Grinds and slides are core skateboarding tricks performed along an edge — a rail, ledge or coping. A grind is when the metal trucks (axles) scrape along the edge (e.g. a 50-50 grind on both trucks, or a 5-0 on the back truck). A slide is when part of the wooden deck moves along the edge (e.g. a boardslide, with the board perpendicular, or a noseslide on the front). Both are entered by ollie-ing onto the obstacle and require balance, commitment and precise positioning. They are central to street skating and a major part of skatepark and competition runs.
Key points
- Grind = trucks along the edge
- Slide = deck along the edge
- Entered via an ollie onto the obstacle
- Central to street skating