Rock to fakie, axle stall and pivot
Ready when: Drop-in, with a coach (i3) done.
What you are learning
The first tricks at the top of a ramp. In a rock to fakie the front wheels go over the edge and the middle of the board rests on it before riding back down backward; in an axle stall both trucks rest on the coping; a pivot is a kickturn at the very top.
Words on this card Trucks, Kickturn, Mini ramp, Deck (of a ramp), Fakie, Rock to fakie, Rail, Boardslide, Slam
- Trucks
- The metal parts holding the wheels, and the bolts on top of the board that fix them; feet go over the bolts.
- Kickturn
- Pressing the tail down so the front wheels lift, and turning on the back wheels.
- Mini ramp
- A small U-shaped ramp; its curved part is the transition.
- Deck (of a ramp)
- The flat platform at the top of a ramp, and the metal pipe along its edge.
- Fakie
- Riding backward in your normal stance; riding in the opposite stance.
- Rock to fakie
- Tricks at the top of a ramp: resting the middle of the board on the coping, resting both trucks on it, or turning on the back truck on it.
- Rail
- A metal bar and a block edge to ride along; sliding on the board itself, or grinding on the trucks.
- Boardslide
- Names of slides and grinds.
- Slam
- A hard fall.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Pump higher each time until the front wheels reach the top.
- Lift the front wheels onto the top of the ramp, rest, lift them again and ride back down backward: a rock to fakie.
- Ride up so both trucks rest on the coping, hold, then kickturn back in: an axle stall.
Your part while they practise
Watch; keep the top of the ramp clear.
Step by step
- Pump higher until the front wheels reach the top.
- Lift them onto the top, hold, lift again and ride back fakie (rock to fakie).
- Kickturns higher until one is at the coping (pivot).
- Axle stall: both trucks on the coping, hold, kickturn back in.
How much: 10 tries 15 min a session 1 day a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: One run
Drop in, rock to fakie, pump, kickturn; score each trick landed in one run.
Who plays: 1 or more skaters, taking turns; you count.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Wait your turn on the top of the ramp
- Drop in and do as many of the four tricks as you can in one run
- 3 runs each
- Fair play
- The last to go picks the first trick next time.
- Points
- 1 point for each trick landed in the run; 2 points for the full run with all four.
- Fouls
- The run ends
- Dropping in when someone else is riding
- The back wheels hanging up on the coping
- Stepping off
- Winning
- The best run.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 6 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A bank or a ramp without coping.
The coping; the 50-50 grind.
What you will see, and what to say
- the back wheels hang up
Lift the front wheels clearly
Lift, then rest. - the rider hesitates
Commit, weight forward
Chest over the front foot.
Self-check
3 rock to fakies and 3 axle stalls in one session.
Stop and get a coach when
Repeated slams.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains coping control, speed control.
awiseathlete.com/sports/skateboarding/skateboarding-i4