5 Easy Finger Skateboard Tricks Any Beginner Can Land Today

September 7, 2026

The ollie is the trick every fingerboarder needs first, and most beginners can land a clean one within a single practice session. Master that, then a shuvit, a manual, a kickflip and a 50-50 grind follow naturally, each building on the finger position and pop from the one before it. Here's how to get all five landing cleanly.

Trick	Difficulty	Typical time to land
Ollie	Beginner	Same session
Shuvit	Beginner	Same session
Manual	Beginner-Intermediate	A few sessions
Kickflip	Intermediate	Several sessions
50-50 grind	Intermediate	Several sessions

What you'll need

A fingerboard with good deck flex and responsive trucks (a wobbly or overly stiff board makes every trick harder than it needs to be)
A flat, smooth surface to start on, a desk or table works better than carpet
A rail or ledge for the grind trick later on, even a stack of books or a ruler edge will do
Patience for the first twenty minutes; the ollie takes most beginners longer to feel than to explain

Close-up of fingers performing a trick with a finger skateboard on a mini wooden ramp — Good deck flex and grip tape make the difference between a clean landing and a frustrating one.

Step 1: The ollie

Every fingerboard trick builds on the ollie, so it's worth getting comfortable before moving on.

Rest your index finger near the nose and your middle finger on the tail, board flat on the surface.
Snap your middle finger down on the tail to pop the board up.
As it lifts, slide your index finger up toward the nose to level the board out mid-air.
Guide it back down flat with both fingers to land.

Common fix: if the board flips over instead of popping straight up, you're pressing down rather than snapping. A quick, sharp flick on the tail works better than a slow push.

Step 2: The shuvit

The shuvit spins the board 180 degrees under your fingers without flipping it, and it's one of the more forgiving tricks to learn early.

Place your back finger on the tail at a slight angle, rather than straight on.
Pop the tail down while pulling it toward you in the same motion.
Let the board spin freely in the air, don't try to guide it.
Catch it flat with both fingers once it completes the half rotation.

The force of your pull determines the spin speed, so start gentle and increase it once you're landing consistently.

Step 3: The manual

Manuals are pure balance, no pop required, which makes them a good confidence builder between the more technical tricks.

Roll the board forward at a steady, moderate speed.
Lift your back finger slightly to raise the tail off the ground.
Balance on just the front wheels as you continue rolling.
Lower the tail back down smoothly to finish.

Most beginners tip too far forward at first. Small, constant micro-adjustments hold the balance better than one big correction.

Step 4: The kickflip

Once the ollie feels natural, the kickflip adds a rotation along the board's length.

Set up your fingers exactly as you would for an ollie.
As you pop, flick the edge of the board with your finger to start it flipping.
Watch the board rotate once along its long axis while airborne.
Level it out and land flat, just like the ollie.

This is the trick that takes most beginners the longest to land cleanly. Expect several dozen attempts before it clicks, that's normal, not a sign you're doing it wrong.

Step 5: The 50-50 grind

Your first rail or ledge trick, and the gateway into the wider world of grinds.

Approach your rail or ledge at a slight angle, not straight on.
Ollie so the middle of the board lands centred on the rail.
Let both trucks slide evenly along the rail together.
Pop off cleanly at the end rather than riding off the edge.

Waxing the rail edge, even a cheap candle works, makes the slide noticeably smoother while you're still learning the timing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Pressing instead of popping. Every trick above relies on a sharp, quick flick rather than steady pressure.
Practising on an uneven or soft surface. A wobbly surface makes every trick harder to diagnose when it goes wrong.
Skipping the ollie. It's tempting to jump straight to flips and grinds, but nearly every trick borrows its finger position and timing from the ollie.

Frequently asked questions

What's the easiest fingerboard trick to learn first?

The ollie, followed closely by the shuvit. Both rely on a single clean pop rather than the more complex finger coordination that flips and grinds need.

Why does my fingerboard flip over instead of popping straight up?

This usually means you're pushing down on the tail rather than snapping it. A short, sharp flick pops the board up; a slow push tips it sideways instead.

How long does it take to learn a kickflip on a fingerboard?

Most beginners land their first clean kickflip after a few practice sessions once the ollie is solid. It's one of the trickier early tricks, so a few dozen attempts is completely normal.

Do I need an expensive fingerboard to learn tricks?

No, but deck flex and grip tape quality matter more than price alone. A board with responsive trucks and grippy tape makes every trick in this list noticeably easier to land.