Heelflip
aka Heel
The kickflip's mirror — flick out with your heel off the toe-side edge so the board flips the opposite way, then catch and stomp. Same family, opposite spin.
The Breakdown
Four phases from roll-up to roll-away. Scrub the analyzer above — each phase lights up as the board hits it.
- 01 Approach
Hang your toes off
Roll at a comfortable pace with the back foot on the tail. Set your front foot fairly flat with your toes hanging slightly off the toe-side edge near the bolts. That overhang is what lets your heel kick out and catch the board to flip it.
- 02 Pop & Heel Flick
Pop, then kick out with the heel
Snap the tail like an ollie, and right after the pop, flick your front foot up and out off the toe-side edge using your heel. The motion is like kicking a door shut sideways — up and out, not forward. The heel does the work, so the board spins the opposite way to a kickflip.
- 03 Air
Open up and hover
Pull your feet up and out so the board has room to flip underneath you. Keep your shoulders square and watch the deck. Because heelflips can shoot forward, focus on jumping up with the board rather than away from it.
- 04 Catch & Land
Catch flat and roll away
Spot the grip coming around and catch it flat with the front foot, then settle the back foot onto the tail bolts. Land over the trucks with bent knees to soak the impact and roll away. Catching it level stops the board from kicking back out.
When It Goes Wrong
The most common ways Heelflip bails — and the fix. Diagnose your slam, then get back on.
Why does my heelflip shoot way out in front of me?
Your heel is flicking forward instead of straight up and out to the side. Keep your weight centered and direct the flick up the toe-side edge, jumping up with the board. Over-rotating forward almost always means the kick went out ahead instead of up.
My board only does a half flip on heelflips.
You are not getting enough heel on the edge, so the board stalls halfway. Make sure your toes hang slightly off the toe side so your heel has something to catch, and snap the flick crisply. A fuller heel kick completes the rotation.
Heelflips feel way harder than my kickflip — is that normal?
Yes, most skaters find the heel motion less natural at first, which is why difficulty sits higher. Practice the flick stationary to train the heel snap, then add the pop. It clicks with reps once your foot learns the angle.
I keep landing with one foot on and one foot off.
You are catching the board unevenly because your eyes are on one foot, not the deck. Watch the grip come back around and aim both feet for the bolts at the same time. Committing to stomp both feet flat fixes the half-and-half landings.
The heelflip is the kickflip’s twin in reverse — same idea, opposite spin, opposite foot edge. Instead of flicking off the nose-side corner with your toes, you kick out off the toe side with your heel, and the board rotates the other direction. Plenty of skaters find one flip natural and the other a grind; that is completely normal.
If your kickflip is dialed, give the heelflip honest reps rather than expecting it instantly. The heel motion takes a little longer to wire into your foot. Get your toes hanging off the edge, snap the heel up and out, watch the deck, and stomp the bolts.
Dial In Your Setup
Gear that makes this trick easier to learn. Tune the setup, not just the technique.
Medium deck (8.0"–8.25")
7-ply maple · medium concave
A medium concave lets your toes hang off the toe side cleanly so the heel can catch the edge. Too steep and the overhang feels awkward for the heel flick.
Shop decks & parts99A street wheels
52–54mm · 99A duro
Firm, snappy wheels keep your approach predictable while you dial the heel timing. Soft wheels bog down over cracks and mess with your flick.
Shop decks & partsSkate shoes with flat toe
Vulcanized sole
A flat, grippy toe box gives your heel a solid edge to flick from. Bulky or rounded toes make it hard to feel the toe-side edge and your flips come out inconsistent.
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Stack Your Clip
Landed Heelflip? Soon you'll drop your line here and battle the crew for the top of the board.