Bob's Trick Tips - skateboard trick archive -- Dropping In -- the Tail Drop

Dropping In -- the Tail Drop

Here is the first of the new mini-ramp/quarter pipe tricks -- the Tail Drop. The Tail Drop is the most common way of dropping in on a ramp. It's a very useful skill, and really a basic. You need to be able to do this. Learn on a small mini-ramp or quarter pipe, and then you can go to larger ramps, and eventually vert.

You need to do this move with confidence.

Here is Fletcher, demonstrating the basic Tail Drop...

Check out the video clip here.


In frame 1, Fletcher clicks his board over the edge of the ramp. The rear truck/wheels are up against the coping, and the tail is resting on the top of the ramp. He holds it there with his rear foot. This is how you set up to drop in. Fletcher now steps out with his front foot. He's going to put it down on top of the front truck.

Now it's time to commit to the move. Fletcher has his front foot on the board. He leans slightly forward and puts weight on the front truck, pushing it down. A couple of things to notice: First, he keeps his center of balance over the middle of the board. If it's too far back, you will not get the nose down, and your front foot may come off, which spells disaster. Second -- and related to that -- he applies good pressure to the front foot. You MUST get that foot on the board and keep it there!

In Frame 5, he continues to push the nose down as he drops down the ramp. His weight is still centered over the middle of the board. He doesn't lean too far forward or backward. Finally, in the last frame, the front wheels are down, and he rolls away.