How to Flamingo (Calfwrap)

The flamingo, or calfwrap, is a really versatile trick. Any way you can get the board up in the air and on its side can be used to wrap it around your calf. You don’t see it very often anymore, but it’s a fun trick, and you can take it to banks, hips or anywhere you can find.

Before you start

If you can do an impossible, the first part of this trick is a lot easier. If not, it’s not a big deal.

Foot position

• Front foot: it can go pretty much wherever you want. I find it a lot easier to catch if I slide it off the front instead of off the side.
• Back foot: on the tail, because it gives you more pressure.

How to calfwrap

The way I find easiest is a sort of half impossible: a shove it with a quarter flip, so the board comes up on its side.

1. Step off with your front foot. Slide it off and put all your weight on it.
2. At the same time, pop the tail and spin the board around. It’s a shove it, but you also push it sideways a little.
3. Follow the board and catch it against your other leg.
4. Come out of it (see below).

Coming out of it

There are a lot of ways to land it.

• Frontside shove it out. This is my favorite because it’s the smoothest. You wrap it in, then unwrap it out. If your front leg is in front, your back foot has to be ready to generate some spin out of it.
• Flip it back up. This is how I originally learned it. Flip it back up, jump forward, clear your heel and tilt it forward to land.

I think spinning out looks a lot better, but learn whichever you like.

Troubleshooting

Catching it with the nose or the truck

You might catch the board with the nose, or hit the truck against your leg. Most likely, your front foot isn’t placed right. When your front foot slides off, put all your weight on it. Don’t just step off and try to throw the board onto your leg. Be centered completely over that foot and bring the board to you.

What’s next

Once you have it on flat, try it on banks or over hips. For more freestyle, check out the truckstand and casper.