed with the front truck grinding.
3. Balance and slide along the rail.
4. Pop off the rail and ride away.

Miscellaneous and Combo Tricks

Wallride

Ride along the wall before jumping off.

1. Approach the wall at an angle.
2. Ollie onto the wall and ride along it.
3. Jump off and land back on the ground.

Darkslide

Slide with the grip tape side down.

1. Approach the rail at a slight angle.
2. Ollie and flip the board so the grip tape is down.
3. Slide along the rail with the grip tape side down.
4. Flip the board back and land.

Manual Combos

Combine manuals with other tricks like Kickflips.

1. Perform a Manual as described earlier.
2. Add a Kickflip or another trick while balancing.
3. Land back in a Manual and ride away.

Skateboard Tricks List Easiest to Hardest

Ranking tricks from easiest to hardest helps skaters progress systematically. 

• Ollie
• Pop Shove-It
• Manual
• Kickflip
• Heelflip
• Frontside 180
• Backside 180
• Varial Kickflip
• Boardslide
• 50-50 Grind
• 360 Flip
• Hardflip
• Nosegrind
• Bluntslide
• Laser Flip

Tips for practicing skateboard tricks safely

Always wear protective gear, practice on smooth surfaces, and start with small, manageable steps. Also, learn details about how to wear and what to wear for safety. Don’t rush your progress.

FAQs

Conclusion

Skateboarding offers endless possibilities for creativity and skill development. By learning and mastering tricks, you’ll not only improve your skating abilities but also have more fun. Start with basic tricks like ollies and kickflips. Gradually, you can move on to more advanced moves. Practice regularly, stay safe, and keep pushing your limits. If you have any favorite tricks or questions about the names of skateboarding tricks, feel free to share them in the comments below.