Now that you’re gaining confidence on your skateboard, you’re ready to learn some easy tricks.
Practicing basic tricks will set a foundation for you to land harder tricks down the line, like kickflips and spins.
Jumping into those complex tricks without mastering these basic ones will put you at risk for injury, or at the very least frustration.
Basic tricks will build a strong foundation of fundamentals that you’ll be able to build upon.
Let’s jump right in.
Skate Tricks For Beginners
The first step when learning to skateboard is to become comfortable just riding around, cruising, stopping, and standing on your board.
There is a lot of balance involved with moving around on a skateboard, and most tricks involve some complex foot movement and adjustments to complete. If you’re not comfortable riding your board, tricks are going to be near impossible.
Once you’re comfortable on your board, use the instructions below to start practicing these 20 skateboard tricks to take your skills to the next level.
Easiest Skateboarding Tricks
It’s a good a idea to start with easier tricks and move your way up.
There’s not set progression to learning skateboarding tricks – some will be easier for you than others. Do what feels comfortable and go from there.
That said, here are some easier tricks to start with.
1. Tic Tac
This is a fairly easy move to begin with and will be great for helping you get familiar with your board.
To practice, use your knees and the kick tail to move your front wheels from side to side and gain speed while in motion.
2. Fakie Kick Turn
This is a kick turn performed while you are riding in the fakie stance.
To perform it, start by riding in the fakie position (with your front foot on the nose of the board and your back foot around the bolts in your opposite stance) at a comfortable speed. Turn your shoulders to the front and lift the back wheels off the ground.
Complete the 180-degree turn by returning the wheels back to the ground.
3. Manual
A manual is the skateboard equivalent of popping a wheelie on a bike.
To do this trick, roll on the back two wheels of your board and pop the front.
Practice riding in this position for several feet to refine your balancing skills.
This is a great way to improve your entry for ollie-based tricks.
4. Nose Manual
This trick is the counterpart to the manual and should be practiced on flat ground to begin.
To do it, place your front foot on the nose and lean in to raise the back trucks from the ground.
Warning: this move is not as forgiving as the manual, be careful to not lose your balance and hit the nose of your board on the ground. That’ll typically send you falling forwards.
5. Shove It
This is an easy trick many skaters like to practice as many times in a row as they can.
To practice, place your back foot on the tail of your skateboard (your toes should be hanging slightly off) and your front foot in any place that is most comfortable.
Scoop your back foot towards the other foot’s heel and spin your board a full 180 degrees. Remain above your board during the entire spin, and catch it with your front foot once it comes back around.
6. The Hippie Jump
This is a good intro into the ollie.
It’ll give you the feeling of jumping without the need to pop your deck.
To do it, simply jump up on your skateboard and land back on it while it stays on the ground.
Practice stationary first, then move on to trying it while moving.
Look for a rail or obstacle you can pass your board under while you jump over it and land on your skateboard.
Be careful and avoid landing on your tail or nose, which could cause your board to bounce up and hit you.
7. Kick Turn
This trick will make your carving more efficient while you are cruising at high speeds. Put one foot at the tail of your board and lean your weight toward that same end. Keep your other foot on the front of the skateboard. Lean your weight onto the back foot, and the nose should rise up. Pivot forward or backward with your nose a few inches off the ground. One day when you master this, you’ll be well on your way to doing a kickflip.
8. Drop-Ins
This technique will need to be mastered to skate on ramps and bowls. Balance the tail of your skateboard on the ledge of the ramp or bowl you are on and drop in by letting your board roll from the momentum. It’s intimidating at first, but your confidence will grow over time.
9. Nose Pick Up
This is a move best practiced while stationary.
Place your front foot on the nose and press down to make your board pop up. Grab your board.
You’ll find that the more forward momentum you create, the better.
10. Ollie Pick Up
This is a great trick to get comfortable with popping your deck.
Start by riding forward, then gently pop your tail.
Place both of your feet on the ground then grab your board right after.
11. Caveman
This trick is easy to accomplish but it looks really cool. Practice it by holding your skateboard’s nose with your front hand and placing your thumb on top of the deck. Take a couple of steps back, running and jumping on your skateboard using forward movement. Release your board from your hand and land on the deck’s bolts.
12. Nose Stall (aka Nosebleed & Slappies)
For this trick, you’re going to need an obstacle that has an edge, like a curb.
Start on the lowest obstacle you can find.
Apply pressure to the nose of your board while you lean back to lift your deck.
Lean backward to maintain the position. Roll off the obstacle.
13. Ollie
The ollie is the foundation of many advanced skateboard tricks.
Master this and you’ll be well on your way to increasing your skills while learning how to maneuver any obstacle you desire.
To do this trick, place your back foot on the tail of your board and your front foot right below the bolts.
Jump off your back foot, pop the tail down, and sliding your front foot up and out towards the bolts.
Practice this motion until you get as much time in the air as possible.
Suck your knees up into your chest for more height.
This trick takes a lot of time to master. Be sure to practice often.
Harder Tricks to Learn
Once you feel comfortable with some of those “easier” tricks, you’ll be ready to move on to some more complicated maneuvers. Check out some more below.
1. Nollie
Similar to an ollie, timing is essential to mastering this trick.
Place your foot on the nose of the board and your back foot slightly below the back bolts. Pop the front foot down and slightly forward then slide your back foot toward the board’s tail.
The better you get at balancing in the center of your board, the better you’ll get at this trick.
2. BS Boardslide
The backside boardslide is the easiest and safest rail trick, making it the best one for beginner skaters to learn first.
To perform this trick, face your body towards the end of the rail and slide on the rail with your skateboard deck centered.
Keep your balance by remaining in the center of your board and keep your knees bent to avoid slipping.
3. Backside Feeble Grind
This trick is the first many skaters learn on flat bars.
To do it, grind your back truck on the heel side of the rail, with your front truck hanging out.
Stand with all body weight on your back heel.
4. Kickflip
This trick is monumental and versatile.
Place your front foot near the bolts at a slight angle and your back foot on the tail.
Pop your board by flicking your front foot forward and outwards towards the back of your board. Your board will flip.
Stomp on it as soon as you see grip tape.
This is daunting when you start out but will become easier the more times you try it.
5. Hardflip
The hardflip is known as the benchmark trick for progression in skateboarding.
To do it, position your feet as if you are about to perform a kickflip—your front foot should be close to the back bolts.
Pop the board while pushing it forward with your back foot.
Use your front foot to flick out the back side of your board.
A subtle kick will need to be practiced to master this trick.
6. Rock to Fakie
This staple move is a must for leveling up your ramp and pool skills.
Approach the coping of a ramp at a decent speed and lift up the front trucks and maneuver the center of your board onto the coping.
Shift your weight onto the back of the board and lift up your front trucks.
Stay centered throughout the entire trick.
7. Frontside 180
This is another key foundational trick.
To do it, place your front foot near the bolts and let your toes slightly hang off.
Place your back foot on the tail, in the center.
Wind up your shoulders and pop.
Turn your shoulders and move forward in the same direction your front is facing.