Ever watched a skateboarder land a trick that looked like they defied gravity, then heard them yell out a name that sounded more like a secret code? You’re not alone! The world of skateboarding tricks boasts a vast vocabulary that can leave beginners scratching their heads. But fear not, fellow shred enthusiast! This guide is here to crack the code and unlock the secrets behind those seemingly cryptic trick names.
Get ready to dive into the exciting world of skateboarding lingo, where we’ll explore different trick categories and decipher some of the most popular moves. So, grab your board (figuratively, for now!), and let’s get rollin’!
Understanding the Basics: Your Skateboarding Vocabulary Launchpad
Before we delve into the world of flip tricks and grinds, let’s build a solid foundation with some key skateboarding terms. These terms act like building blocks, combining to create the unique names for all those cool tricks you see skaters perform.
Here are some essential terms to get you started:
- Stance: This refers to how your feet are positioned on the board. Regular stance has your left foot forward, while goofy stance has your right foot forward.
- Frontside vs. Backside: These terms describe the direction your body rotates relative to the board. In a frontside trick, your body spins in the same direction the board noses (fronts) when it rolls forward. Backside spins go in the opposite direction.
- Fakie and Switch: Fakie is like rolling backwards with your normal stance, while switch is like riding goofy if you’re regular, or vice versa.
- Ollie: The fundamental jump achieved by popping the tail of the board down and sliding your front foot up the grip tape. It’s the foundation for many other tricks.
- Grind: When you slide the board along an object like a curb or rail with the trucks (metal parts attaching the wheels).
- Slide: Similar to a grind, but the board slides across a surface without using the trucks, often with the wheels at an angle.
- Grab: A trick where the skater grabs the board mid-air with their hands.
Now, armed with this basic vocabulary, we can move on to exploring the different categories of skateboarding tricks and how these terms come together to create those head-scratching (but super cool) trick names!
Shredding by Style: Essential Trick Categories
Skateboarding tricks come in all shapes and sizes, each with its own unique flavor. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common categories to get you familiar with the diverse world of shredding:
1. Foundation for Further Exploration:
These are the essential tricks that every skater learns first. They build your balance, control, and confidence, preparing you for more advanced moves.
- Ollie: The king of all basic tricks! Mastering the ollie unlocks a world of possibilities.
- Kickflip: This iconic trick involves flicking the board with your front foot for a 360-degree spin while you jump.
- Heelflip: Similar to a kickflip, but you flick the board with your back foot for a different spin and feel.
- Grinds: Get comfortable with balancing on your board while grinding (sliding) on curbs or rails.
- Slides: Learn to powerslide or boardslide to control your speed and add style to your lines.
2. Going Beyond the Basics:
Once you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to expand your trick repertoire! Here are some categories to explore:
- Flip Tricks: These involve the board flipping in the air with various spins and variations. Think 360 flips, bigspins, and impossible flips (they sound impossible for a reason!).
- Grab Tricks: Add some flair by grabbing your board mid-air during flips or other tricks. Melon grabs and indy grabs are popular choices.
- Lip Tricks: These tricks involve manuals and stalls performed on the edge of a ramp or bowl. Master the 5-0 grind to fakie for some serious lip action!
- Transition Tricks: Ramps and bowls offer a whole new playground for tricks. Learn to drop in, carve lines, and launch yourself into epic airs.
Remember, this is just a taste of the vast skateboarding trick vocabulary. As you progress, you’ll encounter even more mind-blowing maneuvers and combinations. Stay tuned for the next section, where we’ll share some essential tips for learning tricks and keeping yourself safe while shredding!
Going Beyond the Basics: Unleashing Your Inner Skate
Now that you’ve mastered the fundamentals, let’s explore some trick categories that will truly elevate your skateboarding game and turn heads at the skatepark.
- Flip Tricks: Buckle up for some board-flipping action! These tricks involve the board spinning through the air while you stay airborne. We already mentioned the kickflip and heelflip, but there’s a whole world of variations:
- 360 Flip: The board spins a full 360 degrees along with your body.
- Bigspin: Not only does the board do a full spin, but your body does a 180 or 360 rotation as well.
- Grab Tricks: Add a touch of style and creativity to your flips with grab tricks! These involve catching the board mid-air with your hand(s) in various ways. Here are a couple of popular grabs:
- Melon Grab: Reach down and grab the board between your legs with your hand closest to the nose.
- Indy Grab: Grab the board’s edge with your back hand behind your back leg.
- Lip Tricks: Take your shredding to the vertical realm with lip tricks! These maneuvers involve balancing and performing tricks on the coping (the curved edge) of a ramp or bowl.
- 5-0 Grind to Fakie: Grind on the coping with your front truck while facing the ramp, then transition into fakie (rolling backwards).
- Nollie Shove-it: A variation of a shove-it (where you pop the board and flick it with your foot) performed in a fakie stance.
These are just a few examples, and the possibilities for combining flips, grabs, and lip tricks are endless. Remember, safety always comes first, so wear your protective gear and progress gradually as you build your skills.
Coming up next, we’ll explore the exciting world of Transition Tricks, where you’ll learn how to conquer ramps and bowls with confidence!
Conquering Concrete Waves: Transition Trick Essentials
The skatepark isn’t just about flat ground shredding! Transition tricks take your skills to the ramps and bowls, adding a whole new dimension to your skateboarding experience. Here’s a glimpse into some fundamental transition maneuvers:
- Dropping In: The gateway to ramp fun! Learn how to smoothly roll from the flat section into the ramp’s incline.
- Stalls: Master the art of balancing on the coping at the top of the ramp or bowl for an impressive display of control.
- Carving: This technique involves gracefully turning and flowing along the curves of the ramp or bowl, maintaining speed and momentum.
- Airs: Take flight! Once comfortable with dropping in and carving, you can launch yourself into the air for some serious airtime. Start small and gradually increase the height of your jumps.
Transition skating can be incredibly rewarding, but it also requires practice and respect for the ramp’s hazards. Remember to wear your helmet and pads, and don’t hesitate to ask experienced skaters for tips on proper technique.
Remember, skateboarding is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the process of learning, embrace the occasional wipeout (they happen to everyone!), and celebrate your progress. This guide has equipped you with the knowledge to decipher trick names and understand the different categories. Now get out there, shred some concrete, and carve your own path in the amazing world of skateboarding!
Essential Basic Skateboarding Names of Tricks
Before we delve into the realm of mind-bending flips and gravity-defying spins, it’s crucial to establish a solid foundation with some essential basic tricks. These tricks will not only improve your overall riding skills but also serve as building blocks for more complex maneuvers. Let’s take a look at some must-learn basic tricks:
180s: Unlocking the Power of Rotation
One of the first tricks you should conquer is the 180. This trick involves rotating your skateboard 180 degrees while in mid-air or on the ground. Start by attempting fakie 180s, where you ride in the opposite direction with your back foot leading. This variation can help you get comfortable with the motion before progressing to frontside and backside 180s.
Front Shuv: Adding Style to Your Riding
The front shuv is a stylish trick that involves spinning the skateboard 180 degrees in a forward direction while popping it off the ground. Mastering this trick will add flair to your riding and impress your fellow skaters. Practice the footwork and timing to achieve a smooth and controlled front shuv.
Ollie North: Taking the Ollie to the Next Level
Once you’ve mastered the basic ollie, it’s time to level up with the ollie north. This trick combines an ollie with a frontside 180, resulting in a flashy and dynamic maneuver. Perfecting the ollie north requires precise timing and coordination, so be prepared to put in some practice.
Ollie with Grabs: Adding Style and Creativity
To inject style and creativity into your riding, try incorporating grabs into your ollies. Grabs involve reaching down and grabbing the skateboard while in the air. Experiment with different grab variations, such as melon, indy, or mute, to add your personal touch to this trick.
No Comply 180: Embracing Freestyle Spirit
The no comply 180 is a trick rooted in the freestyle aspect of skateboarding. It involves using your back foot to pivot the board while simultaneously jumping and spinning 180 degrees. This trick allows for endless creativity and opens the door to exploring unique variations and combinations.
Kickflip: The Classic Flip Trick
The kickflip is undoubtedly one of the most iconic tricks in skateboarding. It entails flipping the skateboard 360 degrees along its axis while simultaneously performing an ollie. Mastering this trick requires precise flicking and catching of the board with your front foot, combined with a well-timed jump.
Heelflip: The Sibling of the Kickflip
The heelflip is the sibling of the kickflip, sharing the same basic mechanics but with a different flicking motion. Instead of using your toes to flick the board, you’ll use your heel. The heelflip adds variety to your flip trick repertoire and allows you to approach obstacles from different angles.
Advanced and Creative Tricks
Once you’ve established a solid foundation with the basic tricks, it’s time to push the boundaries and explore more advanced and creative maneuvers. These tricks will challenge your skills and creativity while unlocking new possibilities on your skateboard. Let’s dive into the world of advanced skateboarding tricks:
Varial Flips: Adding Complexity to Your Flips
The varial flip is a variation of the kickflip or heelflip that incorporates a 180-degree body rotation in addition to the flip. By combining the rotational and flipping motions, you can create visually stunning tricks that will leave onlookers in awe. Experiment with different varial flip variations, such as the hardflip and inward heelflip, to expand your trick repertoire.
Tre Flips: A Triple Threat of Flipping Mastery
The tre flip, also known as the 360 flip, is a trick that combines a kickflip with a 360-degree board rotation. This advanced maneuver requires precise footwork and timing, as you need to coordinate the flick, scoop, and catch of the board to execute a clean tre flip. With practice, you’ll be able to add this impressive trick to your arsenal.
Halfcab Flips: A Switch Take on Flip Tricks
The halfcab flip is a switch variation of the kickflip or heelflip. In this trick, you’ll approach the obstacle riding in switch stance and execute a flip with the opposite foot. Mastering the halfcab flip opens up a world of possibilities for switch riding and allows you to approach tricks from a fresh perspective.
Ollie Sex Change: Adding a Twist to Your Ollies
The ollie sex change is a creative variation of the ollie that involves rotating your body 180 degrees in the opposite direction while in mid-air. This trick adds a unique twist to your ollies and showcases your ability to control your board in different orientations. Practice the body rotation and timing to achieve a smooth ollie sex change.
Fakie Big Spin: Spinning in Reverse
The fakie big spin combines a fakie 360 pop shove-it with a 180-degree body rotation. This trick requires precise footwork and timing to execute the pop shove-it and spin simultaneously. Mastering the fakie big spin will not only impress your friends but also enhance your overall board control and balance.
Pop Shuv Sex Change: A Creative Take on Shuv-its
The pop shuv sex change is a creative twist on the classic pop shove-it. Instead of executing a regular pop shove-it, you’ll combine it with a 180-degree body rotation in the opposite direction. This trick allows for endless variations and combinations, showcasing your creativity and ability to think outside the box.
Boneless: Embracing the Roots of Skateboarding
The boneless is a trick rooted in the early days of skateboarding, paying homage to its freestyle origins. It involves grabbing the skateboard with one hand while simultaneously jumping off your back foot and planting your front foot on the ground. The boneless adds a touch of nostalgia and style to your riding, allowing you to connect with skateboarding’s rich history.
Casper, Primo Stands, and Basic Freestyle Goodness
Exploring the realm of freestyle skateboarding opens up a whole new world of tricks and creativity. Mastering tricks like the Casper, primo stands, and other basic freestyle maneuvers allows you to express your individual style and showcase your ability to balance and manipulate the skateboard in unconventional ways. Embrace the freestyle spirit and let your imagination run wild!
Conquering the Rails and Ledges
While flips and spins may steal the spotlight, grinding and sliding tricks are an integral part of skateboarding. These tricks involve sliding along edges, rails, or curbs, adding a touch of technicality and style to your riding. Let’s explore some essential grinding and sliding tricks:
Boardslides: Mastering the Art of Sliding
Boardslides are a fundamental sliding trick that involves sliding your board along a ledge or rail with the center of the board. Start by practicing on low ledges to get a feel for the motion, then gradually progress to higher and longer rails. Perfecting boardslides will open up a world of possibilities for more complex grinding tricks.
50-50s: Balancing on the Edge
50-50s are another essential grinding trick that requires balancing your skateboard on a ledge or rail with both trucks. This trick requires precise foot placement and balance to maintain stability throughout the slide. Practice your ollie and board control to execute clean and controlled 50-50s.
Slappy Noseslides: Exploring Creative Slide Variations
Slappy noseslides add a creative twist to traditional sliding tricks. Instead of approaching the ledge or rail straight on, you’ll come in at an angle and slide with your nose or front trucks. This trick allows for unique variations and opens up new possibilities for combining slides with other tricks.
Exploring More Grinding Tricks
As you become more comfortable with basic grinding tricks, it’s time to expand your repertoire and explore more advanced variations. Consider learning tricks like 5-0s, tailslides, and 50-50 variations to challenge yourself and take your grinding skills to new heights. Remember to start with small obstacles and gradually progress to larger and more challenging ones.
Embracing Transition: Conquering Ramps and Bowls
Transition skateboarding involves riding on ramps, bowls, and other curved surfaces. It requires a different set of skills and presents unique challenges compared to street skateboarding. Embracing transition riding not only expands your skill set but also provides an exhilarating and dynamic skateboarding experience. Let’s dive into the world of transition tricks:
Pumping: Harnessing the Energy of the Transition
Pumping is a fundamental skill in transition skateboarding, enabling you to generate speed and maintain momentum without pushing. It involves using your body and legs to compress and extend, harnessing the energy of the transition. Practice pumping on small ramps or in bowls to develop your timing and rhythm.
Rock to Fakie: Mastering the Art of Reversal
Rock to fakie is a trick that involves riding up a ramp, reaching the peak, and then rolling back down in the opposite direction. This trick not only enhances your control and balance but also serves as a foundation for more complex transition maneuvers. Start with small transitions and gradually progress to larger ones as your confidence grows.
Rock and Roll: Combining Style and Technicality
The rock and roll is a classic transition trick that combines a rock to fakie with a 180-degree body rotation. It requires precise timing and coordination to execute the rock to fakie and spin simultaneously. Mastering this trick adds style and technicality to your transition riding, impressing both fellow skaters and spectators.
Tail Stall: Defying Gravity
The tail stall is a trick where you ride up a ramp and balance on the tail of your skateboard, momentarily defying gravity. This trick requires precise foot placement and balance to maintain stability while perched on the tail. Practice your ollie and board control to execute clean and controlled tail stalls.
Dropping In: Conquering the Fear
Dropping in is a rite of passage for transition skateboarders. It involves rolling down a ramp or dropping into a bowl from a higher point. Overcoming the fear of dropping in is essential to fully embrace transition skateboarding. Start with smaller ramps and gradually work your way up to larger and steeper transitions, always prioritizing safety and proper technique.
Famous Skateboarding Trick Names in History
Throughout the history of skateboarding, certain trick names have etched themselves into the annals of the sport. These trick names not only represent groundbreaking maneuvers but also pay homage to the skaters who pioneered them. The “Tony Hawk’s 900,” for example, refers to the first documented 900-degree spin performed by professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. This trick pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible and became an iconic moment in skateboarding history. Another famous trick name is the “Benihana,” named after professional skateboarder Tony Alva’s favorite sushi roll. The trick involves grabbing the board between the legs while in mid-air, showcasing the creativity and playfulness of skateboarding.
Conclusion
Skateboarding is a journey of continuous progression and self-expression. By mastering the fundamental basic tricks, exploring advanced maneuvers, conquering rails and ledges, and embracing the world of transition, you’ll unlock a universe of skateboarding possibilities. Remember to always skate within your abilities, prioritize safety, and have fun along the way. So grab your board, hit the streets, and unleash your inner shredder. The skateboarding world is waiting for you to leave your mark!
