# How to Tailslide

> A tailslide locks the tail of the board on the ledge, nose held up, and slides across at 90 degrees to the ledge. A step-by-step guide from Skate AI (getskateai.com).

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

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

## 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.

## Three things to remember

1. Back foot all the way back on the tail
2. All your weight on the tail
3. Front foot balances, nose up

## Setup

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.

## Step by step

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

1. **Approach:** Roll toward the ledge at a slight angle, with enough speed to carry the slide.
2. **Pop:** Ollie and turn 90 so the board lands square across the ledge, tail first.
3. **Lock in:** Land with your back foot slid all the way back onto the tail, taking your full weight.
4. **Slide:** Keep your front foot over the front bolts for balance and hold your weight back through the slide.
5. **Pop out:** Turn back the way you came and ride away, weight centered on landing.

## Troubleshooting

### 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.

## Drill

Practice 90-degree ollies onto a low, flat ledge at a standstill, then add rolling speed once the lock-in feels consistent.

## 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.

## What to learn next

- Learn first: [Ollie](https://getskateai.com/tricks/ollie)
- Next: [Noseslide](https://getskateai.com/tricks/noseslide)
- Next: [Lipslide](https://getskateai.com/tricks/lipslide)

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

## Related

- [Intermediate tricks, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/intermediate-skateboard-tricks)
- [All 11 grinds and slides, easiest to hardest](https://getskateai.com/skateboard-grinds)
- [All 64 trick guides](https://getskateai.com/tricks)