If riding straight in a straight line isn’t thrilling enough for you, it’s time to level up! I’ve put together a list of 20 simple yet cool scooter tricks for beginners, complete with visuals to show them in action.
From basic jumps on flat ground to spins and flips on a Razor, these tricks are fun and sure to impress. Whether new to scootering or just looking to build your confidence and add some flair, these easy tricks can be a great starting point.
Plus, I’ll share pro tips to keep you confident and safe while still having a blast! Keep in mind these are for manual scooters rather than electric ones.
20 Easy Scooter Tricks
It’s time to scoot into action! Check out these 20 awesome scooter tricks that are brilliant for beginners. If you have some experience riding your scooter, transitioning into these fun tricks can be easy.
Some of the tricks are great for kids, while others might be better for teens trying to impress their friends.
Caution
A sensible adult should always supervise kids when riding a scooter and doing tricks. Riders should always wear protective gear, including helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads.
1. Bunny Hop
A bunny hop is a great scooter trick for a beginner, as it’s an easy — and pretty safe — trick. But it’s still cool enough to wow your pals.
To do a bunny hop, stand still on your scooter, holding onto the handlebars. Have your non-dominant foot slightly angled at the back of the scooter so it’s not straight on the board. Keep your dominant foot in front of the other foot, also slightly angled.
Bend both your knees and jump up, pulling your scooter upwards with you. Keep your knees bent as you land to keep in control. Once you’re confident with this move, you can try it while riding the scooter.
Difficulty: 2/5
2. J-Hop
A j-hop is similar to a bunny hop but with one slight change. Some may find the j-hop slightly easier, while others may find it slightly more difficult than a bunny hop. However, mastering it is beneficial as it can lead to bar spins and tail whips.
Stand on your scooter the same way you do for a bunny hop. Instead of bending both your knees and jumping up, you will lead with the front foot. Do this by pulling the handlebars up first, immediately followed by jumping with the back foot.
Keep your knees bent as you pull your scooter upwards with you. As you land, keep your knees bent so you can stay in control of the scooter.
Difficulty: 2.5/5
3. Magnet
Stand with your feet in the middle of the deck, slightly angled to one side. Take a high jump while looking down at the deck. Pull the handlebars while you’re in the air so the scooter’s deck meets your feet like a magnet being pulled up toward you.
Then, land back down firmly. Keep looking at the deck to ensure you land your feet in the middle of the board rather than at the front or back, as this can cause balance loss.
Difficulty: 2/5
4. No Footer
A No Footer is basically a bunny hop, but you take both feet off the board while you’re in the air. Then, quickly put them back on the board before you land.
Difficulty: 3/5
Top Tip
Practice this trick by taking one foot off at a time. Once you’ve mastered removing one foot, try the other foot, then try both at once.
5. Can Plant
You may eventually take the can plant trick to the skatepark to try on ramps. But in the meantime, you can try it on flat ground.
Start with both your feet on the board, spaced evenly apart, at a slight angle towards your non-dominant side. For example, if you’re right-handed, angle your feet towards the left.
Now do a bunny hop, and while you’re in the air, put your dominant foot forward and plant it on the ground to land the trick. When you land the trick, your scooter should be in the air behind you with the non-dominant foot still on the deck.
Difficulty: 3/5
6. 180
A 180-spin involves jumping and turning. It’s vital that you turn your head to initiate your spin.
Start with a bunny hop, then turn your head and body in the desired direction. Naturally, you will do a 180-spin!
Difficulty: 2.5/5
7. Barspin
A barspin involves spinning the bars of the scooter while you’re in the air. You can practice it on flat ground first, spinning the bars quickly clockwise with your right hand or counter-clockwise with your left hand.
To implement it in the air, do a j-hop first, and while you’re leaning back, quickly spin the bars to add a cool flair to the trick.
Difficulty: 3.5/5
Important Note
Make sure you do a full spin before landing. If you land before the bar spin is complete, you will land while the wheel is angled, and you might veer off once you land. This can take you by surprise, leading to a fall.
8. Tail Whip
To do a tail whip, make sure you’ve mastered the bunny hop or j-hop. Next, it’s important to decide which way you tail whip your scooter.
If you stand with your feet pointing towards the left, you will tail whip the deck counter-clockwise. If you stand with your feet pointing towards the right, tail whip the deck clockwise.
Before you start tail whipping, practice spinning the deck while standing flat on the ground. Hold your scooter directly in front of you above the ground and practice the rotation. Simply rock your arms back and forward, up and down, to spin the scooter’s deck. Get faster and faster as you get more confident!
Now, it’s time to practice the tail whip without the jump. Standing on your scooter as normal, step your front foot out to the side. Kick the deck with the toes of your opposite foot. Then, catch it with the kicking foot before stepping back on and riding straight.
When you’re ready, you can try this motion in the air. So do a bunny or j-hop before kicking the deck, spinning the bars, and catching it with your foot before landing. The only difference is that your front foot doesn’t step forward; it just floats out to the side as the deck spins.
Difficulty: 4/5
9. Sex Change
The sex change trick involves a bunny hop and changing your stance. So, while you’re in the air for your bunny hop, you simply switch your stance from a regular stance to a goofy stance.
A regular stance involves your toes pointing towards the right of the board, and a goofy stance is towards the left.
Difficulty: 2.5/5
10. X-Up
An X-Up involves doing a bunny or j-hop and rotating your handlebars 180 degrees while you’re in the air. When you’re in the air, keep your hands firmly on the handlebars and quickly rotate them 180 degrees and back before you land.
You can practice this by rotating the handles slightly first, then building it up each time until you reach 180.
Difficulty: 2.5/5
11. Pump
Pumping and flowing is one of the most essential scooter tricks to learn. This allows you to pick up speed without pushing with your feet. With this skill, you can ride faster and smoother.
As you ride, simply crouch and stand with the rhythm of your ride, bending your knees in and out to gather more speed as you go.
Difficulty: 1/5
12. Fakie
A fakie is when you ride backward with your scooter. This trick can improve your balancing skills and is a foundational trick you can build upon later.
Stand on your scooter as you normally would, but kick your feet forward on the ground to move back. To steer, you will need to do the opposite of the direction you want to go in. If you want to go to the right, steer left. If you want to turn left, steer right.
Difficulty: 1.5/5
13. 360-Degree
You can learn a 360-degree spin flat on the ground, but it’s more effective when you learn it on the ramp. However, for beginners, we’ll be learning it flat on the ground.
To do a 360-degree spin, stand on your scooter as you normally would. When you do your j-hop, turn your head first, and your body should follow, spinning 360 degrees until you land. Make sure to keep your feet on the deck to keep control.
You may want to try this on the ground without your scooter first to build confidence.
Difficulty: 4/5
Top Tip
Start the rotation slightly before you jump off the ground. Accelerate into the rotation so you have a bit of force behind you for when you leave the ground.
14. Manual
A manual is riding on one wheel (the back wheel) and holding it as long as possible. Stand as far back on the scooter as possible, preferably your dominant leg. Put your weight on the back foot and pull the handlebars up so that you’re riding with the back wheel on the ground.
If the scooter is leaning too far back, you can lightly tap your brake with your other foot to help you lean forward. As you practice, you’ll be able to hold the manual for longer.
Difficulty: 3/5
15. One Hander
For this trick, start with a bunny or j-hop first. While you’re in the air, remove one hand from the handlebars. You can switch between hands, but it’s easier to start with removing your non-dominant hand.
Difficulty: 3.5/5
16. Feeble
This is a basic but important trick that you can use to incorporate with other tricks. You can practice this at the skatepark or even on a sidewalk curb. As long as the ledge is taller than your wheel, you’re good to go.
A feeble is when your back wheel is off the ledge, and your front wheel is on the ledge. Place your scooter like that on a ledge and find your balance on the deck. Try hopping a couple of times on the deck to build your confidence.
Once you’re confident in the position, you can approach the ledge with some speed. Ride up to the ledge and hop onto it, ensuring to land in the feeble position. If you want to slide (known as a feeble grind), find the balance point by slightly moving your body from side to side. Then hop off the ledge and continue on your way!
Difficulty: 4/5
17. No Hander
A no-hander trick is where you can ride your scooter like a skateboard. You’ll be standing sideways on your scooter and riding it with no hands. You may need a slight downward incline for some momentum.
Turn your bars around, step onto your scooter, and start riding. Turn your body to the side so your feet are side by side, pointing outwards. Keep the weight on your back foot and use your front foot to gently steer where you want to go. And you’ll be on your way!
Difficulty: 3/5
Pro Tip
Keep your back foot aligned with your back shoulder for the best posture and balance.
18. Heelwhip
A heelwhip is like a tail whip, but instead of kicking with your toes, you kick with your heels. Some might find the heelwhip more advanced than a tail whip, so I recommend practicing the tail whip first.
During a tail whip, you kick your board behind you. But during a heelwhip, you will kick your board in front of you using your heel. You can practice this flat on the ground before attempting it with a jump.
Difficulty: 4.5/5
19. Weedwacker
This crazy trick is a great one to impress your friends! It’s also parent-approved, as it doesn’t involve jumping or using ramps.
Put your dominant foot on the deck and move slowly forward. When you have a smooth but slow momentum, quickly spin the handlebars over and over again. This will quickly rotate the handles and the wheel. As you spin the handlebars, keep moving the scooter forward by pumping your back foot against the ground.
This one takes a little while to master as there’s a lot going on, but once you get it, it becomes pretty easy!
Difficulty: 2.5/5
20. X-Ride
To do an X-Ride, master the X-Up first. Once you’ve moved into the X-Up position, keep your arms in that crossed position and continue riding. This move is a great way to surprise your buddies, as it’s a little bit unexpected!
Difficulty: 2.5/5
Tips for Beginner Scooter Riders
New to the world of scootering? Whether riding a Razor, Micro, or Fuzion scooter, before you embark on your trick-filled journey, delve into these essential tips to hone your skills and ensure a smooth ride every time.
Here are the seven top tips:
- Wear a helmet: It’s important to protect your precious brain! Wearing a sturdy helmet is a game-changer when it comes to safety. I recommend wearing a helmet in every situation, regardless of age or skill set.
- Other safety gear: You should also wear elbow pads, knee pads, and protective gloves. In the case of a fall, this safety gear can prevent injury.
- Choose good shoes: Wear good shoes with a flat bottom and good grip, as this will provide extra balance and control.
- Rest and recover: If you experience any kind of injury — whether from scooter riding or otherwise — give your body time to rest and recover. If you jump back on your scooter before you’re fully recovered, you risk making injuries worse.
- Give yourself time to learn: Don’t jump onto ramps at the skatepark before you’re ready. Learn slowly. Start by traveling slower and learning one trick at a time, starting with simple ones like a bunny hop or the weedwacker.
- Choose the right scooter: If you want to learn how to do tricks, the lighter the scooter, the better. When choosing the best scooter, you should also make sure the scooter is the right size for you. Ideally, the handlebars are at wrist height when you dangle your hands down. Lastly, ensure that the deck is shorter if you want to do more tricks, as this makes it easier to maneuver.
- Maintain your scooter: Keep your wheels, bars, compression, and other parts in good condition. Check your scooter over regularly to check for wear and tear. The better its condition, the safer it will be to ride.
FAQs
Which Is Easier To Do Tricks On: A Bike or Scooter?
A scooter is easier for learning tricks. Firstly, scooters are lighter, making them easier to maneuver and manipulate. The standing position is also more natural for doing tricks. Plus, when you wipe out, it’s easier to catch your balance when riding a scooter than on a bike.
So, if you’re a complete beginner, you may want to start with a scooter. But if you have a lot of experience with BMX bikes, then you may want to concentrate on learning tricks in this unit instead.
How Do You Get Over the Fear of Dropping on a Scooter?
Being scared of falling or dropping off your scooter is normal. But it’s vital that you learn to fall properly and eventually lose the fear. Even pro scooter riders will fall every time they ride!
Wearing the proper protective equipment can help you get over the fear of falling. Knowing your body is protected by pads and helmets can ensure you lower the risk of injury.
That being said, if you become nervous every time you attempt a trick, you will lose confidence. And you need confidence to follow through on all your tricks. So remember — confidence equals success when performing tricks!
Extra Tips
Always start on flat ground, then smaller ramps, before moving onto bigger ones or half pipes. Work your way up, and the confidence will grow with you. Try not to overthink it!
How Do You Ride a Scooter With No Hands?
To ride a scooter with no hands, you need to ride it like a skateboard. First, find somewhere with a slight downward incline. Next, spin your handlebars 180 degrees so that the wheel faces toward you. This can prevent it from steering erratically.
Then, place your feet side by side, aligning your back foot with your back shoulder. Once you’re confident in the positioning, push off with your front foot and resume the position. Use your back foot to keep the weight, and use your front foot to steer gently.
