Do I have to learn Varial Flip before Treflip?
No. They flip due to fundamentally different mechanics.
This article analyzes the scientific differences between a Varial Flip and a Treflip. They rotate and flip for entirely different reasons, and the distinction involves far more than how the back foot moves. Let us examine the mechanics in detail.
Summary
Varial Kickflip and Treflip flip due to different mechanics
Varial Kickflip: The front foot creates the flip.
Treflip: The rear truck’s bushings create the flip.
Even though certain body movements may appear similar, the underlying principles differ, placing these tricks on separate learning paths.
How to practice Varial Kickflip?
Pop as you would for a Pop Shove-it. Use the tip of your front toe and flick the nose straight forward, rather than flicking toward the side. Click here for more detailed guidance.
How to practice Treflip?
Focus on twisting your back foot inward around the vertical (z) axis. Avoid swinging your back foot outward to force the rotation. The board will rotate when your weight is kept on the toe side and you pop straight downward while your center of gravity shifts slightly backward. Click here for further explanation.
Simulation
Reasons each trick flips
What causes the flip in a Varial Kickflip?
A Varial Kickflip combines a Kickflip and a Pop Shove-it with subtle adjustments, and the front foot is responsible for generating the flip. As evidence, the board will not flip if you pop too forcefully and your front foot fails to contact it.
The 180-degree rotation occurs because your weight rests on the toe side and the tail is popped straight downward, allowing the back foot to guide the tail backward. This movement—not a scoop—produces the rotation.
What causes the flip in a Treflip?
In contrast to a Varial Kickflip, the back foot creates the flip in a Treflip, not the front foot. As explained in the previous article, the front foot leaves the board before it has any opportunity to apply a flicking motion.
The flip arises from the rebound of the rear truck’s bushings. As you scoop the tail, the rear truck is compressed, and when it springs back toward its neutral position, it generates the flip.
