Skateboarding is a thrilling sport that offers endless opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and fun. Whether you’re cruising down the streets of Venice Beach or practicing at a local skate park in Santa Monica, skateboarding allows you to explore and push your boundaries. If you’re new to skateboarding, mastering a few basic tricks can set you on the path to becoming a skilled skater. In this guide, we’ll cover the top 10 tricks every beginner should learn and explain how Coyote Skate & Surf School in Los Angeles can help you conquer these moves while improving your skills on both land and water.
1. Ollie
The ollie is the fundamental trick in skateboarding and is the basis for most other tricks. It involves popping the tail of the skateboard while sliding your front foot up to level the board in the air.
How to Ollie:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot in the middle of the board.
Pop the Tail: Push down on the tail with your back foot to pop the board into the air.
Slide Your Front Foot: As you pop the board, slide your front foot forward to level the board out in the air.
Land: Try to land with both feet over the bolts for stability.
Common Mistakes:
Not popping the tail hard enough.
Not sliding the front foot high enough.
Leaning too far forward or backward.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
At Coyote Skate & Surf School, our experienced instructors can guide you through the mechanics of the ollie, providing personalized feedback to help you perfect your technique. Our lessons are designed to help you gain confidence and build a solid foundation for learning more advanced tricks.
2. Shove-it
The shove-it is a classic skateboard trick that involves spinning the board 180 degrees beneath your feet without flipping it.
How to Shove-it:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot near the tail and your front foot near the middle of the board.
Scoop the Tail: Use your back foot to scoop the tail in a circular motion, causing the board to spin.
Jump and Stay Centered: Jump up and keep your body centered over the board as it spins.
Land: Catch the board with your feet and roll away smoothly.
Common Mistakes:
Not jumping high enough.
Leaning too far forward or backward.
Spinning the board too hard or too soft.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our skateboarding lessons at Coyote Skate & Surf School can help you master the shove-it by focusing on balance and control. Our instructors offer step-by-step guidance to help you learn this trick with confidence.
3. Manual
The manual is a balance-based trick where you ride on two wheels, either the front or back, without letting the other set of wheels touch the ground.
How to Manual:
Foot Placement: Position your back foot on the tail and your front foot in the middle of the board.
Shift Your Weight: Lean back slightly to lift the front wheels off the ground for a manual, or lean forward to lift the back wheels for a nose manual.
Maintain Balance: Use your arms and knees to help maintain balance as you ride on two wheels.
Ride it Out: Try to hold the manual for as long as possible without letting the other wheels touch down.
Common Mistakes:
Shifting your weight too quickly.
Not using your arms for balance.
Going too fast or too slow.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our instructors can teach you the art of balancing and controlling your skateboard through the manual. With our guidance, you’ll learn how to ride on two wheels like a pro.
4. Kickturn
The kickturn is a simple trick that involves pivoting on the back wheels to change direction while riding.
How to Kickturn:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the front bolts.
Lift the Front Wheels: Shift your weight onto the back foot to lift the front wheels.
Turn the Board: Use your shoulders and arms to guide the board in the desired direction.
Set the Wheels Down: Gently lower the front wheels back to the ground.
Common Mistakes:
Turning too sharply.
Not lifting the front wheels high enough.
Losing balance.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Kickturns are essential for navigating ramps and bowls. Our lessons will help you develop the skills to change directions smoothly and confidently.
5. Frontside 180
The frontside 180 is a spin trick that involves rotating your body and board 180 degrees in the frontside direction.
How to Frontside 180:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle of the board.
Pop and Rotate: Pop the tail like an ollie, and rotate your shoulders and hips in the frontside direction.
Keep Spinning: Allow the board to follow your body’s rotation.
Land and Roll Away: Land with your feet over the bolts and ride away in the new direction.
Common Mistakes:
Not committing to the full spin.
Not keeping your shoulders aligned with your board.
Leaning too far forward or backward.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our instructors at Coyote Skate & Surf School can teach you the nuances of body rotation and board control, helping you perfect your frontside 180 with ease.
6. Backside 180
The backside 180 is similar to the frontside 180, but the rotation is in the backside direction.
How to Backside 180:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle of the board.
Pop and Rotate: Pop the tail and rotate your shoulders and hips in the backside direction.
Complete the Spin: Allow the board to follow your body’s rotation.
Land and Ride Away: Land with your feet over the bolts and continue rolling in the new direction.
Common Mistakes:
Not committing to the full spin.
Not keeping your shoulders aligned with your board.
Leaning too far forward or backward.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our lessons focus on building confidence in your ability to rotate and control the board, ensuring you can execute a backside 180 with style and precision.
7. Heelflip
The heelflip is a flip trick where the skater uses their front heel to flip the board in the air.
How to Heelflip:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot with your toes hanging slightly off the edge of the board.
Pop the Tail: Pop the tail with your back foot.
Kick with Your Heel: Use your front heel to flick the edge of the board, causing it to flip.
Catch and Land: Watch for the board to complete its flip, then catch it with your feet and land over the bolts.
Common Mistakes:
Not kicking the board hard enough.
Losing sight of the board during the flip.
Landing off-balance.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our expert instructors can help you understand the timing and precision needed for the heelflip, providing personalized feedback to help you master this impressive trick.
8. Pop Shove-it
The pop shove-it is a combination of the ollie and the shove-it, where the board pops into the air while spinning 180 degrees.
How to Pop Shove-it:
Foot Placement: Position your back foot near the tail and your front foot in the middle of the board.
Scoop the Tail: Use your back foot to scoop the tail while simultaneously popping the board into the air.
Keep the Board Spinning: Jump and keep your body centered over the board.
Land and Roll Away: Catch the board with your feet and land over the bolts.
Common Mistakes:
Not popping the board high enough.
Leaning too far forward or backward.
Losing control of the board during the spin.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our instructors can guide you through the intricacies of timing and coordination needed for the pop shove-it, helping you land this trick with confidence.
9. Varial Kickflip
The varial kickflip combines a kickflip with a shove-it, resulting in a flip and spin combination.
How to Varial Kickflip:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle of the board.
Pop and Flick: Pop the tail and flick the board with your front foot to initiate the flip.
Scoop the Tail: Simultaneously scoop the tail with your back foot to spin the board.
Catch and Land: Spot the board as it flips and spins, then catch it with your feet and land over the bolts.
Common Mistakes:
Not committing to the full flip and spin.
Losing sight of the board.
Landing off-balance.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Varial kickflips require a combination of skill and timing. Our lessons at Coyote Skate & Surf School provide personalized instruction to help you achieve this complex trick.
10. Boneless
The boneless is a unique and stylish trick where the skater grabs the board and steps off with one foot to achieve a jump.
How to Boneless:
Foot Placement: Place your back foot on the tail and your front foot near the middle of the board.
Grab the Board: Use your front hand to grab the board near the front trucks.
Step Off: Step off the board with your front foot while lifting the board with your back foot.
Jump and Land: Jump off the ground with your back foot, then place your front foot back on the board and land over the bolts.
Common Mistakes:
Not jumping high enough.
Losing control of the board.
Landing off-balance.
How Coyote Skate & Surf School Can Help
Our experienced instructors can help you develop the coordination and control needed to perform the boneless smoothly and with style.
Skateboarding and Surfing: A Perfect Combination
Skateboarding and surfing share many similarities, making them complementary sports. Both involve balance, coordination, and a sense of flow. At Coyote Skate & Surf School, we offer lessons for both skateboarding and surfing, allowing you to develop skills that will benefit you in both sports.
Why Choose Coyote Skate & Surf School?
Expert Instructors: Our instructors are experienced skaters and surfers who are passionate about teaching and sharing their knowledge.
Personalized Lessons: We offer customized lessons tailored to your skill level and goals, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider.
Supportive Environment: We foster a positive and encouraging atmosphere where students can learn and progress at their own pace.
Convenient Locations: With lessons offered in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, you’ll have access to prime skateboarding and surfing spots.
Conclusion
Learning to skateboard is an exciting journey filled with opportunities for growth and self-expression. By mastering these top 10 tricks, you’ll build a strong foundation that will set you on the path to becoming a skilled skater. Whether you’re taking skateboard lessons in Venice Beach or surfing lessons in Santa Monica, Coyote Skate & Surf School is here to support you every step of the way.
Our expert instructors are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals, providing personalized instruction and a supportive environment for learning. So, grab your skateboard, hit the pavement, and embark on an adventure of creativity, fun, and skill-building with Coyote Skate & Surf School!
Comments