Benihana (skateboarding trick)
Encyclopedia
The benihana is an aerial skateboarding trick
invented by Lester Kasai
and named after the Benihana
restaurant chain.
A Benihana is performed by first getting airborne (for example from a vert ramp
or an ollie
) and is essentially a tailgrab, with the back hand holding the tail, while the back foot is taken off the skateboard and extended downwards below the board on the heelside and straightening the front foot while still keeping it on the board. When the front foot is extended the tail of the board is brought close to the inner thigh of the front leg. This vert grab trick was once popular in street and flatland skateboarding as well.
This trick was very popular in the early 1990s, particularly when done down stair sets by pros such as Jamie Thomas
and Josh Kasper, but its popularity has waned since then.
Skateboarding trick
A skateboarding trick, or simply a trick is a maneuver performed on a skateboard while skateboarding. Learning and perfecting new tricks is the primary goal of many skateboarders, for whom most of the time spent skateboarding is spent on tricks....
invented by Lester Kasai
Lester Kasai
Lester Kasai grew up in Anaheim, California. He began skating at a young age and was one of the original "Sadlands" team skateboard riders. He was one of the top Pro Skateboarders that dominated the Skate City Skatepark, in Whittier, California for many years. Lester was one of the super stylish...
and named after the Benihana
Benihana (restaurant)
Benihana is a Doral, Florida-based American company that owns or franchises 116 Japanese cuisine restaurants around the world including its flagship Benihana Teppanyaki brand as well as the Haru , and RA Sushi restaurants.-History:The company was founded in 1964 on West 56th Street in New York...
restaurant chain.
A Benihana is performed by first getting airborne (for example from a vert ramp
Vert ramp
A vert ramp is a form of half-pipe used in "extreme sports" such as skateboarding.Another form of half-pipe is the mini ramp.Vert ramps are so named because they transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical wall....
or an ollie
Ollie (skateboarding trick)
The ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air without the use of the rider's hands. Particularly on flat ground, it is not intuitively obvious how the liftoff is achieved, making the trick visually striking....
) and is essentially a tailgrab, with the back hand holding the tail, while the back foot is taken off the skateboard and extended downwards below the board on the heelside and straightening the front foot while still keeping it on the board. When the front foot is extended the tail of the board is brought close to the inner thigh of the front leg. This vert grab trick was once popular in street and flatland skateboarding as well.
This trick was very popular in the early 1990s, particularly when done down stair sets by pros such as Jamie Thomas
Jamie Thomas
Jamie Thomas , is an American professional skateboarder and skateboard industry magnate from Dothan, Alabama. He is the co-owner of Zero Skateboards and Fallen Footwear.-Skateboarding career:...
and Josh Kasper, but its popularity has waned since then.