What is an Aerial? Your Ultimate Guide

Table of Contents

The world of skateboarding is rich with diverse styles, equipment, and techniques, each contributing to its vibrant culture. Among these, the “aerial” stands out as a pinnacle of skill and daring. It’s more than just a trick; it’s a moment of flight, a testament to a skater’s mastery over gravity and their board.

Whether witnessed in a dimly lit skatepark, on the sun-drenched streets, or in the intense atmosphere of a competition, an aerial captivates with its blend of athleticism, creativity, and sheer courage.

Understanding what constitutes an aerial in skateboarding requires looking beyond a simple definition. It encompasses a broad spectrum of maneuvers where the skateboarder and their board leave the ground, performing a trick or rotation in the air before landing back on the surface.

This fundamental concept branches into countless variations, from the most basic ollie to complex flips and grabs performed high above the coping or even off natural terrain. The pursuit of higher, longer, and more stylish aerials drives innovation and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on four wheels.

Key Takeaways

An aerial in skateboarding refers to any trick where the rider and board leave the ground, performing a maneuver in the air before landing.
Aerials range from fundamental maneuvers like the ollie to advanced aerial maneuvers involving flips, spins, and grabs.
Key components of successful aerials include pop, timing, air awareness, and landing technique.
Different types of aerials exist, categorized by their execution (e.g., grabs, flips) and the environment they are performed in (e.g., transition, street).
Mastering aerials requires consistent practice, proper technique, and a focus on safety, progressing from basic skills to more complex maneuvers.
The evolution of skateboarding has seen aerials become increasingly sophisticated, with professional skaters pushing the limits of aerial performance.
Aerials contribute significantly to the spectacle and artistry of skateboarding, influencing its culture and competitive landscape.

Credit: www.youtube.com

The Essence Of An Aerial In Skateboarding

At its core, an aerial is a skateboarding maneuver where the rider intentionally launches themselves and their board into the air. This is not an accidental lift-off but a controlled ascent, typically initiated by a powerful pop of the tail or by utilizing the momentum generated from rolling up a ramp or obstacle. The defining characteristic is that both the rider and the board become airborne, performing a specific action before returning to a stable landing. This distinguishes it from tricks performed solely on the ground, like grinds or manuals.

The spectrum of aerials is vast, beginning with the foundational ollie, which is the very act of jumping with the board without using hands. From this single skill, an entire universe of aerial possibilities unfolds. Skaters can add rotations to their ollies, flip the board under their feet, or grab the board mid-air in various styles. The height, distance, and style with which these maneuvers are executed all contribute to the definition and perceived difficulty of an aerial. It’s the embodiment of defying gravity, showcasing a rider’s connection with their board and their ability to manipulate physics for impressive feats.

The Foundational Ollie: Gateway To The Air

The ollie is the cornerstone of almost all aerial skateboarding tricks. It’s the fundamental technique that allows a skater to get their board off the ground and into the air. Without a solid ollie, progressing to more complex aerials is virtually impossible. Mastering the ollie involves a precise sequence of movements: popping the tail of the board off the ground with the back foot, simultaneously sliding the front foot up the board towards the nose, and leveling the board out in the air.

The effectiveness of an ollie is measured by its height and control. A good ollie allows the skater to clear obstacles, jump onto ledges, and, crucially, provides the necessary elevation for other aerial maneuvers. In my experience, skaters often spend countless hours practicing their ollies on flat ground and on various inclines until the motion becomes second nature.

This dedication to the foundational skill directly translates to their ability to execute more advanced aerials with confidence and style.

Beyond The Ollie: Grabs, Flips, And Spins

Once the ollie is mastered, skaters begin to explore variations that add complexity and flair to their aerials. These often involve interacting with the board in the air.

Grabs: These are maneuvers where the skater uses one or both hands to grab the board while in the air. Different grab styles exist, named after the hand used and the part of the board being held. Examples include the Indy grab (back hand grabbing the toe-side edge between the feet), the Melon grab (front hand grabbing the heel-side edge between the feet), and the Nollie grab (a grab performed on a nollie, which is an ollie popped off the nose). Grabs add a visual element of control and style to aerials.
Flips: Flip tricks involve using the feet to make the skateboard rotate along its longitudinal or lateral axis while in the air. The kickflip is a prime example, where the front foot flicks off the side of the board after the ollie, causing it to spin 360 degrees along its long axis. Other popular flip tricks include the heelflip, varial flip, and 360 flip, each with unique board rotations.
Spins: Spin tricks involve the skater and their board rotating horizontally (along the vertical axis) while in the air. A 360 pop shove-it involves popping the tail and using the back foot to spin the board 360 degrees underfoot, with the skater also rotating. More advanced spins might involve combining rotations with flips and grabs, such as a 360 flip (which combines a kickflip with a 360 pop shove-it) or a 720 (two full horizontal rotations).

The combination of these elements, ollie, grab, flip, and spin, creates an almost limitless array of aerial maneuvers, allowing for immense personal expression within the sport.

Credit: gymnasticshq.com

Types Of Aerials And Their Execution

Aerial maneuvers in skateboarding can be broadly categorized by the context in which they are performed and the specific actions the skater takes while airborne. Understanding these distinctions is key to appreciating the diversity and skill involved in modern skateboarding.

Transition Aerials: Mastering Vert And Bowls

Transition skating involves riding on curved surfaces like ramps, half-pipes, and bowls. In these environments, aerials are often performed by gaining speed and launching off the lip of the ramp or the coping. The curved nature of the transition allows skaters to generate significant airtime.

Lipping Off: This refers to launching into the air directly from the edge (lip) of a ramp. Skaters can perform ollies, grabs, and flip tricks as they leave the ramp.
Airs in Bowls: Bowls, with their undulating curves, allow for continuous flow and the execution of aerials in various sections. Skaters might launch from the lip, the side of the bowl, or even from a pump action.
Key Elements: Success in transition aerials relies heavily on speed control, understanding the curve of the transition, and maintaining balance as you leave and return to the ramp. The airtime gained from transition often allows for more complex rotations and grabs than on flat ground. Many professional skaters, like Tony Hawk, have made their names performing spectacular aerials in transition.

Street Aerials: Urban Obstacles And Creativity

Street skateboarding takes place in urban environments, utilizing ledges, stairs, gaps, and flat ground. Aerials in street skating often involve jumping over obstacles, onto ledges, or off of them.

Ollieing Over Gaps: This involves using an ollie to clear a space between two points, such as two stair sets or a gap between ledges. The height and distance of the ollie are critical.
Ollieing Onto Ledges: Skaters use an ollie to jump onto the surface of a ledge, often followed by a grind or slide.
Flip Tricks on Flat Ground: While not strictly “aerial” in the sense of launching off an obstacle, advanced flip tricks performed on flat ground still involve the board leaving the ground and rotating, requiring significant airtime and control.
Key Elements: Street aerials demand precision and the ability to adapt to unpredictable surfaces. Skaters must accurately judge distances and heights, execute tricks flawlessly, and be prepared for varied landing conditions. The creativity in street skating often lies in combining aerials with existing urban architecture. You can learn more about choosing the right deck for street skating in our Expert Tips for Perfect Fit guide.

Freestyle Aerials: Artistry And Technicality

Freestyle skateboarding, while less common today, historically focused on technical flat-ground tricks, many of which involved aerial components. These often emphasized intricate board manipulation and stylistic execution rather than extreme height or speed. While many modern aerials are more athletic, freestyle laid the groundwork for much of the technicality seen today.

Credit: www.bigrentz.com

The Physics And Technique Of Launching Into An Aerial

Executing a successful aerial is a complex interplay of physics, timing, and body mechanics. It requires a deep understanding of how to transfer energy from the skater’s body to the board to achieve lift and control in the air.

Generating Pop: The Tail’s Crucial Role

The pop is the explosive downward force applied to the tail of the skateboard. This action is fundamental to initiating an ollie and, consequently, most other aerial maneuvers. The technique involves:

Positioning: The skater’s back foot is placed on the tail of the board.
The Snap: As the skater begins to jump upwards, they forcefully snap the tail of the board down onto the ground. This impact creates a lever action, causing the nose of the board to lift.
Momentum Transfer: The upward momentum of the skater’s jump, combined with the snap of the tail, propels the board into the air.

The power and speed of the pop directly influence the height of the aerial. A stronger, quicker pop results in more airtime.

The Role Of Foot Placement And Board Control

Once the tail is popped, the skater’s front foot plays a vital role in controlling the board’s ascent and level flight.

Sliding Forward: As the board begins to rise, the front foot is slid up the board towards the nose. This motion is crucial for leveling the board out in the air.
Flicking and Guiding: Depending on the trick, the front foot might also be used to flick the board for rotations (as in a kickflip) or to guide its trajectory.
Body Alignment: Maintaining a balanced and centered body position over the board is essential. The skater’s knees are typically bent to absorb the impact of the landing and to help guide the board.

Air Awareness And Landing

Air awareness is the skater’s innate sense of where they and their board are in relation to the ground and their surroundings while airborne. It’s developed through practice and allows skaters to make micro-adjustments mid-trick.

The landing is as critical as the launch. A successful landing involves:

Board Alignment: Ensuring the board is flat and stable beneath the skater.
Impact Absorption: Bending the knees to absorb the shock of returning to the ground.
Balance: Maintaining a centered stance to avoid falling.

A poorly executed landing can lead to injury, underscoring the importance of mastering this final stage of any aerial.

Data And Statistics On Aerial Progression

The progression in skateboarding aerials is evident in competitive results and the evolution of trick difficulty over time. While precise statistics on “average aerial height” are hard to come by due to the varied nature of tricks and environments, we can look at the impact of aerials in competitive skateboarding.

For instance, in disciplines like Vert Skating, competitions often highlight the height and complexity of aerial maneuvers. Records for the highest air in vert skating have been pushed over the years, demonstrating the increasing capabilities of skaters. While official records for a specific “highest aerial” can be elusive and vary by competition, the general trend shows skaters pushing boundaries. For example, Tony Hawk famously achieved a 19-foot air at the 2004 X Games. More recently, skaters continue to push these limits, with some unofficial measurements suggesting even higher airs in specialized settings.

In Street League Skateboarding (SLS), the scoring system heavily emphasizes the difficulty and execution of aerial tricks performed on obstacles like stairs, gaps, and rails. A successful kickflip down a 15-stair set, for example, would receive a high score due to the inherent difficulty and risk involved, which are directly tied to the aerial component of the trick. The progression of trick difficulty can be seen by comparing tricks performed in the early days of street skating versus today. What was once considered a massive gap ollie is now a prerequisite for many advanced flip-in, flip-out combinations.

Here’s a look at how different types of aerials might be perceived in terms of difficulty and impact, though this is subjective and depends heavily on execution:

Aerial Type	Environment	Key Skills	Potential Impact/Scoring
Basic Ollie	Flat Ground, Transition	Pop, Board Control	Foundational; essential for all other aerials. Low individual score.
Grab Tricks (e.g., Indy)	Transition, Street (off obstacles)	Ollie, Air Awareness, Grab Technique	Adds style and control; moderate to high score depending on height and execution.
Flip Tricks (e.g., Kickflip)	Flat Ground, Transition, Street	Ollie, Foot Flick, Board Rotation Control	Increases technical difficulty; high score potential.
Combined Aerials (e.g., 360 Flip)	Flat Ground, Transition, Street	Ollie, Multiple Foot Flick Techniques, Rotation Control (Board & Body)	High technical difficulty; very high score potential.
Big Air Jumps	Mega Ramps, Large Transition	Speed, Pop, Air Awareness, Rotation/Grab Complexity	Spectacle-focused; scores based on height, difficulty of trick, and landing.

This table illustrates that while the basic ollie is the foundation, the complexity and context of an aerial significantly influence its perceived difficulty and value in competitive or performance settings. The continuous innovation in skateboarding means that new and more complex aerial maneuvers are constantly being developed, pushing the sport forward.

Safety And Progression In Learning Aerials

Embarking on the journey of learning aerials requires a structured approach to safety and progression. The inherent risks of skateboarding, especially when involving airborne maneuvers, necessitate careful preparation and a mindful practice routine.

Essential Safety Gear

Before attempting any aerials, ensuring you have the right safety gear is paramount. This is non-negotiable for protecting yourself from the inevitable falls and impacts.

Helmet: A certified skate helmet is crucial for protecting against head injuries.
Pads: Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards provide essential protection for joints and extremities that are most vulnerable during falls.
Skate Shoes: Proper skate shoes offer grip, board feel, and ankle support, which are important for both control and protection.
Protective Clothing: While not strictly safety gear, durable clothing can offer some protection against scrapes and abrasions.

A Step-by-step Progression

Learning aerials is best approached with patience and a focus on mastering each step before moving to the next.

Master the Ollie: As mentioned, a solid, consistent ollie on flat ground is the first and most critical step. Practice until you can ollie reliably over small cracks or lines on the pavement.
Ollie Over Small Obstacles: Progress to ollieing over small, soft objects like a twig or a piece of string. Gradually increase the height of the obstacle.
Ollieing onto Curbs: This is a significant step that introduces landing on an elevated surface. Focus on keeping the board level and absorbing the impact.
Transition Practice: If you have access to a skatepark, learning to ollie off the side of a small bank or onto a quarter pipe can help build confidence and air awareness in a controlled environment.
Introduction to Grabs: Once comfortable with basic ollies, you can start experimenting with simple grabs like the Indy or Melon. Focus on grabbing the board cleanly and maintaining balance.
Basic Flip Tricks: After achieving consistent ollies and perhaps some basic grabs, you can begin practicing fundamental flip tricks like the kickflip. This requires dedicated practice on foot placement and flicking technique.
Gradual Increase in Difficulty: As you gain confidence and skill, you can gradually attempt more difficult obstacles, longer gaps, and more complex flip and grab combinations. Remember, consistency and repetition are key.

For beginners looking to learn, resources like “Easy Skateboard Tricks for Beginners: Master Your First Moves Fast” can provide valuable guidance. For adults returning to skating or starting for the first time, understanding the process is also key, as detailed in “How to Learn Skateboarding As an Adult: Essential Tips for Beginners.”

The Mental Aspect: Overcoming Fear

Fear is a significant barrier when learning aerials. Falls are inevitable, and learning to manage the fear associated with them is part of the process.

Start Small: Don’t attempt ambitious tricks before you’re ready. Gradual progression builds confidence.
Visualize Success: Imagine yourself successfully landing the trick.
Skate with Others: Learning with friends can provide encouragement and support. Watching others progress can also be motivating.
Accept Falls: Understand that falling is part of skateboarding. Learn to fall safely by rolling rather than stiffening up.
Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge and appreciate every bit of progress, no matter how small.

The Evolution And Future Of Aerials In Skateboarding

The history of skateboarding is intrinsically linked to the evolution of aerial maneuvers. What began as simple jumps has transformed into highly technical and artistic expressions of athleticism. The future promises even more innovation, driven by technological advancements, a new generation of skaters, and the sport’s growing global presence.

From Basic Jumps To Complex Rotations

In the early days of skateboarding, the ollie was a revolutionary development. It opened the door to jumping onto ledges and over obstacles, fundamentally changing street skating. As skaters became more adept, they began to experiment with manipulating the board in the air.

The introduction of flip tricks in the late 1970s and early 1980s, spearheaded by skaters like Alan Gelfand (inventor of the ollie) and later Rodney Mullen (pioneer of many flip tricks), marked a significant leap.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of transition skating, with skaters like Tony Hawk pushing the boundaries of aerial maneuvers on vert ramps and in bowls. This era introduced complex grabs, multiple rotations (like 540s and 720s), and combinations of flips and spins.

The competitive landscape, particularly events like the X Games, played a crucial role in showcasing and popularizing these advanced aerials.

Influence Of Technology And Media

The proliferation of skate videos and online content has had a profound impact on the evolution of aerials. Footage of professional skaters performing groundbreaking tricks inspires countless others to attempt them. High-definition cameras and slow-motion playback allow for detailed analysis of trick execution, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Technological advancements in skateboard manufacturing, such as improved materials and designs for decks, trucks, and wheels, also contribute to the pursuit of higher and more complex aerials. Lighter, stronger boards and more responsive trucks can make executing difficult maneuvers more feasible.

The Future Landscape Of Aerials

The future of aerials in skateboarding is likely to involve:

Increased Technicality: Skaters will continue to push the limits of flip and spin combinations, potentially introducing new axes of rotation or more complex board manipulations.
Greater Airtime: With the development of specialized courses and perhaps even new technologies, achieving greater height and longer airtime for more elaborate tricks might become possible.
Hybrid Styles: The lines between transition, street, and freestyle skating may continue to blur, leading to aerial maneuvers that incorporate elements from all disciplines.
Accessibility: As skateboarding gains more mainstream acceptance and infrastructure, more people will have the opportunity to learn and progress in aerial maneuvers, potentially leading to a broader talent pool and further innovation.

The ongoing evolution of aerials ensures that skateboarding will remain a dynamic and exciting sport, constantly redefining what it means to fly on four wheels. The dedication and creativity of skaters worldwide guarantee that the pursuit of the perfect aerial is far from over.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between An Ollie And An Aerial?

An ollie is the fundamental trick of jumping with your skateboard without using your hands, where both the rider and the board leave the ground. An aerial is a broader term that encompasses any trick where the rider and board become airborne. Therefore, an ollie is a type of aerial, but not all aerials are just ollies; aerials can include grabs, flips, spins, and other maneuvers performed while in the air after initiating the jump.

How High Can A Skateboarder Get During An Aerial?

The height of an aerial trick varies greatly depending on the environment, the

What is an Aerial