Hop – lifting both wheels off the ground simultaneously.
The bunny hop is among the first tricks you'll want to master on your scooter. It's a fundamental move that paves the way for whips, grinds, and much more. Once you've perfected the bunny hop, you might want to attempt a nollie – hopping off your front wheel instead of both.
Fakie – riding your scooter in reverse
Learning to fakie enables you to execute tricks that involve riding backwards, entering and exiting fakie like with the 180 and nose whip. It's a straightforward move that demands balance and control. The easiest way to practice your fakie is to approach a ramp or pipe, roll up slightly, and let gravity take over.
Manual – riding on just the rear wheel of your scooter
Manuals are simple in theory but can take some time to perfect in practice. If you lift too hard, your scooter will slip out from under you, but if you lift too lightly, you'll struggle to keep your front wheel off the ground. You'll need good balance to maintain a manual, but once mastered, you can increase your speed and create impressive combos.
Nose pivot – rotating your scooter deck using your front wheel (without jumping)
A nose pivot is a very handy trick to have mastered and serves as an easy way to transition into (and out of) fakie. Combine a handlebar push with a forward lean to shift your scooter onto its front wheel, and from there, it's just a matter of turning around. Simple and effective – a win for everyone!
180 – jumping and spinning to face the opposite way
Once you've mastered the bunny hop and the nose pivot, your next challenge is a 180 jump. Get some good air from a hop and twist your scooter to face the other direction. You'll want to put some force behind the jump and loosen up for the turn before bending your knees upon landing. Add a fakie into a nose pivot, and you've completed your first combo!
Air – turning 180 above the coping on a half/quarter pipe
Getting air is crucial for many tricks, but mastering this basic move takes time and practice. As you become more comfortable with landing air, you'll jump higher off the coping and start building combos. The trick is to let your head guide your body and scooter by turning to face the landing spot. Remember to bend your knees when you land.
One hander/no hander – removing one or both hands from the bars
Once you can get some solid air, challenge yourself by taking one hand off the bars. It might feel a bit unsteady at first, but it's a great step towards full scooter confidence and a neat little move that can be added to future combos. When you feel ready, try stretching that one arm out or even taking both hands off the bars and doing the same.
No footer – taking both feet off your scooter deck
This trick is all about timing. Once you've achieved some air (either from a flat ride or on a pipe), take both feet off the deck. If you can manage to get both feet off, your next challenge is to stretch your legs (you'll need plenty of air for this). There are variations of the no footer; you could push yourself off the scooter without jumping, but this requires considerable arm strength and balance.
Bar spin – Rotating your handlebars 360 degrees
You'll need air for this trick as well, but you can practice by having your front wheel hang over a curb. If you're spinning your bars 180, throw your bars from your dominant hand (the one you write with) to your other hand. Once this feels comfortable (and you can do it during air), try a 360 spin by throwing your bars around until you can catch the same bar back with your throwing hand.
Tailwhip
A successful tail whip primarily relies on your arm movement, although some fancy footwork is necessary too. You'll want to get as much air as possible before attempting the tail whip, and it's advisable to start on flat surfaces or a quarter pipe before moving on to anything more challenging. Your back foot will kick your deck to initiate the movement, and then your arms take over to swing it 360 degrees back to your original position.
Master these 10 tricks and moves, and you're on your way to reaching the next level. Your next step is to try combining these into combos (both on flat ground and off a pipe).
Video credits - Scoot Hard or Scoot Home, MikeyRoss33, Jordan Hall, Jordan Lago, BlakeinatorMate, Dan Albl, TeamVillainTV, Joshuah Filemon, Lachlan Searle & EdenLouiseButler
Beginner Stunt Scooters
To advance in your scooter riding skills, you'll need a quality stunt scooter that can handle the wear and tear of practice. Take a look at some of our top beginner stunt scooters below.
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