The switch heelflip is one of those tricks that can feel nearly impossible when you first start trying it—and that’s totally normal. Everything’s flipped, your body feels awkward, and you might feel like you’re back to square one. But stick with it, and it becomes one of the most satisfying tricks in your lineup. When done right, a switch heelflip looks smooth, controlled, and seriously stylish.
What Is a Switch Heelflip?
A switch heelflip is just what it sounds like: a heelflip done in your switch stance. That means you’re skating opposite of your natural stance. If you usually ride regular with your left foot forward, switch means your right foot leads. Everything about this trick is the same as a standard heelflip—but your muscle memory is out the window. You’re asking your weaker foot to take the lead and your dominant foot to do the flicking. It’s like learning to skate all over again.
Quick Breakdown:
- Do a heelflip in your switch stance
- Front foot sits just under the front bolts, heel hanging off
- Back foot rests in the tail pocket, ready to pop
- Pop the nose down like a switch ollie
- Flick out at a slight diagonal with your front foot
- Stay centered over the board and keep your shoulders steady
- Catch the flip with your back foot as the grip tape comes around
- Land over the bolts and ride away clean
Building the Foundation
Before even thinking about flipping the board, you need to be comfortable riding switch and popping switch ollies. A solid switch ollie sets the groundwork for this trick. It teaches you how to shift your weight onto your switch front foot and commit to a nose pop. The more confident you feel skating switch, the easier it’ll be to stay balanced when you go for the flick.
It also helps to know how to heelflip in your normal stance. If you can already flick with your regular front foot, you at least understand the motion. Your job now is to replicate that same movement with your opposite foot.
Setting Up Your Feet
Foot position is key to a clean switch heelflip. Set your switch front foot (your usual back foot) just under the front bolts. Your heel should hang off the edge slightly—enough to give you room to flick but not so much that you lose control. You want most of your foot still on the board to help you stay stable.
Your switch back foot goes into the pocket of the tail, toes near the edge so you can get a strong, snappy pop. This foot should feel locked in. If your foot is too centered, the pop will feel weak. Too far off, and you might lose the board during the snap.
Try to keep your front foot angled slightly forward and your back foot more perpendicular to the board. It helps your upper body stay lined up, which becomes more important once you’re in the air.
The Flick
Now comes the part that makes the trick a heelflip—the flick. You want to pop the nose like a switch ollie, then quickly slide your front foot up and out at an angle. Not straight up. Not sideways. Somewhere in between. This diagonal flick gives the board its flip while helping it stay level in the air.
If you flick too much to the side, the board can go rocket (tilted nose-up). If you flick too far forward, you’ll end up doing more of a switch ollie than a proper flip. Find that sweet spot where the board flips, levels out, and stays under you.
At first, it might take a few tries to even get the board to flip all the way. Don’t worry about landing right away. Focus on getting a consistent flick and keeping the board under control. Once that part feels natural, start thinking about the catch.
Staying Centered & Catching the Flip
One of the hardest things about switch heelflips is keeping your body centered over the board. It’s easy to lean too far back or let your shoulders twist as you go for the flick. Try to keep your weight directly above the board. Don’t let your upper body drift, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
When you flick, keep your eyes on the board. Watch for the grip tape to come back around. The moment you see it, get ready to catch with your back foot. That’s your usual front foot in switch, and it’ll naturally be higher, making it easier to stop the spin.
As soon as you catch it, bring your other foot back into place, bend your knees, and prepare for landing.
Landing & Rolling Away
When the board is under control and you’re centered, the landing should feel just like a regular trick. Try to land over the bolts to absorb the impact and avoid breaking your board. Keep your knees soft and ride away like it’s no big deal.
If you’re struggling to stick the landing, don’t stress. Like any switch trick, the learning curve is real. You might get the flip one day and completely miss it the next. Just keep focusing on staying centered, watching for the catch, and committing to the full motion.
Final Thoughts
Switch heelflips are tricky, but they’re absolutely worth learning. They help build balance, control, and style—and once you get them, you can throw them into all kinds of lines. They also look great on flat or off a ledge, and they’re a solid go-to when you want to add variety to your skating.
The most important thing is patience. Don’t rush it. Learn to ride switch, get that switch ollie on lock, and take time dialing in your flick. Once the muscle memory starts to kick in, everything else falls into place. Keep practicing, keep pushing, and soon enough, the switch heel will be yours.
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