How to Pressure Hardflip

The pressure hardflip is a lot easier than a real hardflip, and I think it feels better too. It works just like a pressure flip. The technique is completely different, but the physics are the same.

Before you start

A couple of questions came up after my regular pressure flip tip, so here’s the short answer:

• You don’t need tight trucks. Mine are pretty loose.
• You don’t need a small board. I used a 7.9, and it’s the easiest board I’ve ever used for pressure flips.

It helps a lot to know the regular pressure flip first.

Foot position

• Front foot: with enough of your toes hanging off the front to keep your balance.
• Back foot: on the tail, with your heel hanging off too.

How to pressure hardflip

1. Roll at a medium speed. More on speed below.
2. Pop down on the side of the tail with your back foot.
3. Push that part of the tail forward and go under with it. Popping down and pushing it in starts a little frontside momentum and a little kickflip motion, and the board comes around hardflip style.
4. Bring your back foot back over the board.
5. Land on it.

Practice it standing still

The best thing about pressure flips is that you can practice standing right next to your board. If you have trouble getting it to flip while rolling, stand next to it, get used to popping it and practice that for a while.

Troubleshooting

Landing with your toes down

The main problem with this trick is getting your back foot back over the board. You pop and push forward, and then you have to bring it back. A lot of people focus on chasing the board with their front foot and catching it instead of bringing the back foot back. Because of that, they land toes down. It’s just something you really have to focus on.

The board ends up behind you

Sometimes the board flies behind you, like it does on a frontside shove it. It’s not a big problem on this trick, because the tail slides along the ground. It doesn’t force the wheels to turn. It slides forward. The fix is the same as the shove it: since your foot is right on the corner of the tail, you shouldn’t have much trouble pushing it out ahead of you.

Speed

Learn this at a moderate speed. The tail slides a little. If you go too slow, the tail catches from the extra friction. If you go too fast, the board sometimes slows down and ends up behind you. Learn it at a medium speed and work up from there.

Landing upside down or not finishing the flip

You’re probably moving too slowly. Like I said, the board slides. If you’re pressing hard on it and moving slowly, it drags, slows down and stops. Keep the motion really fast and quick. Snap it over as fast as you can.

What’s next

If you want to go for the real thing, try the hardflip. The toeflip is another pressure-style flip worth learning.