How to
Tailslide
The short answer
A tailslide locks the tail of the board on the ledge, nose held up, and slides across at 90 degrees to the ledge. Ollie and turn 90 so the tail lands square on top, sliding your back foot all the way back and putting your weight on it. Keep your front foot over the front bolts for balance, then turn back to ride away.
Step by step
Land your
first Tailslide.
Each step is a part of the trick Skate AI scores when you film a try.
- 01
Approach
Roll toward the ledge at a slight angle, with enough speed to carry the slide.
- 02
Pop
Ollie and turn 90 so the board lands square across the ledge, tail first.
- 03
Lock in
Land with your back foot slid all the way back onto the tail, taking your full weight.
- 04
Slide
Keep your front foot over the front bolts for balance and hold your weight back through the slide.
- 05
Pop out
Turn back the way you came and ride away, weight centered on landing.
Troubleshooting
Why you're not
landing it.
The nose drops and catches the ledge
- Why
- Your weight isn't far enough back on the tail.
- Fix
- Slide your back foot all the way to the tail and commit your weight there.
You spin out early
- Why
- You turned more than 90 degrees on the pop.
- Fix
- Turn just enough to land square, then stop the rotation.
You slip off the tail
- Why
- Your back foot landed too far forward, not all the way on the tail.
- Fix
- Slide your back foot fully back before you land, not after.
You can't hold the balance
- Why
- You're not used to weighting the tail this much while the nose stays light.
- Fix
- Practice manuals on flat ground to get comfortable with the back-heavy balance.
DrillPractice 90-degree ollies onto a low, flat ledge at a standstill, then add rolling speed once the lock-in feels consistent.
Still not
landing it?
Film your tailslide. Skate AI shows you which part went wrong and the one fix for your next try.
On a computer? Point your iPhone camera here.
FAQ
Tailslide
FAQ
What's the difference between a tailslide and a noseslide?
A tailslide locks the tail on the ledge with the nose up; a noseslide locks the nose with the tail up. Both use the same 90-degree entry.
Why does the nose keep dropping?
Your weight isn't committed far enough back onto the tail. Slide your back foot all the way back before you land.
Is tailslide harder than noseslide?
Most skaters find them similar in difficulty, though tailslide can feel less natural since you can't see the tail as easily while sliding.
What ledge height should I start on?
A low ledge around knee height, so a missed slide is easy to step off of while you're learning the balance.