Skateboard Tricks in Learning Order: A Step-by-Step Path (2026)
Each trick builds on the last. Here's a sensible order to learn skateboard tricks, from your first push to flip tricks and grinds.
Why Order Matters
Many tricks build on the same skills: balance, pop and board control. Following a sensible order helps you build those foundations and avoid frustration. This is a common path; feel free to adapt it.
The Learning Path
| Stage | Tricks | Builds |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Basics | Pushing, turning, stopping | Comfort on the board |
| 2. Control | Tic-tacs, kickturns, manuals | Tail control and balance |
| 3. Pop | Ollie | Foundation for most tricks |
| 4. Rotation | Shove-it, pop shove-it, frontside and backside 180 | Spinning board and body |
| 5. Variations | Fakie ollie, nollie, switch ollie | Riding all directions |
| 6. Flips | Kickflip, heelflip | Flick control |
| 7. Obstacles | Boardslide, 50-50, 5-0 | Ledges and rails |
| 8. Transition | Drop in, rock to fakie, axle stall | Ramps and bowls |
| 9. Combos | Varial flip, tre flip, flip into grinds | Advanced control |
A Common Trick-by-Trick Order
There's no single correct order, but many skaters follow something like this after the basics:
- Manual
- Fakie shove-it, then shove-it
- Ollie
- Pop shove-it
- No comply
- Frontside and backside 180 ollies
- Heelflip and kickflip (many find the heelflip easier, others the kickflip)
- Varial kickflip
- Hardflip, varial heelflip and inward heelflip
- Frontside and backside 180 flips
- 360 pop shove-it
- Frontside and backside big spins
- 360 flip (tre flip)
- Ollie impossible and laser flip
Stage Guides
Basics and Control
Get comfortable cruising before tricks. See learn how to skateboard, turning and easy beginner tricks.
The Ollie
The single most important trick. See how to ollie and ollie higher.
Rotation and Variations
Shove-its and 180s teach rotation. Nollies and fakie tricks build versatility; see ollie vs nollie and how to revert.
Flip Tricks
See how to kickflip and heelflip vs kickflip.
Grinds and Slides
See types of grinds.
Transition
See how to drop in.
When to Move On
- Land it rolling, not just stationary, before calling a trick learned.
- Land it most of the time, not once. Consistency builds the base for the next trick.
- Learn both sides: practice frontside and backside versions of rotations.
- Combine only after the parts are solid: make sure you can do each trick alone before linking them.
- Switch it up when stuck: work on something else for a while and come back.
Stationary vs Rolling
Practicing stationary on grass or carpet is a great way to learn foot movements. It has a downside: you can't roll away from a bad landing, so it's easier to twist an ankle. Move to slow rolling as soon as the motion feels familiar.
Tips
- Don't rush; consistency beats one lucky landing.
- Learn tricks stationary, then rolling slowly.
- Wear a helmet and pads, especially for ramps.
Full list in skateboard tricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skateboard trick should I learn first?
After riding basics, start with kickturns and tic-tacs, then the ollie.
What do I learn after the ollie?
Common next steps are the frontside and backside 180, pop shove-it, and small ollies up curbs or over objects.
Should I learn the kickflip or heelflip first?
Most skaters learn the kickflip first, but some find the heelflip easier. Try both.
When should I start grinding?
Once you can ollie consistently onto a curb or low ledge.
Is there one correct trick order?
No. This is a common path, but skaters progress differently.