Skateboard
grinds
The short answer
A grind is when your trucks scrape along a ledge or rail; a slide is when the board itself does, whether that's the middle (boardslide, lipslide), the nose (noseslide) or the tail (tailslide). Each one is named by what's on the ledge: both trucks is a 50-50, only the back truck a 5-0, only the front truck a nosegrind. The 50-50 is the easiest, level 2 of 5 in our guides; the smith grind, feeble grind, crooked grind and lipslide are the hardest, level 4.
What's on the ledge
Grinds and slides chart
Find the part of the skateboard that touches the ledge or rail, then what the rest of the board is doing.
| On the ledge | Type | Trick | The rest of the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both trucks | Grind | 50-50Level 2 | Both trucks on top |
| Back truck | Grind | 5-0Level 3 | Nose held up |
| Smith GrindLevel 4 | Nose dips down beside the ledge | ||
| Feeble GrindLevel 4 | Front truck hangs over the far side | ||
| Front truck | Grind | NosegrindLevel 3 | Tail held up |
| Crooked GrindLevel 4 | Board angled, tail out | ||
| Middle of the board | Slide | Frontside BoardslideLevel 3 | Rail ends up in front of you |
| Backside BoardslideLevel 3 | Rail behind you | ||
| LipslideLevel 4 | Back truck goes over the rail first | ||
| Nose | Slide | NoseslideLevel 3 | Tail up |
| Tail | Slide | TailslideLevel 3 | Nose up |
The two boardslides and the lipslide are compared side by side on boardslide vs lipslide.
Ledges and rails
All 11, easiest to hardest
50-50
Both trucks grind along the ledge or rail.
Feet: Approach almost parallel and ollie up with your feet in ollie position: back foot in the middle of the tail, front foot a few centimeters behind the front bolts. Lock both trucks on top, with a little more weight on the back foot.
Learn first: Ollie
5-0
Only the back truck grinds, with the nose held up.
Feet: Ollie on at a slight angle and land on the back truck only. Weight goes onto the back foot on the tail, like an ollie to manual. The front foot stays light to keep the nose up.
Learn first: 50-50
Nosegrind
Only the front truck grinds, with the tail held up.
Feet: Set up like a 50-50, but move your front foot toward the nose and keep the back foot up off the tail. Land on the front truck only.
Learn first: 50-50
Frontside Boardslide
The middle of the board slides on the rail, rail ending up in front of you.
Feet: Ollie with a backside 90 so the rail is under the middle of the board, feet in ollie position: back foot in the middle of the tail, front foot just behind the front bolts. Keep a little more weight on the back foot. Turn back 90 to ride away.
Learn first: Ollie, Backside 180
Backside Boardslide
The middle of the board slides on the rail, rail behind you.
Feet: Ollie with a frontside 90 so your front wheels clear the rail and it sits under the middle of the board. Feet on the bolts.
Learn first: Ollie, Frontside 180
Noseslide
The nose slides on the ledge with the tail up.
Feet: Ollie and turn 90 to lock the nose on the ledge. Front foot on the nose over the front bolts, taking all the weight. Back foot stays light.
Learn first: Ollie
Tailslide
The tail slides on the ledge with the nose up.
Feet: Ollie and turn 90 to lock the tail on the ledge. Slide your back foot all the way back on the tail and put your weight on it. Front foot stays over the front bolts for balance.
Learn first: Ollie
Smith Grind
The back truck grinds on top while the nose dips down beside the ledge.
Feet: Almost all your weight over the back truck. Front foot near the middle of the board, pressing the nose down next to the ledge. Lean slightly away from the ledge.
Learn first: 5-0
Feeble Grind
The back truck grinds on top while the front truck hangs over the far side.
Feet: Approach at a slight angle like a boardslide. Land the back truck on top with your weight on it, like a 5-0. The front foot stays light and steers the nose over the far side.
Learn first: 5-0
Crooked Grind
A nosegrind with the board angled, tail out.
Feet: Front foot close to the front bolts, almost heelflip position, toes hanging off a bit. Back foot on the tail pushes it out at an angle. Lock the front truck on the ledge.
Learn first: Nosegrind
Lipslide
Like a boardslide, but the back truck goes over the rail first.
Feet: Ollie and turn 90 the opposite way from a boardslide, so the back truck crosses the rail and the middle of the board locks on it. Feet on the bolts.
Learn first: Frontside Boardslide
What is the difference between a grind and a slide?
What touches the ledge. In a grind it's your trucks, one or both. In a slide it's the board: the middle in a boardslide or lipslide, the nose in a noseslide, the tail in a tailslide.
What is the easiest grind to learn?
The 50-50, level 2 of 5 in our guides: both trucks lock on top, with your feet over the trucks. You need a consistent ollie first. Learn it on a low, flat ledge or curb.
What is the difference between a 50-50 and a 5-0?
A 50-50 grinds on both trucks. A 5-0 grinds on the back truck only, with your weight on the back foot and the nose held up, like an ollie to manual.
What is the difference between a smith grind and a feeble grind?
Both grind on the back truck. In a smith grind the front foot presses the nose down beside the ledge; in a feeble the front truck hangs over the far side and the front foot only steers.
What is the difference between a nosegrind and a crooked grind?
Both grind on the front truck. A nosegrind keeps the board straight with the tail up; a crooked grind pushes the tail out so the board sits at an angle, with the front foot almost in heelflip position.
What is the difference between a frontside and backside boardslide?
The way you turn onto the rail. A frontside boardslide goes on with a backside 90 ollie and the rail ends up in front of you; a backside boardslide goes on with a frontside 90 and the rail is behind you. The lipslide turns the other way from a boardslide so the back truck crosses the rail first; see boardslide vs lipslide.
