# How to Frontside Boardslide

> A frontside boardslide slides the middle of the board across a rail or ledge, with the rail ending up in front of you. A step-by-step guide from Skate AI (getskateai.com).

Canonical: https://getskateai.com/tricks/frontside-boardslide
Last updated: 2026-10-19

Grinds & slides · Level 3 of 5 · Learn first: [Ollie](https://getskateai.com/tricks/ollie)

## The short answer

A frontside boardslide slides the middle of the board across a rail or ledge, with the rail ending up in front of you. Ollie with a backside 90 so the rail lands under the middle of the board, feet centered over the bolts. Slide across with your weight even, then turn back 90 to ride away.

## Where your feet go

- **Regular:** 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.
- **Goofy:** 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.

## Step by step

Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.

1. **Approach:** Roll toward the rail or ledge at a slight angle, with enough speed to carry through the slide.
2. **Pop:** Ollie and turn backside 90 so the rail ends up facing you as you land.
3. **Lock in:** Land with both feet on the bolts and the middle of the board on top of the rail, weight centered.
4. **Slide:** Keep your knees bent and weight even between both feet as the board slides across.
5. **Pop out:** Turn back 90 the way you came in and ride away, landing with your weight centered.

## Troubleshooting

### You stall out halfway across

**Why:** Your weight is too far forward or back instead of centered over the middle of the board.

**Fix:** Keep your weight evenly split between both feet through the whole slide.

### You slip off the rail sideways

**Why:** The board landed at an angle instead of square across the rail.

**Fix:** Commit to a full backside 90 on the pop so the board lands straight across.

### You can't turn back out at the end

**Why:** You're not turning your shoulders and head to lead the exit turn.

**Fix:** Look and turn your shoulders back the way you came before you run out of rail.

### You catch a wheel on the way in

**Why:** The ollie isn't high enough to clear the rail before you turn.

**Fix:** Pop a little higher before starting the backside turn.

## Drill

Practice backside 90 ollies onto a low, flat ledge you can already ollie onto, then add the slide once the landing feels square.

## FAQ

### What's the difference between frontside and backside boardslide?

They're entered with opposite ollie turns. Frontside boardslide pops a backside 90, backside boardslide pops a frontside 90. The slide itself looks the same once locked in.

### Do I need to know how to ollie 180 first?

You need a solid backside 90 ollie, which is easier than a full 180. Practice that turn on flat ground before taking it to a rail.

### Should I wax the ledge for a boardslide?

A thin layer of wax helps on rough concrete, but most metal rails and coping-style ledges slide fine without it. Try it first without wax.

### What obstacle should I learn boardslides on?

A low, flat rail or box around knee height, with a clean runway to roll away on the other side.

## What to learn next

- Learn first: [Ollie](https://getskateai.com/tricks/ollie)
- Learn first: [Backside 180](https://getskateai.com/tricks/backside-180)
- Next: [Backside Boardslide](https://getskateai.com/tricks/backside-boardslide)
- Next: [Lipslide](https://getskateai.com/tricks/lipslide)

App: [Skate AI: Kickflip Ollie Coach on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6814983538)

## Related

- [Boardslide vs lipslide](https://getskateai.com/boardslide-vs-lipslide)
- [Intermediate tricks, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/intermediate-skateboard-tricks)
- [All 11 grinds and slides, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/skateboard-grinds)
- [Foot placement chart for every flat trick](https://getskateai.com/skateboard-foot-placement-chart)
- [All 64 trick guides](https://getskateai.com/tricks)