The Backside Bigspin Kickflip is considered an advanced flat ground trick in Skateboarding. Before you learn this trick, we recommend you are able to Backside Bigspin, 360 Flip, and Varial Kickflip consistently. Of course, having Backside 180s, Pop Shove-Its, and your other basics down will help too. Let’s begin by defining the trick.

Backside Bigspin Kickflip Definition

Backside Bigspin Kickflips (a.k.a Bigspin Kickflips, or Big Flips) are achieved by combining a 360 Flip with a Backside Body Varial. It can also be defined as a Varial Kickflip combined with a Backside 180. The skateboard will do a 360 Flip while the rider rotates 180-degrees backside, landing and rolling away in switch stance.

With the help of professional Skateboarder Chris Chann, we put together a brief video tutorial on the Backside Bigspin Kickflip that you can watch below! We recommend you check out the tutorial before attempting to learn Big Flips on your own.

After you’ve had a chance to watch the video tutorial, be sure to read the rest of the information on this page for an in-depth analysis of the trick and how YOU can start landing Backside Bigspin Kickflips…FIRST TRY!

Backside Bigspin Kickflip Tutorial

We hope you enjoyed the video and learned a thing or two from it! If you’re still unsure about learning the Backside Bigspin Kickflip, don’t stress! We’ve got you covered.

We’ll be breaking down what we learned from the video. This step by step breakdown of the Backside Bigspin Kickflip will help clear up any issues you may be encountering with this trick. There are 5 important aspects of the Big Flip that you’ll need to know before you land your first one!

1. Foot Position
2. Back Foot Pop/Scoop
3. Front Foot Flick/Follow Through
4. Turning Your Shoulders/Practice Steps
5. Landing Switch

Foot Position

The foot position for the Bigspin Kickflip very closely resembles the foot position you would use for a 360 Flip. After all, the board will be doing a 360 Flip. The only difference between the 360 Flip and the Big Flip is that your body will rotate 180-degrees in the same direction that the board is rotating.

To clarify, you’ll need your back foot to be placed on the tail of your skateboard. The ball of your back foot should be near the toe-side edge of the tail with your toes hanging slightly over the edge. You should be able to curl your toes over the toe-side edge of your tail from this position. Place your front foot in the middle of the board, slightly angled, just below the front bolts of your skateboard. 

Back Foot Pop/Scoop

For the Backside Bigspin Kickflip, the pop you’ll need is in between a scoop and a pop. In the words of Chris Chann, think of it like a “diagonal chop”. Try to avoid scooping too much, and avoid popping straight down with your back foot.

Somewhere in the middle of those two movements is where you’ll find the appropriate pop/scoop for the Bigspin Kickflip. If you have your regular Backside Bigspins down, you’ll notice the back foot pop/scoop motion is nearly identical for these two tricks.

Now we know to set our feet up like a 360 Flip, and to pop/scoop the board as we would for a Backside Bigspin.

Front Foot Flick/Follow Through

It’s time to turn this Bigspin into a Big Flip! The flicking motion required for the Backside Bigspin Kickflip is similar to the flicking motion for a Varial Kickflip.

The difference between the two flicking motions is that you’ll be turning your body as you flick for the Backside Bigspin. After you’ve popped the trick, when your body is turned about 90-degrees, this is when the front foot will flick off near the middle of the board on the heel-side. 

Once you’ve flicked off the board, your front foot needs to follow through with the flick and guide the board around for the landing. The same direction that your front foot flicks is the direction you’ll be turning with the board. Following through with the kick/flick of the front foot will help you finish rotating your body in order to catch the trick and ride away switch. 

Turning Your Shoulders

Since this is a “180-trick”, turning your shoulders is very key. Winding up your shoulders before you do the trick, then releasing the pressure as you begin to pop the Big Flip will not only help the board complete the required rotation but will also help YOU turn 180-degrees with the board.

One of the most common problems skateboarders have when learning Big Flips is slipping out on the landing. This happens when your shoulders haven’t turned all the way around with the board. It causes you to land on the board with your body slightly twisted, which doesn’t feel good. A solid wind up with your shoulders before you pop, and keeping your back straight can help eliminate this issue.

Another common error with Big Flips is when the board fails to flip properly. You may be experiencing this issue if you find yourself landing in primo or with the board flipped upside down when attempting Bigspin Kickflips. 

A great way to develop the muscle memory to properly form the Big Flip is to practice stepping off the board with your back foot and landing the trick with only your front foot.

Practice Steps

For this practice step, roll slowly on flat ground and pop the Big Flip. As you pop the trick, turn your shoulders, then plant your back foot safely on the ground as you follow the board around with your front foot. Finish by landing the Backside Bigspin Kickflip with only that front foot. Don’t worry about getting your back foot on there!

This is a practice step and should be used only to develop your muscle memory and dial in the Backside Bigspin Flip motion. This step should simplify the act of popping, flicking, and turning your shoulders simultaneously. Once you’ve mastered this step, you’ll be ready to commit and get both your feet to land on the board. FULL SEND! FIRST TRY!

Landing Switch

You’re almost there! The last step is to fully commit and get both of your feet on the board. You have to practice a lot and practice the motions that we said above. Once you’ve got all of that down, it’s just practicing and committing to the landing.

To recap, you’ll start with your feet in Big Flip position. The back foot will be half popping, half scooping with the ball of your back foot pushing down in the toe-side pocket of the tail. Scoop the board and as you begin to rotate your body Backside 180-degrees, your front foot will flick off the board like a Varial Flip, except your front foot follows through with the Backside 180 motion.

At this point, your shoulders will be turning with the board and your back foot will be coming around as your front foot gets ready to land on the board. When you learn this trick it helps to revert a little bit at the end. You’ll catch the board with your front foot if you plan on doing the slight revert.

Once you become more experienced with Backside Bigspin Kickflips, to get the full rotation in the air you’ll find yourself catching the board with either your back foot or both feet at the same time. Remember to bend your knees to absorb the impact, and roll away clean!

Make sure you are comfortable riding switch, as you’ll be landing in switch stance. Being comfortable with switch riding will help make your Backside Bigspin Kickflips as clean as possible. That’s all there is to it! With some practice and perseverance, you’ll be rolling away from Big Flips before you know it.

In Conclusion…

For the complete video breakdown of this trick, check out Skateboarding Made Simple Volume 6! SMS 6 is a complete advanced flip tricks tutorial, and the Bigspin Kickflip is the first trick that’s covered. With Christopher Chann and Aaron Kyro as your instructors, this video will help you master the advanced flip tricks.

Now get out there and have fun!!! We want to see YOU land this classic trick. Film a quick clip of you doing your best Big Flip and post it on Instagram tagging @brailleskate, #brailleskate, and #brailleskateboarding.  Let us know which piece of advice helped you the most so we can highlight that and we can get more people landing Backside Bigspin Kickflips!