Sean Penn
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Shown for a regular-footed rider. Teal ring + arrow = the rider's facing direction; teal band = the tail; a dot is where a hand holds the board - bright yellow for the front hand, amber for the back one, which is the whole difference between a mute and an indy. Board and rider rotate independently - each follows its own component. Drag to orbit.
How it works
The backside version of the Madonna, named with a wink because Sean Penn was married to Madonna when the trick appeared. Everything mirrors: the air goes backside, the front hand still takes the heel rail, the front foot kicks off toward the flat, and the tail smacks the coping for the re-entry. The backside rotation makes spotting the coping harder - the tail must be aimed while looking over the trailing shoulder - which is why the Sean Penn is generally considered a notch trickier than its spouse.
Step by step
- Pop a backside air off the coping with solid amplitude.
- Grab the heel rail near the nose with your front hand as the board rises.
- Kick the front foot off toward the flat while rotating backside above the lip.
- Re-plant the front foot on the descent, aiming the tail at the coping over your shoulder.
- Slap the tail on the coping and lever back into the transition, absorbing through the knees.
Body mechanics
| Front foot | Kicks down toward the flat mid-air, then recovers to the bolts before tail impact. |
|---|---|
| Back foot | Rides the tail the whole trick and delivers the coping smack. |
| Shoulders | Carry the backside rotation while the grab holds the board - they finish facing back down the wall. |
| Arms | Front hand on the heel rail suspends the board through the kick; rear arm steers the backside arc. |
| Gaze | Over the trailing shoulder to find the coping - the hardest sightline in the Madonna family. |