S Move
Tips, drills and details to train one of the iconic moves of the style.
The S Move is an iconic Wizard Skating move in which you draw an S on the ground by chaining two one-foot transitions from the Lion family: a Front Open Lion on the way in and a Back Closed Lion on the way out. Everything happens rolling on the edges, with a continuous weight transfer from one skate to the other.
In this video I share all the tips and drills I use to train the S Move — one of the iconic moves of wizard skating.
I've split the tutorial into sections so you can focus on the part that interests you most, whether you're starting from scratch or want to polish your technique. If you already nail the move, you might find a few details that help you refine it further.
The tutorial follows the structure I train it with: first how to avoid slipping, then a kata of basic movements, each half of the move on its own — the Front Open Lion and the Back Closed Lion —, the most common problem on the exit, a drill to improve the close and, at the end, variations with 360 jumps and spins for those who want to take it further.
The S Move is one of those moves that defines the language of Wizard Style: edge work, weight transfer and a line drawn on the ground that becomes your personal signature.
Steps
- Prepare your grip: before turning, learn how to avoid slipping. The S Move loads a lot of weight onto deep edges and the surface matters — start on ground with good grip.
- Learn the kata: mentally break the move down and simulate it without skates, the way a karate kata simulates a fight. The kata engraves the weight and edge pattern before you get on wheels.
- Master the Front Open Lion: the first half of the move. It is a one-foot transition — your Tree in motion — that opens the drawing of the S.
- Explore the entry variations: there are several ways into the move; pick the one that connects best with your skating and save the rest for later.
- Add the Back Closed Lion: the second half, the one that closes the S. It is the part where most people lose their balance on the way out.
- Work on the close: the most common problem of the S Move is in the exit. Use the closing drill from the video to stabilize the last degrees of the turn.
- Add variations once the base is solid: 360 jumps on the entry or in between, 360 spins and 540 attempts — the S Move is a platform, not an endpoint.
Common mistakes
- Training on a slippery surface: the S Move demands deep edges; if the ground does not grip, the body learns not to commit to the lean.
- Skipping the kata: wanting the full move without the basic pattern engraved usually produces an S split into two halves that do not connect.
- Neglecting the close: almost all S Move problems appear on the exit of the Back Closed Lion — give the closing drill dedicated time.
- Practicing the lions separately and never joining them: the S Move is not two tricks in a row, it is a single continuous weight transfer that draws the whole S.
In one sentence
The S Move draws a continuous S on the ground by chaining two one-foot transitions: Front Open Lion in, Back Closed Lion out. You train it in layers — kata, halves, close — until it flows as a single movement instead of two turns stuck together.
Frequently asked questions
- What do I need before attempting the S Move?
- Comfortable Trees in both directions and your first one-foot transitions, because the S Move combines two lions. If your Parallels and Trees still feel unstable, start with the 5 base fundamentals.
- Why do I slip when I try it?
- The S Move loads the weight onto very inclined edges; on smooth or dusty surfaces the wheels lose grip. Look for ground with good grip, check the condition of your wheels and reduce the depth of your edges while you build the pattern.
- Is the S Move an official move of the style?
- It is an extension adjacent to the official core, born in the community — like the fakie gazelle or the toe press spin. It is built entirely on the base vocabulary: lions, which in turn are combinations of tree turns.
Sources
The nomenclature of families and variations follows the official source. The drills, progressions and teaching concepts around it are ARCO's own elaboration, created to communicate the ideas.
