Welcome to another edition of our Trick Tips Presented by Vans Canada! This week, we teach you one of the most iconic looking trick and the number one maneuver most skaters wish they had in their bags: The backside tail slide.
Check out our slow-motion videos and read our technical pointers to help you master the back tail!
There are just a few tricks that have the same amount of style as the backside tail. This trick consists of sliding on the tail part of your board on an obstacle that’s behind you as you roll up to it. It combines notions from the backside 180 ollie and the backside 50-50, so try to learn these before jumping into your first backside tail.
A well-executed BS tail slide is not only a lot of fun, it also means that your bag of trick just got to a new level. That being said, you will have to earn it, because the BS Tailslide is a bit more complicated that most ledge/rail tricks. Now, let’s get to practice!
Before getting into the details, let us present you the shoes we used to do this trick tip: The Crockett High. This amazing and good looking shoe revisits Gilbert’s classic pro model and takes it up a notch, converting it into a high top for enhanced performance. Featuring DURACAP-reinforced suede and canvas uppers, the Crockett High also includes Vans new POPCUSH footbeds for superior cushioning and impact protection that helps to lessen leg fatigue for longer skate sessions. Finished with Vans revolutionary WAFFLECUP construction, the Crockett High provides the support of a cupsole without sacrificing any of the grip or boardfeel of a traditional vulcanized shoe.
THE FOOT POSITION
The foot placement for the back tail is pretty easy because the basic position is the same as the ollie. So, put your back foot in the pocket of your tail, where you’re sure to get a good grip and a quick scoop in order pop high enough and to rotate backside before getting on the ledge.
Your front foot will act as a guide for your backside rotation and should be situated right below the front bolts. Your front foot must also be slightly angled as it would be for a backside 180 ollie.
THE ROLL UP AND THE POP
Approach the obstacle that’s behind you with a good amount of speed and try to stay as parallel as possible to the ledge or rail. Here’s the secret trick: spot the point of entry as you roll up and never stop watching it until you pop. This will force your shoulders to stay open and will allow a good lock. As you get closer to the entry point, crouch and compress to get ready to ollie.
Snap your tail on the ground, lift your weight upwards and try to pop high enough to get above your chosen obstacle. While jumping up, start turning your shoulders 90 degrees in a backside direction. Keep looking in front of you to make sure you don’t overturn those shoulders. If you didn’t stop looking forward while rolling up, your shoulders should be in the right position.
Once your board is above the ledge, turn your hips backside without turning your shoulders as much, this will allow your board to turn your 90 degrees backside and get ready to lock in with your tail on the obstacle.
THE SLIDE
Once you ollied high enough, turned your shoulders, hips and board 90 degrees backside, flatten your board out as you hover above the edge of the obstacle and smack that tail on it to lock into a backside tail slide.
Then shift all your bodyweight on the tail to get a proper backside tail slide stance. Always think about using your toes to lock in as a heel or foot drag is likely to block you while you slide. To slide for as long as possible and avoid slipping out, try to center your bodyweight and balance on your back foot as soon as the slide is engaged.
THE POP OUT
At the end, you can come out of the slide either to Regular or to Fakie. Keep looking over your shoulder while you slide to land your back tail to regular. As you get closer to the end of your tailslide, spot your exit point and begin to straighten up before popping out. You can also try to pop out off the side of the ledge with a little pop down movement of the tail.
As for landing fakie, remember to keep the motion of your shoulders turning backside as you approach the end of the ledge. Instead of looking forward over your shoulder, you'll end up looking behind you while your shoulders keep turning, allowing you to land to fakie.
Now that you popped out, absorb the impact and roll away as smooth as possible.
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO! HIT THE PARK AND PRACTICE UNTIL YOU LAND IT! GOOD LUCK!
