How to Hardflip: 4 Step Hardflip Tutorial

A hardflip is a skateboarding trick consisting of a frontside pop shove-it (or pop shuvit) and a kickflip. This slightly more complex trick requires proper balance and good timing. In this trick, as the skateboarder goes airborne, they use both of their feet to flick and rotate the board. The board spins 180 (or more) degrees, while also flipping in the air (a 360 hardflip is a board that completes a full spin before landing). After reaching the desired number of board flips and spins, the skater catches the skateboard with their feet then lands.

To do a hardflip, the skater must first know how to do a kickflip and a frontside pop shove-it. To perform this intermediate skateboard trick, check out the step-by-step guidelines below:

1. 1. Get the right foot placement. Your lead foot should be in the kickflip position, with the foot position either in the middle of the board or near the front truck bolts. Your back foot should be in the frontside shove-it position, with the ball of your foot balanced on the outside of the tail.
2. 2. Pop, flick, and kick. Pop your board up and into the air like you would for a frontside pop shove-it, flicking the tail forward with your rear foot, and using your front toes to rotate the board mid-air. Kick your foot out sideways or slightly more behind you. This differs from the standard kickflip’s maneuver which features the front foot kicking out over the nose of the board. Some skaters will kick in a way that spins the board more vertically between the legs, while others prefer to keep the board more horizontal. Whichever you prefer, use both feet to flick the board with enough force to complete both a shove-it and kickflip rotation.
   
3. 3. Bend. Bend your knees while airborne to keep your legs up and out of the way, leaving enough clearance for your board to rotate and flip.
4. 4. Land. When the board is done spinning and is parallel to the ground, catch it by the bolts, which will hopefully result in a smooth and balanced landing when you and your deck hit the ground.

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