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KEEP YOUR FRONT FOOT IN CONTACT WITH THE BOARD FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE TRICK — DO NOT SHUVIT
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PUSH THE BOARD SLIGHTLY WITH YOUR BACK FOOT WHILE TWISTING YOUR FRONT FOOT
The switchblade is a freestyle footwork trick that involves turning the board 180 degrees under your front foot and ending in a one footed tail stop position. It is important to remember that this trick is not a shuv-it. Though the two trick look similar, the switchblade requires a different technique.
Before learning the switchblade, it helps to know how to tail stop shuffle and walk the dog.
Begin with your front foot on the nose of the board, pointing forward. The heel of your foot should be over the front truck bolts. Place your back foot over the back truck bolts with your toes hanging over the edge of the board. Press down into the ball of your front foot while also swiveling your front foot at the ankle. This should cause the board to begin turning backside. As the board begins to turn, use your back foot to gently push the board into this rotation. Keep your front foot in contact with the nose of the board throughout this 180 degree rotation and attempt to end with your front foot pinning the nose to the ground. You should now be balancing on one foot in a sort of “tail stop” position. Front here, hop and switch feet (see Tail Stop Shuffle). Return all four wheels to the ground and BOOM! You did your first switchblade!
If you are having trouble learning switchblades, it might help to practice Tail Stop Shuffle variations. These tricks will help improve your balance in tail stop. Don’t rely on your back foot to turn the board. This may cause the board to over-rotate and spin out of control. Instead, do most of the work with your front foot.
For a challenge, try to do three dog walks followed by a switchblade. What other freestyle tricks can you add to this sequence? Spacewalks? Finger flips? No, seriously, what else?