You might have only a few tricks to start with skateboarding.

It’s okay to practice the basics of skateboarding often. This will allow you to learn more advanced tricks later.

This is where the Ollie comes in.

Before you learn any other trick, you must first learn how to ollie . This is the most important trick every skater needs to master in order to progress. Once you have this one down, then move on to the next trick.

Five skateboard tricks for beginner skaters:

1. Boardslide

It’s much easier to learn boardslides from the backside than to learn them from the frontside, if you’re just starting out.

Here’s a quick explanation of what frontside and backside mean. Skating backside is when the obstacle you are about to slide behind you, on the heel side. Frontside is the exact opposite. You will find the obstacle on your toe side.

How to Boardslide (Backside).

You should skate towards the obstacle using your feet as if you were doing an ollie. Your back foot is on the tail with the balls of your toes, your front foot at the center of the board.

It doesn’t matter how fast you start to master the trick. You can go slow enough to feel comfortable with your balance. You will slide faster if you practice the trick more.

To ollie onto the obstacle, wait until you are approximately 6-12 inches away. This will depend on how strong or weak your ollie. It’s best to just have fun with it and discover what feels right for you.

Now, you will do your regular ollie but with a 90-degree twist to your backside. Regular footers will turn 90 degrees to their left (counterclockwise). Goofy feet will turn 90 degrees to their right (clockwise). You can do this by doing a simple BS 180, but while you’re still in the air, slow down your rotation and don’t twist your hips or shoulders the entire 180.

Keep your eyes forward as you slide. When you reach the obstacle’s end, turn your shoulders in the direction you want to exit. To go straight, just move your shoulders forward as if you were riding.

You can roll away fakie by continuing the 90 degree ollie. This will allow you to turn your back shoulder so that you can land riding fakie. Give it a try!

2. Manual

A manual is a fun and interesting trick that can also look cool. You want to ollie onto an obstacle, usually a curb. Once you land, your only goal is to continue riding on your back wheel. Your front wheels should be balanced, but your tail shouldn’t touch the obstacle. You may need to practice and fine tune your balance, but once you do it you will be able to achieve it every time.

You should use the same foot position as for an ollie. Approach the obstacle slowly to medium speed. Then, start your ollie approximately 6-12 inches from the obstacle. Start shifting your weight towards your back truck and your back leg as you begin to fall.

Place your feet on your back and make sure your nose is up. You can shift your weight forward slightly if your tail begins to scrape. You can also shift your weight back slightly if your nose begins to drop. This can be tricky and it takes a lot practice to master. You might be starting to get the idea?

Once you reach the obstacle’s end, push the board forward with your feet just like when you come off the curb. It’s that simple. Manual won.

3. FS 180

We’re now on to the Front Side 180. This trick involves an ollie in which you and your board rotate FS 180°. You should set up as for an ollie, but before you pop, you need to turn your front shoulder in and spin. The direction you want to spin is determined by your upper body. Make sure you duck your front shoulder in before you start popping.

Your left shoulder will spin counter-clockwise if you are regular footed and have your left foot in front. Your right shoulder will spin clockwise if you are a goofy person and have your right foot in front.

While you are ollieing, jump off the tail and swing your shoulders in the direction that you wish to spin. Your feet should follow the entire 180 degree rotation. Many skaters are curious about how to hold the board in place. The board rotates 180 degrees with them. You should keep your shoulders high above the board and your head centered over the bolts. To keep the board from moving away from your feet, you should also suck your knees towards your chest.

You can also do the basic ollie by landing with your knees bent. Then, just ride away as the proud owner of a FS 180.

4. Halb Cab

Half cab refers to when you are riding fakie. You do either a frontside 180, or a backside 180. Here are the steps to do a frontside 180. You can also do a backside 180 by following the steps while riding fakie.

Here’s the half-cab with a frontside 180. You’ll want to start riding backwards as the first thing. After you have settled that, move on to the next step.

This trick works in the same way as a fakie-ollie except that you need to lower your back a bit before you can spin. When you are ready to pop, move your back shoulder towards your back. Let your upper body guide you in the direction you want.

Regular footed, with your left foot in front, your right shoulder will tuck into your left shoulder and spin counterclockwise. Your left shoulder will spin counter clockwise if you are sloppy and put your right foot forward. Remember that your back shoulder is in front of you, regardless of the direction you’re riding.

Jump while simultaneously swinging your shoulders. You should feel your feet following and you will be spinning the 180 degrees.

You can also do the fakie roll by landing with your knees bent.

5. FS 50-50

If both of your trucks are grinding on an obstruction in front of you on the toe side, a front side 50 50 refers to when they are.

You should use the same foot positioning you would for an ollie. Slowly approach the obstacle and wait until you are about 6 to 12 inches away.

Approach the obstacle with your trucks and ollie up.

While you grind, distribute your weight equally between your front and back feet. You might have to put a bit more weight on your toe side than the heel.

Lift your nose a bit as you approach the end of the obstacle. This will ensure that you don’t fall down, but you can control how you feel. This is best done by shifting some weight/pressure from your front foot to your back foot.

Depending on the obstacle’s height, bend your knees at landing to absorb any impact, and help you to maintain your balance.