Skateboarding is cool and all, but it’s sure not easy to learn. To improve your chances of succeeding at learning new tricks quickly, let us hook you up with a little tutorial. This week, the BACKSIDE BOARDSLIDE!
Read carefully and remember that after the technique, the number one secret to skateboarding is practice!
Today, we take a break from flat ground tricks and and move to rails or ledges tricks. YES! There's two major types of maneuvers on rails/ledges you can do on your skateboard: The grinds (on one both trucks) and slides (on the wooden surface of your board). Today, let's start t with the backside boardSLIDE, the simplest of all rail tricks, but also one of the most good looking one. Pretty much the first trick you need to learn in order to start feeling more comfortable on metal bars, ledges and other obstacles on which you can slide or grind.
To learn how to master the art of sliding perfect backside boardslides, read on!
Understanding the difference between Frontside et Backside
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to understand the difference between the frontside and backside approach. The principle is quite simple. Frontside means that you approach the rail so that it is in front of you when you prepare to pop and that your back looks forward during the entire period of sliding.
For the backside boardslide, the rail is behind you when you approach it and you will look straight ahead while you slide season. To get started, it's always easier to learn the backside board slide first because it's easier to hold your balance when you slide forward.
FRONTSIDE
BACKSIDE
The approach and the pop
The key to a good backside boardslide is quite simple. first, approach the obstacle you want slide on so that it is behind you at an almost parallel angle. Position yourself for an ollie and turn 90 degrees over the obstacle in order to land ON it. Try to aim for the middle of the board by looking at your feet and the obstacle when you land on it.
To avoid blocking on the obstacle or even breaking your board under the impact, try not to ollie too high. The key tu success: Land on the obstacle smoothly. Once you have popped, made a 90-degree rotation and landed softly on the obstacle, keep your eyes on your feet as well as ahead of you and try to maintain your balance while sliding.
The position on the obstacle and the slide
The most crucial stage of the boardslide is the actual slide. Getting the middle of your board on the top of the rail or ledge is not too difficult because you have a lot of space in the middle of your board, it's the balance you will need to work on.
To have a good balance while sliding, try to have your feet well positioned on top of the bolts of your trucks. Once you get the right lock, center your weight as much as you can. To avoid blocking and falling forward or slipping and falling backwards, practice centering your weight directly on top of the rail. Don't hesitate to do it as many times as you can until you feel the perfect weight distribution method to stay up on that board of yours.
The landing and roll away
The easiest and most enjoyable part of BS boardslide! Once you have slided long enough and got to the end of the obstacle, turn your shoulders so that they come back in the same position as when you approached the obstacle. By doing so, you will be make your board move back 90 degrees, so you can roll away.
Once you've done that, you should be able to keep rolling without blocking. Absorb the impact by folding your knees and roll away as smooth as you can.
THERE YOU GO! Now you now what to do to master your boardslides! Once you've practiced enough and figured out how to land this one every try on a flat rail, we encourage you to take it to the next level and try it on a rail or ledge going down steps for an extra dose of adrenalin!