For beginner skateboarders, overcoming the fear of simply riding the board is the first step — and the “Tic Tac” is arguably the perfect foundational trick for that. It is a technique where you swing the nose side to side like the pendulum of an old clock to gain speed from a standstill, and once you get the hang of it, you will start to feel what it means to really be on the board. Once you have mastered the absolute basics like getting on, getting off, and moving lightly, this should definitely be the next thing you learn.

STEP BY STEP TIPS

1. Swing the nose to either side from a standstill.

First, step on the tail to lift the nose, swing it to either side, then bring it down. If you are not yet used to standing on the board, even this motion might feel scary. Start within your comfort zone — just lifting and lowering the nose is enough at first. Practice calmly until you can gradually add side-to-side movement. Once you get the hang of it, begin pushing the nose down more forcefully.

2. Swing to opposite side with momentum.

Once you are able to swing to either side and push the nose down firmly, the board should start to move forward slightly. Use that momentum to lift the nose a bit, swing it in the opposite direction, and push it down again. At first, the board might not move much, but as you get used to the motion and gain better control, you will be able to do it smoothly.

3. Push to forward with your front foot.

ChatGPT:

The key to moving forward is to shift a bit of weight onto your front foot as the front wheels land after swinging the nose, and consciously push the board slightly forward and diagonally. Once you get a feel for this pressure, you will start to move more smoothly. There is no need to lean too far forward or backward — just focus on keeping your center of gravity over the middle of the board.

4. Repeat

Once you start moving, all you need to do is repeat the side-to-side motion. It might be slower compared to pushing, but you will soon be able to pick up speed and maintain a steady pace. While this trick may not look as flashy as an ollie or a shuvit, it plays a very meaningful role in your learning process. Jumping straight into tricks like ollies or shuvits can often set you back, so it is highly recommended to master the tic-tac first before moving on.