The Uditer Board Blog

Let's cut straight to it: yes, you can do tricks on an electric skateboard. But if you're picturing yourself pulling a kickflip down a six-stair like it's a regular deck, pump the brakes. Electric skateboards are a completely different animal. They're heavier, they've got motors and batteries under your feet, and that remote in your hand changes everything.

I've been riding e-skateboards for a few years now, and I'll be honest: my first attempt at anything fancy ended with me eating pavement and a bruised ego that lasted way longer than the road rash. The weight difference is no joke. A standard skateboard weighs maybe 5 pounds. An electric longboard like the UDITER Pixel Rider? That's 12 kg (roughly 26 pounds) before you even factor in the 2 kg battery.

So yeah, tricks are possible. But you need to approach them differently. Here's everything I wish someone had told me before I started.

Table of Contents

1. Why Electric Skateboards Handle Differently
2. Before You Try Anything: Gear Up
3. Which UDITER Boards Are Best for Learning Tricks?
4. 5 Beginner-Friendly Tricks (Step by Step)
   • 1. Hippie Jump
   • 2. Longboard Dancing (Cross Step, 180 Step, Peter Pan)
   • 3. Shuvit
   • 4. Ghostride Kickflip
   • 5. Nollie Pop
5. Common Mistakes That'll Wreck Your Board (and You)
6. How to Progress Without Getting Hurt
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Ready to Start?

Why Electric Skateboards Handle Differently 

Before you even think about tricks, you need to understand what you're standing on.

Weight is your biggest enemy. A typical electric longboard weighs 5 to 8 times more than a regular skateboard. That means:

• Pop tricks (ollies, kickflips) need way more force, and the board might not even leave the ground the way you expect.
• Landing is harder on both you and the hardware. That battery pack doesn't love impact.
• The board doesn't "flick" the same way. The weight distribution is completely different: motors in the wheels, battery in the enclosure, ESC tucked underneath.

The remote changes everything. On a regular board, both hands are free for balance. On an e-skateboard, one hand is holding a throttle. That might sound minor, but when you're mid-air trying to spot your landing, having one hand occupied is surprisingly disorienting.

Motor resistance is real. Hub motors (like the dual 600W ones on the UDITER S3 Lava and Pixel Rider) create resistance when they're not powered. If you try to manually spin or flip the board, it won't rotate as freely as a regular deck.

Here's the good news: electric skateboards are actually better for certain types of tricks. Longboard dancing and flow-style moves in particular. The weight gives you stability at speed. The wide deck gives you room to move your feet. And those big 105mm wheels roll over cracks that would send a regular board flying.

Before You Try Anything: Gear Up 

I know this section is boring. I also know that the one time I skipped my knee pads, I spent the next two weeks explaining to coworkers why I was limping. Learn from my mistakes.

Helmet: Do Not Skip This

Not a bike helmet. A certified skate helmet with EPS foam lining. Electric skateboards hit 28 mph (that's the top speed on the UDITER S3 Lava and Pixel Rider). At that speed, your head hitting concrete is not something you walk away from.

Knee and Elbow Pads

You will fall. Probably sideways. Your knees and elbows take the hit first. Get pads that stay in place when you slide — the sleeve-style ones are better than the strap-only kind.

Flat-Soled Shoes

Running shoes with thick cushioning kill your board feel. Flat soles (Vans, skate-specific shoes) let you feel the deck through your feet. That feedback is everything when you're learning foot placement.

Wrist Guards

When you fall forward (and you will), your instinct is to put your hands out. Wrist guards stop you from spending the next six weeks in a brace.

Find the Right Practice Spot

Empty parking lot. Smooth asphalt. No cars, no pedestrians, no curbs to clip. I use a church parking lot near my house on weekday afternoons — completely dead. The UDITER S3 Lava's 4 speed modes are perfect here: start in mode 1 (13 mph) while you learn the movements, then bump up as you get comfortable.

Which UDITER Boards Are Best for Learning Tricks? 

Not every electric skateboard is cut out for tricks. Here's how the UDITER lineup stacks up for trick riding:

My honest take: If you're just starting with tricks, the S3 Lava is the pick. The detachable handlebar is genuinely useful when you're learning footwork. It gives you a point of reference for balance without becoming a crutch. Once you're comfortable, take the handlebar off and you've got a clean deck. At $374.99, you're not risking a fortune if things go sideways.

The Pixel Rider is worth the jump to $499.99 if you want the LED screen. There's something genuinely cool about rolling into a trick with a custom GIF glowing under your feet. Plus that silicone grip surface keeps your feet locked during cross steps in a way grip tape just doesn't.

5 Beginner-Friendly Tricks (Step by Step) 

These are ordered from easiest to sketchiest. Master them in order. Do not skip to #4 because you're feeling bold. Ask me how I know.

Trick 1: Hippie Jump 

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
Risk of eating pavement: Low

The hippie jump is the perfect first trick because the board stays on the ground the entire time. You're just jumping over something while the board rolls underneath you. Sounds simple, and it is, but it teaches you timing, landing control, and how your board behaves when you're not on it for a split second.

What you need: A small obstacle. A crack in the pavement, a stick, even a chalk line.

How to do it:

1. Roll toward the obstacle at low speed (speed mode 1 on your UDITER — about 13 mph or less).
2. Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight centered.
3. About two feet before the obstacle, crouch down and spring straight up. Don't jump forward — let the board's momentum carry it under you.
4. Keep your eyes on the board as it passes under you.
5. Land with bent knees, both feet square on the deck. Don't stiff-leg it — that's how you get thrown.

What goes wrong: Most beginners jump forward instead of straight up. The board rolls ahead without them, they land behind it, and they run it out awkwardly. Practice on grass first if you're nervous. Just roll slowly, jump straight up, and land back on the board. No obstacle needed.

Trick 2: Longboard Dancing 

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Risk of eating pavement: Low-Medium

Longboard dancing is where electric longboards genuinely shine. The wide, stable deck of something like the UDITER S3 Lava or Pixel Rider gives you room to move your feet, and the board's weight actually helps. It stays planted while you shift around on top of it. Plus, carving at 15 mph with the motor doing the work means you can focus entirely on your footwork.

Three fundamental steps to learn:

Cross Step

This is the foundation of everything. You're essentially walking sideways across the deck while carving.

1. Start with your front foot near the front truck, back foot near the back.
2. Shift your front foot back to meet your back foot.
3. As you initiate a heel-side carve, step your back foot across and in front of your front foot, landing on the heel-side edge.
4. Bring your original front foot back to its position at the front of the board.
5. Transition into a toe-side carve. You should end up in your original stance.

Pro tip: The Pixel Rider's silicone grip surface makes cross steps way less sketchy. Regular grip tape catches your shoes mid-step; the silicone lets your feet glide just enough to reposition without slipping out.

180 Step

1. Start a gentle heel-side carve.
2. Place your front foot on the toe-side edge of the board, parallel to the deck.
3. Shift your weight onto that front foot and let your body and back foot rotate around naturally.
4. You're now facing backward. To get back, repeat the same motion in reverse.

Peter Pan

This is essentially a repeated cross step that flows continuously. Once you nail the cross step rhythm, the Peter Pan is just chaining them together. The key is keeping the carve smooth. The UDITER's 45-degree trucks make this feel natural, not jerky.

Trick 3: Shuvit 

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Risk of eating pavement: Medium

Here's where we start dealing with the weight issue. A shuvit on a regular board is a quick scoop-and-spin. On an electric board that weighs 26+ pounds? Different story. You're not going to get a snappy 180 the way you would on a 5-pound deck. You need to commit harder and accept that the rotation will be slower.

1. Set your back foot on the tail edge, front foot slightly angled near the middle.
2. Crouch and use your back foot to scoop the tail backward while your front foot guides the spin.
3. This is the key difference from a regular board: you have to jump higher and give the board more time to rotate. The weight means it won't snap around quickly.
4. Watch the board through the rotation. As it completes roughly 180 degrees, catch it with both feet and absorb the landing with bent knees.

Reality check: Full disclosure: a proper pop shuvit where the board leaves the ground is very hard on most electric longboards because of the weight. What most e-skate riders do is more of a "slide shuvit" where the wheels stay in contact. It still looks clean and it's way more achievable. Work up to the full pop version over weeks, not days.

Trick 4: Ghostride Kickflip 

Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Risk of eating pavement: Medium-High

The ghostride kickflip looks way more impressive than it actually is. That makes it the best effort-to-style ratio in e-skateboarding. You step off the board, flip it with your back foot, and jump back on. The board does a single flip in the air while you're running alongside.

1. Ride at a moderate speed. Fast enough for stability, slow enough that you can run alongside (around 10-12 mph).
2. Step your front foot off the board and start jogging next to it.
3. Use your back foot (still on the tail) to flick the board into a kickflip motion. Scoop down and out.
4. As the board flips, keep running alongside it.
5. When the grip tape faces up again, jump back on with both feet.

Why this works on an e-skateboard: You're not on the board during the flip, so the weight doesn't matter. The board's momentum keeps it moving forward while you handle the flip. The tricky part is matching your running speed to the board's speed so you don't land too far forward or back.

One warning: The UDITER's hub motors and battery enclosure mean the board doesn't flip as cleanly as a regular deck. It'll feel a bit lumpy in the air. Practice the flick motion standing still first to get a feel for the rotation.

Trick 5: Nollie Pop 

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Risk of eating pavement: Medium

A proper nollie (popping the nose and leveling the board in the air) is genuinely hard on an electric longboard. But there's a cheat code: use a crack or seam in the pavement.

1. Find a sidewalk seam, crack, or small lip in the pavement.
2. Ride toward it with your front foot near the nose.
3. Just as your front wheels hit the crack, push down hard with your front foot while pulling up slightly with your back foot.
4. The crack acts as a ramp, popping the nose up.
5. Level the board by sliding your front foot forward and landing with both feet.

This isn't a "real" nollie in the traditional skateboarding sense, but on an e-skateboard it's the closest you'll get without months of dedicated practice. The board's weight means true pop tricks need way more force than most people can generate. Work with the board's characteristics instead of fighting them.

Common Mistakes That'll Wreck Your Board (and You) 

I've made every mistake on this list so you don't have to.

1. Trying Tricks at Full Speed

The UDITER S3 Lava and Pixel Rider both top out at 28 mph. That's fast enough to break bones. Start in speed mode 1 (13 mph) and only bump up when the movement feels automatic.

2. Bailing While Holding the Remote

When you bail, your instinct is to grip whatever's in your hand. That means accidentally pinning the throttle while you're off the board. The board rockets away, hits a curb, and now you've got a broken board on top of your bruised body. Train yourself to let go of the remote the instant you know you're coming off.

3. Landing Stiff-Legged

Electric boards don't absorb impact like regular ones. That battery enclosure doesn't flex. Land with locked knees and the shock goes straight up your spine. Always land with bent knees and let your legs act as suspension.

4. Ignoring Battery Security

The UDITER quick-swap battery system locks in solid, but before every trick session, give the battery a firm push to make sure it's fully seated. A battery ejecting mid-trick is a bad day for everyone involved.

5. Practicing on Rough Ground

Those 105mm wheels handle cracks and pebbles during normal riding. But when you're landing a trick, even a small rock can throw the board sideways. Smooth asphalt only.

How to Progress Without Getting Hurt 

Here's the approach that actually works:

Week 1-2: Hippie jump only. Do it 100 times. Sounds boring, but you're building muscle memory for landing. Practice at speed mode 1.

Week 3-4: Add the cross step. Do it while carving gently. Don't try the 180 step until the cross step feels boring.

Week 5-6: 180 step and Peter Pan. By now you should be comfortable with your feet moving independently on the deck. Speed mode 2 (around 18 mph).

Week 7-8: Shuvit attempts. Expect to bail a lot. That's normal. Keep the speed low.

Week 9+: Ghostride kickflip. The progression from shuvit to kickflip is natural. You've already learned how the board rotates when you flick it.

The golden rule: If you can't do the trick 5 times in a row without bailing, you're not ready to move on.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can you do an ollie on an electric skateboard?

Technically yes, but it is genuinely difficult. A standard electric longboard like the UDITER S3 Lava weighs over 26 pounds. That's roughly 5 times more than a regular skateboard. Getting enough pop to make the tail slap the ground and rebound takes serious leg strength. Most riders find that longboard dancing and slide tricks make way more sense on an e-skateboard.

What's the easiest trick to learn on an electric skateboard?

The hippie jump, no contest. The board stays on the ground the whole time. You just jump over something small. No spinning, no flipping, no catching the board mid-air. It teaches you timing, landing control, and what happens when your feet leave the deck for a split second, all with basically zero risk of the board doing something unpredictable.

Which UDITER board is best for beginners learning tricks?

The UDITER S3 Lava at $374.99. It has 4 speed modes so you can start at 13 mph and build up. The detachable handlebar is genuinely helpful for footwork practice. The 2-layer bamboo and 5-layer maple deck has enough give for dancing while still feeling solid under your feet on landings. It's also the most affordable full-size board in the lineup, which matters when you're learning tricks and might send it tumbling a few times.

Will doing tricks damage my electric skateboard?

Over time, yes. Repeated hard impacts loosen motor mounts, stress solder joints, and can crack the battery enclosure. The UDITER boards are built solid: the Pixel Rider's deck is rated for 330 lbs with Canadian maple reinforced by fiberglass. But no electric skateboard is built to take the abuse of a street deck. If you're doing tricks regularly, check your trucks, motor mounts, and battery housing once a week.

Do I need a special electric skateboard for tricks?

Not special, but some features help. A wider deck gives you more room for footwork. Multiple speed modes let you start slow and controlled. The handlebar on the S3 Lava is actually useful when you're learning, not just a gimmick. Avoid boards with super flexy decks if you're landing on them. You want some stiffness for stability.

Can I do these tricks on any UDITER model?

Most of them work on any UDITER longboard: S3 Lava, Pixel Rider, and Pixel Beast all handle hippie jumps, dancing, and ghostride kickflips fine. The Pixel Mini has a shorter 78cm deck and a kicktail, which opens up some different possibilities but leaves less room for dancing footwork.

How fast should I go when learning tricks?

Start at the lowest speed. That's 13 mph on UDITER boards (speed mode 1). Speed doesn't make tricks easier. Control does. Only bump up the speed once you can land the trick consistently without thinking about it.

Ready to Start? 

Learning tricks on an electric skateboard is a completely different journey from regular skateboarding, and honestly, that's what makes it fun. You're not competing with the guy at the skatepark who's been doing kickflips since he was 12. You're figuring out what's possible on a machine that barely existed 15 years ago.

If you're looking for a board to learn on:

• UDITER S3 Lava: Best all-around pick for trick beginners. 4 speed modes, detachable handlebar, 105mm wheels for stability. $374.99 (37% off)
• UDITER Pixel Rider: Same platform, plus a customizable LED screen and silicone grip that's perfect for dancing footwork. $499.99 (28% off)

Both come with a 6-month warranty and ship within 4 business days. If you break something learning (it happens), the US-based service center in City of Industry, CA has you covered.

Now grab your helmet and get out there. And remember: mode 1. Always mode 1.

Related reads:

• Safety Tips for Riding an Electric Skateboard
• Mastering Safe Acceleration and Deceleration on Your Electric Skateboard
• How to Prevent Injuries When Riding an Electric Skateboard
• Are Electric Skateboards Worth It?
• How Do Electric Skateboards Work?