A Heelflip is similar to a Kickflip where the board performs a flipping rotation alongside its long axis, but in the opposite direction because you flip the board with your heel instead of your toes like you would do with a Kickflip.
This basic trick was, like so many others, invented by Mr. Rodney Mullen himself and would surely be missed if he wouldn’t have invented it. So to thank him for this, go out and practise this skateboard classic!
Learn here how to do a Heelflip!
Heelflip
Trick Tip Sequence: Heelflip
Trick Tip Step By Step: Heelflip
Click to enlarge
1. While you place your back foot similar to an Ollie position, your front foot should be placed near the bolts of your front truck or slightly behind them with your toes hanging off the edge of the board.
2. Pop your tail and slide your front foot up the board towards the nose and kick your front foot out so that your heel catches on the edge of the nose of your board. This will make it flip with the kick of your heel.
3. After the heel of your front foot has left the nose, the board starts to flip or rotate.
4. Be patient and practice the right timing, the correct front foot position to get the perfect flip of the board as well as how hard you need to kick the board
5. As the board is done with its rotation, catch it with your feet on the bolts of your trucks, land smooth and ride away clean.
What Trick Next?
Now that you have the Heelflip on the menu you can evolve from here. Just think about a Varial Heelflip or a BS Heelflip!
Are you in for some other tricks? Go and check out our trick tips for flat, transition and curb and rail.
omar
when i flick with my heel, the board only flips halfway, do you have any tips to make it a full flip
Tony
This one is hard to answer because it can have various reasons and there are different ways to do a Heelflip. If you’re flipping the board with your heel, make sure to pull your front foot to the outside AND to the front. If you’re simply kicking your foot out to the front your board will not stay under you or won’t flip fully (or even too much).
Personal tip: I know that my front foot is in perfect heelflip position when I could theoratically “grab around the board with my big toe”. In other words I have my big toe hanging off the board. Keep your lower back straight and do the movements for the flip as described. Also takes a lot of practice but you can do it. Good luck!
Anonymous
How do u get the board to flip enough I always land when the board only flipped halfway.
Tony
Hey, there are many options for foot placement etc. You just have to find one that works well for you, simply try a few variations.
One option you could try is to set your front foot with your big toe “hanging off” the frontside of your deck. This creates a bit of tension and flips the board very well when kicking your front foot out the heelflip way.
Good luck!
Dan Chacon
I had heelflips down for about 10 years and then i just lost them I don’t know why
Nate
love it
Jhon
Great post. I am writing something similar in my blog. would you mind if i quote some of your lines in my post?
Tony
Hey, please only quote us when you link to our page/blog. Thanks for the feedback anyway =)