Skateboarding
Skateboarding
How to backside 180: A step-by-step guide
Read ahead for a detailed guide on how to backside 180, from prepping your board to nailing the landing.
It’s important to be gentle with yourself when you’re just learning a new trick. Of course, you want to land it right, but it’s going to take some practice to get there. That’s why it’s so important to remember not to take yourself too seriously. As Red Bull skater Brighton Zeuner puts it, having a good time should be your top priority. “Even when the pressure’s on, I remember to have fun,” she says.
This philosophy is key when you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone with a new trick like the backside 180. This essential move can seriously test your balance and reflexes. If you commit to practicing it and approaching it with a positive attitude, you can have a great time learning it. Read ahead for a detailed guide on how to backside 180, from prepping your board to nailing the landing.
Understanding the backside 180
The backside 180, sometimes called an “ollie 180” or “backside 180 ollie,” combines an ollie with a 180-degree turn. Essentially, your skateboard makes the same rotation as a pop shove-it, but your feet stay on the board. Unlike a frontside 180, backside 180s can be a little challenging for beginners — you lead with your back and can’t fully see where you’re going.
Though it’s technically a beginner trick, the backside 180 puts your whole body’s balance and strength to the test. Getting this trick right takes precise timing and muscle control as you pivot your upper body after popping to turn the board.
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How to backside 180: preparation and equipment
Jaakko Ojanen does a backside 180 in Chennai, India in 2017
© Gaston Francisco / Red Bull Content Pool
If you want to set the stage for a sick backside 180, here are some things you can do to get ready.
Adjust your board’s trucks
Well-fitting trucks play a huge role in turning your board. If you’re feeling a little wobbly when you pick up momentum, your trucks might be too loose. On the other hand, if you’re struggling with close turns, they may be too tight. You can fix either scenario with a skate tool from your favorite local skate shop.
Check your wheels’ fit
Tricks that involve turning can cause wheel bite, or your wheels developing flat spots from grinding against your board’s deck too much. This can happen if your wheels are too large, so you may want to consider replacing them with smaller wheels.
Wheels between 50mm and 53mm in diameter tend to accelerate faster and are ideal for street skating tricks. If that sounds too small for your board, mid-size wheels between 53mm and 56mm can work great too. For wheels 54mm or larger, you can also put some distance between your wheels and your deck with a riser pad.
Find the right space
Flat, smooth ground is best for a backside 180. You want plenty of room to turn your whole body, free from any obstructions. Choosing a surface that has a little sheen to it, such as a garage, can help too. Slick ground is better for picking up momentum, but of course, you don’t want anything too slippery. The surfaces of skate parks are made with this balance in mind.
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How to backside 180 step by step
Here’s everything you need to know to land a flawless backside 180.
Building speed
You’ll need a good amount of acceleration for this trick, so try to gather medium speed when you push off. A little secret to picking up some velocity is moving your front arm backward as you kick off with your back foot.
Preparing for the backside 180
Your feet should be in the ollie position, with your front foot just below the front bolts and your heel just hanging off the board. Your back foot should be on the tail, right in the center. The more central your back foot, the easier it will be to pop straight down and complete the backside 180. It can also help to focus your weight on the balls of your feet.
As for the rest of your body, good posture plays a pivotal role in a backside 180. Keep your back straight so that you don’t go too far forward or backward and your board stays directly underneath you. Your upper body is going to do a lot of steering with this trick, so maintaining a strong, stable core is key.
Popping your board
Push down on the tail in a swift motion. As you might remember when learning the fundamentals of how to ollie, ample pressure and speed make the board pop. As you pop the tail with your back foot, slide your front foot up the board.
Body rotation
With your knees bent, as you begin to pop up, you’ll simultaneously start turning your shoulders toward your backside. Getting the timing right here can take some practice since you should begin turning your upper body just before your tail hits the ground. Basically, as your front foot starts to drag up the board, your shoulders should start to rotate. Your shoulder rotation allows you to turn the board a full 180 degrees.
It can help to visualize the backside 180 if you break the complete shoulder turn into two phases. When your ollie has reached maximum height, your shoulders should be at a 90-degree angle. At this point, your front foot has moved up the board and is pushing down to level the board out. From there, your shoulders follow through and lead the turn through the last 90 degrees. As your upper body rotates, your lower body should follow, as your feet spin the board with you.
Spotting the landing
As your head and shoulders complete the final half of your turn, it can help to have your eyes focused on your landing spot. This helps you stay balanced and move in the right direction. You’ll land riding switch with your knees bent.
Practicing and refining your backside 180
If your backside 180s aren’t landing right, there are some exercises you can do to improve. Practicing each part of this skateboard trick separately makes it easier to combine, especially as you build muscle memory. Spend some time on improving your regular ollies too. For turns, simpler tricks like the pivot 180 can help you figure out that foot control when you’re not in the air.
Once you’ve got a solid foundation with both of these tricks, practice popping an ollie and turning after you’ve landed on the front truck. If that feels challenging, you might want to review how to manual and add that to your routine as well. And if you’re still feeling off balance with the backside 180, try filming yourself to see exactly where your stance and posture need adjustment.
Try, try again until you get it right
Patience and persistence are key to perfecting the backside 180, so keep repeating these steps until you’ve gotten the hang of it. And if you don’t quite get it right the first few times, laugh it off and get back on the board. Once it all clicks, the sense of accomplishment when you finally learn this trick is electrifying.
