How To: Dolphin Flip

What this video teaches

VLSkate describes the dolphin flip as a varial kickflip that ends up flipping end over end because of where and how you kick it. He sets the feet almost exactly like a high ollie, back foot mostly centered on the tail but nudged toward the heelside pocket and front foot a few inches below the bolts near the center of the board, pointing straight forward rather than angled, because an angled front foot turns the trick into a kickflip or varial flip rotation. The flick goes straight off the nose rather than off to the side, and the front foot drags up the nose and stays in contact until it releases in the little nook at the tip. He then has you work the trick standing still to find the sweet spot, then rolling, with body weight leaned forward and shoulders and head over the board.

Key tips

• 1Set the feet like a high ollie: back foot centered on the tail nudged toward the heelside pocket, front foot a few inches below the bolts near the center of the board
• 2Keep the front foot pointing straight forward; angling it diagonally makes the board rotate like a kickflip or varial flip instead
• 3Flick straight off the nose rather than out to the side, dragging the foot up the nose and releasing in the nook at the tip
• 4Too far off the side gives a kickflip or varial flip rotation, too far centered or toward the toeside gives a plain front flip; the sweet spot is between them
• 5Practice standing still first, just popping and kicking the front foot straight out in front of you, without worrying about forming the trick
• 6Once rolling, lean the shoulders forward and keep your head over the board looking down at it; leaning back kicks the board out in front of you
• 7The board flips end over end, so you need to jump high enough to get over it or it will clip your feet
• 8The delayed style of kickflip, where you drag the foot up the nose before flicking, is useful preparation because the motion is similar

Summarized from the video transcript.