by There’s a sport called fingerboarding, which sounds like exactly what it is: manipulating a teeny skateboard with your fingers. It’s a real thing, and it’s pretty cool.
One company that has found success with these miniature skateboards is Tech Deck, which features a wide range of designs that are popular among collectors.
Basic Tricks
If you’re just starting out, there are a few tricks you can learn to build your confidence and skills. First, you’ll want to start with a basic ollie. This is one of the most important fundamental moves because many other tricks are built on top of it. To perform a basic ollie, jump while the board stays with your feet by crouching down and popping the tail of the board. This can take some time to perfect, but it’s well worth the effort.
Once you’ve mastered the ollie, there are several other fun tricks you can do to show off your newfound talent. For example, you can try a yoyo grab or a typhoon flip to spin the board in different directions while maintaining control of it. You can also do a frontside boneless or moonwalk by getting air off a ramp and pushing the board with your back finger to make it turn in a backflip while still being able to keep control of it when it hits the ground.
You can even do a kickflip, but this requires more control because you have to hit the nose of the board with your thumb and the tail with your middle and ring fingers to flip it in the air while still being able to grip the board with all of your fingers before it lands.
Intermediate Tricks
As you get more comfortable skating your mini ramp and have your basics like ollies, kickturns, 50/50 grinds, rock n rolls, and board slides down, it’s time to move on to some intermediate tricks. Once you have a good understanding of the basic techniques, the next step is to learn a variety of flips and spins. These tricks look really nice done off of a rail or other obstacle, and they’ll impress your friends and family!
A 5-0 grind is another advanced trick to try. It’s a bit of a combo, as it involves doing an ollie into the air, and then manualing on a rail. To do this, you have to place your back foot on the tail of the board and then manually use your front index finger to lift it up. This will make the board angled at the nose and you can ride it on the rail.
Another good trick is a fastplant. It’s a little bit harder to land, but it looks really cool and will impress your friends and family. To do this, you have to put your back foot on the tail of the board before doing an ollie, and then drag your front foot toward the nose of the board. The board will then come down and you’ll have to quickly plant it on the ground.
Advanced Tricks
Whether you’re an experienced skateboarder or just starting out, you can push your skills even further with these miniature skateboards. Tech Decks, or “fingerboards,” are a fun and accessible way to learn basic and advanced skateboarding tricks. Many beginners start with the basics, such as ollies, to gain confidence before moving on to more advanced maneuvers. The ollie is a key skill because other tricks build on it, including grinds and kickflips.
The basic ollie involves jumping and keeping the skateboard with your feet, allowing you to slide it forward. To do this, place one foot at the tail of the board and lean more weight toward that end. Keep the other foot on the front of the board. As you jump, the nose of the board should rise up and then pivot either forward or backward.
Another important trick to master is the Rock-to-Fakie, a maneuver that requires you to rock your board up a ramp and then revert it into fakie position. This can be difficult because you need to have the right balance and speed to pull off the trick. To practice this, try approaching ramps at different speeds and note how it affects your ability to complete the trick.
The most common reasons for a failure to execute the Rock-to-Fakie are incorrect foot placement and improper weight distribution. To overcome these challenges, practice placing your feet close together and evenly distributing your weight as you rock the board up the ramp. You also need to be committed to the trick and avoid hesitating or bailing out.
Techniques
The smaller size of miniature skateboards makes them highly maneuverable and nimble, giving beginners a platform to unleash their creativity with quick and nimble movements. They can also be easily stowed in a backpack or taken on public transportation, making it easy for skaters to practice tricks and maneuvers anywhere they go.
Oftentimes, the unsung heroes behind a successful skateboard trick are timing and speed. The Rock-to-Fakie, for example, requires the perfect balance of physics to be performed smoothly and successfully. To avoid falling forward or overshooting the ramp, it’s important to manage your speed with proper foot placement and crouching. To do this, use a drill by focusing on the different components of the trick, such as the rocking and fakie. By practicing these individual components, you can improve your overall performance and make the Rock-to-Fakie a breeze.
Skateboarders first began creating miniature skateboards, which are also known as fingerboards or Tech Decks, in the 1960s. They were originally created as toys and distributed as a form of advertising for skate brands. Later, they gained popularity as collectables and were even sold in toy stores and McDonald’s Happy Meal menus. Today, skaters still use miniature skateboards as a way to practice and hone their skills, especially in tight spaces where full-size boards cannot fit. Some skaters even incorporate them into their regular skating routine, bringing them along on skate trips and everyday adventures.
