How to Railflip (Primo Flip)

Flipping the board from a railstand back onto its wheels.

A railflip, also called a primo flip, flips the board from a railstand back onto its wheels. The technique is a lot like a pop shove it, and it’s a good building block for freestyle combos.

Before you start

You need a solid railstand, since that’s where this trick starts.

Foot position

Your foot position changes how the board flips:

Close to the wheel: the board flips slower, but it’s more controlled.
Farther toward the tail: it flips really fast.

I like to keep my foot pretty close to the wheel.

How to railflip

There are two things to think about.

The angle of your pop. The farther down you pop it, the more it flips. The farther back you pop it, the faster it spins. I pop mine mostly down.
Where your foot is. See above.

Pop it, let it flip, and land on it.

Troubleshooting

The hardest part of this trick is figuring out which combination of those two things works best for you. If it’s flipping too much or not enough, change your pop angle. If it’s too fast to control, move your foot closer to the wheel.

What’s next

There are a lot more railflips to try. The next big one is the railflip to rail, where you flip from one railstand over to the other.

Railflip (Primo Flip) FAQ

What is a railflip on a skateboard?

A freestyle trick where you flip the board from a railstand (primo) back onto its wheels. The technique is a lot like a pop shove it.

How do I make my railflip flip faster or slower?

Two things control it. Pop it farther down for more flip and farther back for more spin. Put your foot close to the wheel for a slower, more controlled flip, or farther toward the tail for a really fast one.

What's the hardest part of a railflip?

Figuring out which combination of pop angle and foot position works for you.

Skate at your own risk. Wear a helmet and pads, and work up to tricks at your own pace. Terms