Learning the Front Side Lay Back Rock and Roll

Jul 3, 2024

Learning the Front Side Lay Back Rock and Roll at Kauffman Skate Park

Overview

  • Objective: Learn the front side lay back rock and roll
  • Location: Kauffman Skate Park
  • Instructor: John Bishop

Technique Breakdown

  1. Approach
    • Come straight up the ramp
    • Get the front wheels over as you rock the board
  2. Hand Placement
    • Place the backhand onto the coping
  3. Transition
    • Start to bring the back wheels down
    • Look around and take the back hand off
  4. Execution
    • Push off, pivot, come back down the ramp, and ride away

Common Problems

  • Not getting the front wheels far enough over:
    • Result: Catching wheels during pivot
  • Not looking over the shoulder enough:
    • Result: Wheels get caught and don’t pivot all the way

Goals

  • Get fully locked out with back wheels right up to the coping
  • Hand placement on the coping (more radical turn)
  • Achieve the pivot in one motion (avoid three-motion affair)

Practice Attempts

Attempt 1

  • Issue: Not looking around with the head, didn’t complete full rotation

Attempt 2

  • Issue: Got too far on top, didn’t push off enough; need proper hand placement

Issue Identification

  • Whipping out: Board whizzes backwards
  • Incorrect transition entry: Didn’t push off early enough

Adjustment Tips

  • Toe Placement: Put toe on the back of the board, face it forward
    • Benefit: Better back knee bend
  • Hand on Coping: Just dab coping for a microsecond, then push back
  • Head Movement: Look with the head and push off early; commit fully

Consistency Development

  • Timing: Rock-hand-head-push off
  • Early Look: Look as soon as near the coping for smoother rotation

Advanced Practice

  • Next Level: Try on a 4-foot section
    • Observations: Feels more committed but timing is better; needs full head rotation
    • Success: Feels easier with more time to swoop back

Key Learning Points

  1. Stability: Lock the board really well to have a stable platform for pivot
  2. Light Hand Touch: Place hand lightly on the coping to keep the body in transition
  3. Head Movement: Look with the head earlier
    • After looking, let go of the backhand and pivot in a clean motion
  4. Foot Placement: Toe of back foot facing forward helps with pivot

Summary

  • Success in larger sections felt super cruisy with more time to swoop back
  • Special thanks to friends for support and equipment lending
  • Conclusion by John Bishop, a middle-aged guy learning to skate