Level Up Your Tricks: The 360 Kickflip
The 360 kickflip is an advanced skateboard trick that combines a full 360-degree spin (pop shove-it) with a kickflip, sending your board into a twisting flip before landing back under your feet. It's a staple in street skating, adding style and complexity to lines, and it's a natural progression from the kickflip and pop shove-it. Once landed, it opens doors to insane combos like the 360 flip or varial 360. With its rotational flair, the 360 kickflip demands precise timing and commitment, but the payoff is huge for impressing your crew.
Grab your board and follow our step-by-step guide, enhanced by slow-motion breakdowns in the Skate Tricks app!
How to 360 Kickflip: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Before attempting the 360 kickflip, ensure you're comfortable with the kickflip and a solid pop shove-it. Practice on flat ground or a gentle ramp to build confidence. Wear pads and a helmet—rotational tricks can lead to awkward falls.
- Stance and Setup: Start with a relaxed stance. Place your back foot on the tail's edge, toes angled slightly toward the heel side for a strong shove-it scoop. Your front foot should sit just behind the front bolts, angled at about 45 degrees toward the nose, ready for the kickflip flick. Keep your shoulders square and knees bent for stability.
- Initiate the Pop and Scoop: Bend your knees and pop the tail hard with your back foot while scooping it backward aggressively to start the 360-degree backside rotation. The scoop should be more forceful than a standard pop shove-it to generate full spin—think of twisting your ankle like you're wringing out a towel.
- Time the Kickflip Flick: As the board begins to spin, flick your front foot's toes sharply upward and toward the heel side (for backside). The flick should sync with the pop, launching the board into a kickflip rotation while it spins 360 degrees. Keep the motion fluid—too early, and the spin stalls; too late, and the flip over-rotates.
- Jump and Spot the Board: Explode upward with both legs, keeping your eyes locked on the board as it completes the dual motion. Jump high enough to clear the spin and flip, but stay compact to land balanced. Spot the landing early to adjust your body mid-air.
- Catch and Land Clean: As the board finishes its 360 spin and kickflip, catch it with your back foot first to halt the rotation, then stomp the front foot over the bolts. Absorb the impact by bending your knees deeply, and roll away with your weight centered to avoid wobbles.
Tips for Nailing It:
- Commit fully to the scoop—half-hearted spins lead to incomplete rotations. Practice 360 shove-its first to build the motion.
- Keep your shoulders level; twisting your upper body can throw off the spin. Use the Skate Tricks app's slow-mo videos to analyze your form.
- Start slow on grass or carpet to avoid bailing hard, then transition to concrete once consistent.
- If the board over-spins, lighten the scoop; if it under-spins, add more ankle twist.
Mastering the 360 kickflip takes reps, but once it clicks, you'll be chaining it into manuals and grinds. Level up your sessions with the Skate Tricks app for personalized tutorials!