Here, you will discover how to grind your skateboard using the middle of your deck, the tail, nose, trucks, and even the grip tape of your skateboard. It is extremely common to PopShuvit, KickFlip, HeelFlip, and VarialFlip either into ,or out of your grinds. So be sure to master those foundational flip tricks faster than ever before, using our GripTapeTutor!
GTT (Sneak Peak)
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This is the first grind that most people learn because it has more traction than a skateboard slide or nose slide. When doing this trick, try to land both trucks onto the object at the same time. Be sure to have both feet positioned mostly over the trucks and toward the middle of your deck.
Approach the rail or curb at about a 45-degree angle or less. Start at the end of your object. As you get better, start further back so you slide longer.
When you pop off the obstacle, place a bit more weight on the back foot so you can pop up the front for a clean acid drop.
This 50-50 is slightly more difficult because you have the curb behind you. Come toward your object at more of an angle than the frontside 50-50. Once you have landed on the object with both trucks at the same time, you will make it easier for yourself if you focus on lining your shoulders up with the object so you focus your direction forward.
It is easier to come off the object by lifting the front of your skateboard up and pointing the nose slightly out and away from the object.
This trick has the same approach as a frontside 50-50, except you only grind with your back trucks. It should feel like you are doing just enough of an ollie to get your back wheels up onto your object.
The key is to put all your weight between the back bolts and tail by leaning slightly forward toward the nose of your skateboard.
During this trick, the object will be behind you, so it will feel a bit strange at first.
Your front should start and end right behind the bolts and cover as much of the board as possible for balance. When you ollie onto the object, start by having your shoulder pointing toward it. This will make the board begin to turn toward the object more naturally.
As you are in the air and about to place your back trucks onto the object, line your shoulders up parallel to the object. It is okay to touch your tail on the object when you begin because it will help you balance. Over time, you will be able to avoid touching your tail.
Start out this move by doing an ollie. In order to get your nose onto the object, you have to stab at it or jam into it using the ball of your foot. As you begin to slide, your skateboard, foot, and nose will flatten.
While grinding, your back will be facing the direction you are sliding. Open up your shoulders to counteract the motion and spot your landing.
Most of your weight needs to be on the nose. Let your back foot press lightly to let the skateboard know it's there.
Start out by doing an ollie and stab at your nose or jam it into the object using the ball of your foot. As you begin to slide, your skateboard, foot, and nose will flatten. The board will end up 90 degrees from the direction of the object you are grinding.
Practice this slide by jumping onto a curb and coming to a stop in order to know where your balance, chest, and body weight should be. Once you get that down, try it moving.
When doing this trick, your chest will face the direction you are sliding. Attack the object at about a 45-degree angle, then swing the tail around to place it onto the object.
Jam your trucks into the object and cover the tail with your shoe for optimal balance. Keep your wheels flat against the object to stop them from coming off earlier than you expected.
Start by doing the trick without sliding so you get comfortable with the 90-degree turn and your foot placement.
You want your back foot to really cover the tail of your skateboard deck before you ollie. Make sure you swing your hips to rotate your board and open your shoulders with your chest facing forward in order to balance and spot your landing.
When you ollie onto an object, be sure to spread your feet so they are covering the bolts. This will give you proper balance.
When doing this trick, you will be sliding backwards, so it is very important to open your chest and align your shoulders with the object you are grinding to spot your landing.
Be sure to get a good ollie, then balance so you can hover on top of the object. To come off, turn your waist and land all wheels at the same time.
Once you have the frontside board slide down, you should have no problem doing this move. Approach the obstacle backside and turn 90 degrees so that your chest is facing forward. You need to control and lead the skateboard with your front foot because your back foot is acting as the counterbalance.
Then, do an ollie so your front trucks just make it over the object. The higher you ollie, the harder it is to land smoothly and balance. Once you are on, stay directly over the middle of everything.
To come off, twist your waist and straighten your board by pushing forward with your front foot while pulling back with your back foot. Don't worry, it is more natural than it sounds.
FRONTSIDE LIP SLIDE
This move is similar to a backside board slide, except you will be doing an ollie over the object while turning 90 degrees. Lead with your back foot.
Once you are over, balance with your back foot and tail. The key is to give yourself enough room to ollie. Do not lean too far forward or backward and keep your shoulders over the skateboard.
For this trick, you want to grind on the object at a 45-degree angle. You can do this by making sure that your front foot covers most of the deck's nose and slamming the corner of the nose into the object.
When you jump on the object, be sure to really stick and force your trucks down and into it by bending your front leg and shifting your weight forward. Find a balance for your shoulders that is between the board's direction and open them up to spot your landing.
Your back foot is doing most of the balancing and is pulling the deck away from the object to make the skateboard look crooked.
To perform this trick, you want to give it just enough of an ollie to get your front trucks onto the object. Really stick it into the object, turning your body just enough to give the skateboard the angle it needs. Put your weight forward onto the nose, bend your knees, and support the rest of the deck with the side of your back foot.
In order to get off of the object of choice, do a little nollie, turn your waist, and give a tiny press on your back foot to flatten out. Once you ride away smoothly, clap your hands because this is a very difficult trick.
For this grind, you want to start off like you were doing a 5-0. Hop onto your object with your back foot just behind the bolts. When your trucks have begun to grind, open your shoulders slightly and use your front foot to push the front of the deck out and down.
Your front foot is doing most of the balancing. Most of your weight is planted on your back foot for a good foundation, while your front foot is pressing down just enough to balance and make the grind look good.
When you ollie onto the object, start by having your shoulder pointing toward it. This will make the skateboard begin to turn toward the object more naturally.
As you are in the air and about to place your back trucks onto the object, line your shoulders up parallel to the object. This is difficult because you are most likely not used to having your body kinked in all directions.
Focus on a smooth grind with your trucks, then worry about your front foot keeping balance. You will notice that when turning your body to get your foot to push the front of the board down, one of the back wheels will press up against the object, giving you a sturdy position.
This move is like a frontside board slide, but you ollie just a bit more so you can get your wheels over the object. You will get a good feel for it if you let the board go a bit ahead of you.
Once pressure is applied for the grind, you have to jam the wheels toward you and into the object. This will create a sturdy position and smooth slide. Jump over the object, put your weight onto your back foot, and then watch the crowd go crazy.
For this trick, you will be doing a 90-degree ollie and then blunt slide by placing your wheels over the object you plan on grinding.
Make sure to balance the skateboard deck with your front foot, but lean mostly on your back foot in order to get the two wheels to press up against the object you are grinding. This will allow for smooth contact and smooth grinding.
In order to get away from the object, you must rotate your hips to straighten your skateboard. Using your arms will help you with this process.
This trick is a combination between a 50-50, smith grind, and blunt slide because you use your front foot to balance and press the skateboard over the object you are grinding. What makes this move different is your trucks actually land and grind the object.
You want to ollie onto the object and use your front foot to point the nose of your deck over and down. This is a scary trick because it is a true balancing act that forces you to grind with your back facing your landing.
In order to make it easier, be sure to open your shoulders and turn your head toward the landing. For good balance, make sure your front foot is on the deck as much as possible or it will slip off toward your heel, or more likely off the tip of your front toes.
To do this trick, ollie onto the object and use your front foot to point the nose of your deck over and down to counterbalance your weight. Your back foot should be placed above the object you are grinding on, with most of your weight applied to it.
When you come off the object, turn your waist and straighten your skateboard so you can land with all four wheels flat.
To "Dark Slide" means to slide on your grip tape. There are multiple ways to get yourself into this position. Here, is 1/2 Kick Flip.
This extremely difficult trick is half Kick Flip and half front side flip, which allows you to land with the grip tape facing down. Once you see the skateboard upside down, place your feet outside of the trucks onto the nose and tail of your deck. It is more stable if your skateboard is near the back trucks.
Once you are grinding with your grip tape, flip the skateboard back around by having the ball of your foot on the toe edge and point your toes toward the ground. The key to getting off of the object you are grinding is to land switch because it is feels more natural.
~KEEP TRYING~ From here on out, keep working on these tricks. If they are too difficult, you should probably start out by ordering our GripTapeTutor grip tape and "Star" skateboard deck to make sure that you begin with the proper foundation. Our flip trick foot placement guidelines will ensure that you become a better skater, faster!
-Moving too fast? Start out by understanding skateboarding Basics!
