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intermediate // slides

Boardslide

Also known as Railslide

The board slides along an obstacle perpendicularly — the center of the deck is on the rail, with both trucks hanging off either side.

The Boardslide is an intermediate Slides trick. Most skaters land their first one within 2-6 weeks of consistent practice.

B

Spec

Difficulty
intermediate
Complexity
Learn time
2-6 weeksⓘ
Category
Slides
Stance
regular

Your progress

Steps

  1. 1

    Approach frontside, parallel

    Approach the ledge frontside. Roll parallel to the obstacle, slightly offset.

    Force
    ●○○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    centered
    TipStaying too far from the obstacle makes the ollie-on harder. Stay close.
  2. 2

    Ollie and turn 90°

    Ollie up and simultaneously rotate your body 90° frontside so the board is perpendicular to the obstacle.

    Force
    ●●●●○
    Direction
    up
    Weight
    centered
    TipThe 90° turn should feel like the beginning of a frontside 180.
  3. 3

    Land center on obstacle

    Come down with the center of the deck on the ledge. Both trucks should be off each side.

    Force
    ●●●○○
    Direction
    down
    Weight
    centered
    TipA slight stomp helps the board lock into the slide rather than bouncing off.
  4. 4

    Slide through

    Keep weight centered and let momentum carry you.

    Force
    ●●○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    centered
    TipA slight bend in the knees lets you absorb bumps.
  5. 5

    Pop out 90°

    At the end, pop or pivot the board back to parallel and land riding away.

    Force
    ●●●○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    centered
    TipFrontside out is typically easier than backside out.

Common mistakes

Sliding off the back

What
The board slides out from under you.
Why
Too much weight toward the tail, or too much speed.
Fix
Stay centered. Match your approach speed to the length of the obstacle.

Truck catching on ledge

What
A truck catches on the ledge during the ollie-in.
Why
Not rotating a full 90° before landing.
Fix
Commit to turning the full 90° before your board touches the rail.

Common problems

I ollie over the rail instead of onto it

Why
Ollying too high or approaching at too sharp an angle.
Fix
Approach at a 90-degree angle to the obstacle and ollie just high enough to get your board over it. Lower approach = easier lock-in.

The board turns and I end up doing a 50-50 instead

Why
Your approach angle isn't perpendicular enough, or you're not rotating your body 90 degrees.
Fix
Make sure you approach at a right angle to the rail. Your body needs to turn 90 degrees so your board slides perpendicular to the direction of travel.

I get stuck mid-slide and stop

Why
Not enough speed going into the slide, or the obstacle surface has too much friction.
Fix
Come in faster with more commitment. Wax the obstacle if possible. Lean forward slightly in the direction of the slide to maintain momentum.

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Why this works

The mechanics behind the trick

Board
The board's center becomes the slide surface. Unlike grinds where trucks are on the obstacle, here the flat deck slides.
Feet
Your feet are on either side of the slide axis. Weight is centered directly over the deck's contact point.
Weight
Balanced and centered. Leaning back causes the back truck to catch; leaning too far forward pitches you over.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to learn a Boardslide?
Most skaters land their first boardslide within 2-6 weeks of consistent practice, once you can ollie consistently.
What should I learn before the Boardslide?
The boardslide builds on Ollie. Get that consistent first, since the boardslide reuses the same pop, balance, or flick.
What should I learn after the Boardslide?
Once your boardslide is consistent, the natural next tricks are Darkslide.
Is the Boardslide hard to learn?
The boardslide is an intermediate trick. It gets much easier once you can already ollie.
Who invented the Boardslide?
The Boardslide was invented by Mark Gonzales in 1982 in California.

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