How to rock to fakie

Rock to fakie is one of the first ramp tricks people learn after dropping in and kickturns. You ride up the wall, push the front of the board over the coping so the board rocks on it, then lift the nose back over and roll down backwards, in fakie. It teaches you to control the board on the coping, which almost every ramp trick builds on.

Before you try it

You'll want to be comfortable with:

• Dropping in.
• Pumping to get to the top of the wall.
• Riding fakie down a ramp.
• Kickturns at the top.

If those are solid, you're ready.

Foot placement

• Back foot: on the tail.
• Front foot: over the front bolts.

Same as riding normally.

The approach

Ride up the ramp with enough speed to reach the coping, but not so much that you fly over it. Approach straight, with the board pointing at the coping.

The rock

1. As you reach the top, push the front of the board over the coping so the front truck goes over and the middle of the board rests on the coping.
2. The front wheels are now on the deck side of the ramp.
3. Your weight is centered over the coping for a moment.

That's the "rock".

Coming back in

1. Press the tail slightly to lift the front wheels back up and over the coping.
2. Lift the nose enough so the front truck clears the coping on the way back.
3. Roll down the ramp backwards, in fakie, knees bent.

A worked example: hanging up

Leo's rock to fakies keep hanging up: his front truck catches the coping on the way back in, and he falls forward. A friend watches and sees he's not lifting the nose enough. Leo presses the tail a bit more as he comes back in, so the front truck clears the coping. Next try, he rolls back in clean.

Practice plan

1. Stationary: at the top of the ramp, set the board on the coping with the front truck over, then lift it back in.
2. Slow approach: ride up slowly, rock, come back.
3. Normal speed.
4. Then try rock and roll: the same rock, but turn back in forward instead of fakie.

Fixes for the usual problems

• Hanging up: lift the nose more so the front truck clears the coping.
• Not reaching the coping: pump more.
• Flying over: you're going too fast. Ease off.
• Falling back: your weight's too far back. Keep it centered over the coping.
• Falling forward: your weight's too far forward. Center it.

Where rock to fakie leads

Rock to fakie teaches the coping control you need for a lot of ramp tricks:

• Rock and roll: same rock, but instead of lifting back in fakie, you turn the board back in forward, like a kickturn on the coping.
• Axle stall: both trucks on the coping, board parallel to it.
• Tail stall: the tail resting on the coping, with the back wheels over on the deck.
• Grinds on coping: once you can lock on, you can grind.

Picking the right ramp

A mini ramp with smooth, round coping is the best place to learn. Square coping or a sharp concrete edge catches the board more easily. Avoid ramps where the deck at the top is narrow; you want enough room for your front wheels to land on it during the rock.

Speed and timing

The rock is about arriving at the coping with just enough speed: you want the front truck to go over with the board's middle resting on the coping, not the whole board flying onto the deck. If you reach the top too slow, the front truck won't clear; too fast, and you overshoot. Pump to the top and practice until the rock happens right as you reach the coping.

Common mistakes

• Not lifting the nose. The main cause of hang-ups.
• Coming in at an angle. Approach straight.
• Too much speed.
• Leaning back on the way in. Stay over the board.

FAQ

What's the difference between rock to fakie and rock and roll?

Rock to fakie comes back in backwards. Rock and roll turns back in forward.

Do I need pads?

They help, especially knee pads, in case you hang up.

What's a hang-up?

When your truck catches the coping and stops the board, usually throwing you forward.

Next: How to axle stall

Join the testers at skatelabs.app/testers and play a Game of SKATE with your friends. Global SKATE is free and in testing on iPhone and Android.