Freestyle Tricktip 32: The Switchblade

The switchblade is a staple piece of footwork which, for one reason or another, I've never learned. As such, during a recent skate event on a windy hillside in East London, I enlisted Kimber Skatepark's Aaron Watts to teach everyone (including me) the knack to this little shuvit-based step.
The in-depth breakdown and photo sequence can be found on the website at freestyletrick... for those who find stills and text easier to follow.
Anyway. Like, share, subscribe, do whatever you please. If there's any trick in particular you'd like a tip for, drop a comment below and we'll see what we can do. And if you appreciate these tricktips, please buy us a coffee at www.buymeacoff... to help keep this project going!

[@carolynian]

Oh wow, switchblade to casper variation. Just noticed that during this rewatch.

[@FreestyleTricktips]

Aaron's a great skater with some really interesting tricks. I've not seen him for ages due to the pandemic but I'm looking forward to skating with him again soon.

[@gustavobol]

Estou apreendendo bastante. Botando em prática tudo. Logo mais lhe digo se conseguir

[@rabbitruler44]

Super helpful, thank you!

[@gonzo13ist]

I’m kind of shocked that freestyle is alive and well in England.

[@FreestyleTricktips]

Freestyle's been having a bit of a renaissance worldwide for a while now. The problem is that most freestylers spend all their time hiding in empty basketball courts and dark corners of the internet, so no one else realises freestyle is still a thing!

[@_Maxten]

​@@FreestyleTricktips so accurate. one time i was freestyling in an empty basketball court of my university and some other guy on his board passes by and he turned out to be another freestyler. we just be hiding lol. literally the only other one I've ever met. makes me wonder if there are more in my area i just don't know about. I know connor burke grew up in my city

[@FreestyleTricktips]

@@_Maxten I'd be willing to bet that there's a lot more - or there has been, and some of them stopped skating because they thought they were the only one. The internet is a great tool for "connecting" with people, but it's no substitute for actually going out and finding skaters in real life. Being visible - skating in city plazas and open parks - increases the likelihood of making those connections and actually building a legitimate scene. Japan's known that for a while - it's amazing seeing the regular sessions they all have together. Ever since 2016 or so, we've had a regular session in the UK in Victoria Park, London which has really helped bring people together and bring newcomers to the fold. Mike Osterman's "skate picnics" out on the West Coast last year worked the same way. Another good choice (when the pandemic is over) is to find a local longboard dance community, if you have one. There's a lot of crossover between the two scenes, and that can also help build freestyle's visibility somewhat in your local area.

[@Johnnytotal]

Hey, I know that place. I competed in slalom there back in 2017 and 2016. Romsford cycle track?

[@FreestyleTricktips]

That's the one - Hog Hill! We normally go there three times a year for freestyle alongside the longboard and slalom event. Hopefully we'll get to go back this summer if things start to normalise a bit.

[@stakesskates9429]

🙏👌🤘

[@gustavobol]

Volte a postar vai.

[@FreestyleTricktips]

Hopefully in the new year once my injuries have healed!