Ready to elevate your SkaterXL game beyond basic tricks? This comprehensive guide explores advanced trick combinations, technical sequences, and the nuanced techniques that separate good skaters from great ones. We'll dive deep into the mechanics that make complex tricks possible and provide step-by-step breakdowns of challenging combinations.
Prerequisites: This guide assumes you've mastered basic tricks like ollies, kickflips, heelflips, and basic grinds. If you need to brush up on fundamentals, check out our beginner's guide first!
Understanding Advanced Mechanics
Advanced SkaterXL play relies on understanding subtle mechanics that aren't immediately obvious. These foundational concepts will inform every advanced technique we cover.
Momentum Conservation
In SkaterXL, momentum isn't just about speed—it's about direction, rotation, and energy transfer. Advanced players learn to manipulate these forces to create fluid, realistic lines.
🔄 Key Momentum Principles
- Pre-rotation: Start rotations before leaving the ground
- Energy Transfer: Use body movement to influence board behavior
- Directional Control: Subtle stick movements guide momentum
- Landing Preparation: Position for the next trick during current execution
Timing Windows
Every trick has multiple timing windows—for initiation, execution, catch, and landing. Advanced combinations require precise timing across multiple overlapping windows.
Advanced Flip Trick Combinations
Moving beyond single flip tricks, let's explore combinations that flow naturally and look incredibly stylish when executed properly.
Double Flip Variations
Double flips aren't just about doing the same trick twice—they're about understanding how rotation compounds and how to control it.
Kickflip to Heelflip
1. Initiate kickflip (left stick right, right stick up) 2. As
board completes first rotation, catch briefly 3. Immediately flick
left stick left for heelflip 4. Control catch timing for smooth
landing 5. Prepare knees for impact absorption
Varial Double Flip
This combination adds a 180-degree board rotation to a double kickflip, creating one of the most technical flat ground tricks.
- Begin with slight backside pre-rotation
- Execute kickflip motion with extra left stick emphasis
- Allow natural 180 rotation to develop
- Catch at appropriate rotation point
- Land with adjusted stance for 180 completion
Technical Street Combinations
Street skating in SkaterXL offers endless possibilities for technical combinations. Here are some advanced sequences that showcase true skill.
Ledge to Ledge Transfers
Connecting multiple ledge tricks in a single line requires precise speed control and spatial awareness.
🏢 Transfer Sequence Example
- Approach: Frontside 50-50 on first ledge
- Exit: Kickflip out with slight frontside rotation
- Gap: Maintain momentum while preparing for next trick
- Entry: Backside lipslide on second ledge
- Finish: Heelflip out to complete the line
Stair Set Combinations
Stair sets offer opportunities for impressive combinations that showcase both technical skill and commitment.
The Classic: Kickflip to Manual to Kickflip Out
This combination tests your ability to maintain balance while setting up for a second technical trick.
- Approach: Build appropriate speed for the gap
- Kickflip: Execute clean kickflip over the stairs
- Manual Setup: Land in manual position (slight back pressure)
- Balance: Maintain manual for desired distance
- Exit Trick: Pop into second kickflip from manual
- Landing: Absorb impact and ride away clean
Transition Mastery
Transition skating in SkaterXL requires a completely different approach to trick combinations. The curved surfaces and momentum changes create unique opportunities.
Vert Combinations
Vert skating allows for extended air time and complex aerial maneuvers that aren't possible on flat ground.
Air to Air Combinations
Advanced Technique: Use the transition's momentum to link multiple aerial tricks in a single run. This requires perfect timing and spatial awareness!
Example sequence: Frontside Air → 540 Spin → Backside Air
- Generate speed through multiple pumps
- Execute frontside air with proper grab timing
- Release grab and initiate 540 rotation
- Complete rotation while preparing for backside air
- Execute backside air on opposite wall
- Land and maintain speed for next trick
Bowl Riding Techniques
Bowl skating combines elements of vert and street, requiring adaptability and flow reading.
🏗️ Bowl Combination Elements
- Carving Lines: Use the bowl's curves to maintain speed
- Hip Transfers: Move between different sections smoothly
- Coping Tricks: Incorporate ledge-style tricks on the coping
- Air Combinations: Link multiple airs across different walls
Grind and Slide Progressions
Advanced grinding goes far beyond basic 50-50s. Let's explore complex grind combinations and transitions.
Grind to Grind Transfers
Switching between different grind types mid-trick showcases advanced board control and spatial awareness.
50-50 to Feeble Transfer
This classic transition requires precise weight shifting and timing.
- Lock into 50-50 grind with balanced weight distribution
- Shift weight slightly forward while maintaining grind
- Lift front truck by pulling back on left stick
- Allow back truck to drop into feeble position
- Adjust balance for feeble grind continuation
- Exit with appropriate trick (kickflip, heelflip, etc.)
Lipslide Variations
Lipslides offer numerous variation possibilities that can create stunning visual combinations.
🛹 Lipslide Progression
- Basic Lipslide: Master the fundamental motion
- Lipslide to Fakie: Add directional complexity
- Bluntslide Variations: Incorporate tail-based slides
- Switch Lipslides: Execute in opposite stance
- Nollie Lipslides: Initiate from nose-based approach
Flow and Line Construction
The ultimate expression of advanced SkaterXL play is creating seamless lines that connect multiple technical elements into a cohesive whole.
Reading Terrain
Advanced players develop an intuitive understanding of how different terrain features can be connected. This involves:
- Speed Management: Knowing when to pump, when to coast, and when to scrub speed
- Angle Recognition: Understanding optimal approach angles for different tricks
- Transition Planning: Visualizing how one trick sets up the next
- Backup Options: Having alternative tricks ready if the primary plan fails
Mental Mapping
Before attempting complex lines, advanced players mentally map out the entire sequence, including:
Line Planning Checklist: 1. Entry speed and approach angle 2.
First trick execution and landing position 3. Transition movement
and speed adjustment 4. Second trick setup and execution 5.
Potential exit strategies 6. Recovery options for failed attempts
Advanced Training Routines
Developing advanced skills requires structured practice that targets specific weaknesses and builds upon strengths.
Consistency Drills
Advanced tricks are only impressive if you can land them consistently. These drills build reliability:
📊 Consistency Training
- 10-in-a-Row: Land the same advanced trick 10 consecutive times
- Pressure Testing: Attempt tricks when tired or frustrated
- Variable Conditions: Practice in different lighting and weather
- Speed Variations: Execute tricks at different approach speeds
Combination Building
Start with simple two-trick combinations and gradually increase complexity:
- Week 1-2: Master individual advanced tricks
- Week 3-4: Link two tricks with simple transitions
- Week 5-6: Add third trick to create mini-lines
- Week 7-8: Incorporate terrain changes and obstacles
- Week 9+: Create full lines with 5+ connected elements
Common Advanced Mistakes
Even experienced players fall into these traps when attempting advanced combinations:
Overcomplication
Adding unnecessary complexity doesn't always improve a line. Sometimes, perfect execution of simpler tricks is more impressive than sloppy advanced combinations.
Ignoring Flow
Technical difficulty means nothing if the line doesn't flow naturally. Each trick should set up the next in a logical progression.
Speed Mismanagement
Many advanced combinations fail because players don't properly manage speed between tricks. Practice speed control as much as trick execution.
Pro Insight: The best advanced players make difficult tricks look effortless. Focus on smooth execution rather than just landing tricks. Style and flow are just as important as technical difficulty!
Video Analysis and Learning
Use SkaterXL's replay system to analyze your attempts and identify areas for improvement:
Self-Analysis Techniques
- Slow Motion Review: Watch failed attempts in slow motion to identify timing issues
- Angle Comparison: View the same trick from multiple camera angles
- Success vs. Failure: Compare successful attempts with failures to understand differences
- Progress Tracking: Save clips of improvement over time
Community and Inspiration
The SkaterXL community is full of incredibly skilled players pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Engage with the community to:
🤝 Community Engagement
- Share your advanced combinations for feedback
- Study clips from top players for inspiration
- Participate in community challenges and contests
- Collaborate on creating new combination ideas
- Mentor newer players to reinforce your own knowledge
The Path Forward
Mastering advanced trick combinations in SkaterXL is a journey that never truly ends. Each new combination you learn opens up possibilities for even more complex sequences. The key is to remain patient, practice consistently, and always focus on clean execution over raw difficulty.
Remember that the most impressive SkaterXL players aren't necessarily those who can do the most difficult tricks—they're the ones who can consistently execute their tricks with style, flow, and creativity. Use the techniques in this guide as building blocks for developing your own unique skating style.
Keep pushing your limits, but never forget that skateboarding—virtual or real—is ultimately about personal expression and having fun. The advanced techniques covered here should enhance your enjoyment of SkaterXL, not become a source of frustration. Skate at your own pace, celebrate your progress, and most importantly, keep the stoke alive!