Before trying this trick it’s good to be comfortable riding backwards (switch) for the fakie part. And yes – backwards, switch and fakie are all basically the same thing! It’s an ideal first wallride move since you can start slow and work your way up to the coping as you get more confident. Once mastered you can even apply it to natural features like rocks and tree stumps, or take it to the streets!
1. APPROACH
After a few practice goes to judge the speed, I approach with enough momentum to launch up to the top of the wallride. I’m riding in with a flat base and looking up at the point where I want to rock it.
2. GOING UP
With this trick I stay flat on my board as I ride up the wall, and aim to get my back foot right over the coping at the top.
3. THE STALL
As I reach the top, I keep my weight at about 60% on the back foot and 40% on the front. You want the nose of your board to roll over the top of the wall but not touchdown, then lock in over the rear binding. It really feels great when you get it just right and can balance there for a few seconds. To style it out a bit, twist with the shoulders to the right or left, angling your board off centre, and push the front foot out in that direction.
4. COMING DOWN
Now’s the fun part – after the stall it’s time to head back down ‘fakie’ (the name comes from the skateboarding trick everyone learns on mini ramps). I try and hop off that rear foot a little, back onto the wall, and make sure the base is nice and flat.
5. Landing
Looking over that back shoulder, keep an eye on the transition at the bottom of the wall and absorb the compression with your knees, staying centered over your board. Boomtown, you nailed it.
