Grinding is one of the most exciting and challenging tricks in skateboarding. It involves sliding the trucks (the metal axles that attach the wheels to the skateboard) along a surface, such as a rail, curb, or ledge. Mastering skateboard grinds requires a combination of balance, control, and confidence, along with an understanding of how to approach various obstacles. This article will break down the essential steps and tips on how to grind skateboard tracks, whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your grinding technique.
What Is A Skateboard Grind?
A skateboard grind occurs when a skater slides the trucks along a rail, ledge, or any other edge. Unlike a slide, where the skateboard deck itself slides across the surface, a grind involves only the trucks making contact with the obstacle. Grinds can be performed on various objects, and they are usually classified based on the type of grind, the position of the skater, and the obstacle they are grinding on.
Why Learn to Grind?
Learning to grind is essential for progressing in skateboarding. It opens the door to more complex tricks and helps develop better control over the skateboard. Grinds not only improve your overall skating skills but also add style and creativity to your skateboarding repertoire. Plus, grinding on different obstacles can make a routine or line look more advanced and stylish, earning you more respect from other skaters.
Essential Gear for Grinding
Before you start grinding, make sure you have the right equipment. While skateboarding doesn’t require a lot of specialized gear, there are a few essentials that will help ensure safety and improve your performance:
Skateboard: A standard skateboard with durable trucks and wheels is necessary. The size of the skateboard deck and the hardness of the wheels will depend on the type of skateboarding you’re doing.
Protective Gear: Skateboarding can be risky, especially when learning new tricks. Wearing pads (knee, elbow, and wrist guards) and a helmet is highly recommended to prevent injuries.
Proper Shoes: Skate shoes with flat soles provide the best grip on the skateboard and ensure better control.
The Basics of Grinding Skateboard Tracks
When you’re just starting out with grinds, there are a few key principles to understand. Skateboard grinds are all about timing, control, and proper technique. Below are the main components that will help you begin grinding successfully.
1. Build Confidence on Your Board
Before attempting a grind, you should feel comfortable riding your skateboard and performing basic tricks, such as ollies (the jump that helps lift your board into the air) and 180s. Developing your balance and confidence on your skateboard is crucial for performing grinds. The more stable and secure you feel on your skateboard, the easier it will be to grind obstacles.
2. Master the Ollie
The ollie is the fundamental trick that allows you to get airborne and land on an obstacle like a rail or ledge. To perform a grind, you need to ollie onto the surface first. Make sure you’ve mastered the ollie, as this will be the starting point for most grinds.
How to perform an ollie: To perform an ollie, place your back foot on the tail of the skateboard and your front foot near the middle of the deck. As you crouch down, use your back foot to push the tail down and then quickly jump upward, lifting the board into the air. You’ll need to use your front foot to level the board mid-air and direct it onto the grinding surface.
3. Approach the Obstacle
The approach to the obstacle is just as important as the grind itself. When you are attempting to grind a rail or ledge, you need to approach it at the correct angle. Most grinds are performed with a slight angle so that you can easily land the trucks onto the rail or ledge without falling off.
Angle of approach: A 45-degree angle is generally recommended for most grinds, but the exact angle can vary based on the obstacle.
Speed: Make sure you are moving at a moderate speed—too fast, and you risk losing control; too slow, and you might not be able to ollie onto the obstacle properly.
4. Ollie onto the Rail or Ledge
Once you’ve lined up your skateboard, you will need to ollie onto the rail or ledge. The key to a successful grind is getting your trucks to lock onto the rail or ledge. This means that both the front and back trucks need to land on the edge at the right time to allow the grind to happen.
Level the board: As you approach the obstacle, use your back foot to pop the tail of the skateboard, then level the board with your front foot.
You want the trucks to hit the edge of the rail at the same time.
Commit to the grind: It’s important to commit to the grind as you ollie onto the obstacle. Don’t hesitate once your trucks are locked in; ride it out and focus on staying balanced.
5. Lock In and Balance
Once your trucks are locked onto the rail or ledge, you’ll need to balance your body to keep the grind going. This is the tricky part—keeping your weight centered and maintaining stability will prevent you from falling off.
Lean slightly forward: A common mistake is leaning too far back, which will cause you to lose control of the grind. Slightly lean forward to ensure that your weight is centered over the skateboard.
Use your arms for balance: Keep your arms out for balance and keep your knees slightly bent to absorb any vibrations or wobbles while grinding.
6. Exit the Grind
After grinding for a moment, you’ll need to prepare to exit the grind.
Depending on the obstacle, you may either slide off naturally or need to pop off the edge.
End the grind with a slight pop: To exit the grind, push your back foot downward and slightly upward to help the skateboard pop off the obstacle. Try to land smoothly back onto the ground.
Land with knees bent: When you land, make sure your knees are slightly bent to absorb the impact and keep your balance.
Types of Grinds
Now that you understand the basic mechanics of grinding, let’s look at the different types of grinds you can perform. Each grind has its own style and difficulty level, but they all involve sliding along the edge of a rail, ledge, or other obstacle.
1. 50-50 Grind
The 50-50 grind is the most basic grind and one of the first that many skaters learn. In a 50-50, both the front and back trucks slide across the edge of the obstacle.
How to perform a 50-50: Approach the obstacle with both trucks aligned. Ollie onto the rail or ledge, keeping the trucks straight and making sure both are locked in for a smooth grind.
2. Boardslide
In a boardslide, the skateboard deck slides along the surface of the obstacle while the trucks remain above the edge. This grind is usually performed on rails, but it can also be done on ledges.
How to perform a boardslide: Approach the rail at a slight angle and ollie onto it. As you land, allow the skateboard deck to slide across the rail while keeping your trucks above the obstacle.
3. Smith Grind
A smith grind involves only the back truck grinding along the edge of the obstacle while the front truck is in the air. This grind is trickier than the 50-50 but adds more style to your skating.
How to perform a smith grind: Approach the rail or ledge with your front truck raised slightly. As you ollie onto the obstacle, aim to lock your back truck onto the rail while keeping your front truck up and out of the grind.
4. Feeble Grind
A feeble grind is similar to the smith grind but involves a slightly more aggressive angle. In this grind, the front truck is closer to the obstacle while the back truck locks in for a slide.
How to perform a feeble grind: Approach the rail at a sharper angle than a smith grind. Lock in with your back truck while the front truck slides close to the obstacle.
Tips for Grinding Skateboard Tracks
Start on smaller obstacles: Begin with low rails or curbs to get the feel for grinds before attempting larger obstacles.
Practice ollies regularly: An essential part of grinding is the ollie, so continue practicing it until you can ollie comfortably onto different surfaces.
Work on your balance: Skateboard grinds require good balance. Practice balancing on your board while stationary to improve your overall control.
Don’t be afraid to fall: Falling is part of the learning process. Wear protective gear, and don’t be afraid to take risks when practicing.
Conclusion
Grinding skateboard tracks is an exciting skill that every skateboarder should work on mastering. Whether you’re grinding ledges, rails, or curbs, it’s important to practice your technique and build confidence. By following the steps outlined above—building your basic skills, approaching obstacles with the right technique, and understanding the different types of grinds—you can improve your grind game and take your skateboarding to the next level.
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