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intermediate // grinds

Nosegrind

Also known as Nose Grind

Only the front truck grinds on the obstacle while the tail stays in the air. The forward-facing version of a 5-0.

The Nosegrind is an intermediate Grinds trick. Most skaters land their first one within 3-8 weeks of consistent practice.

N

Spec

Difficulty
intermediate
Complexity
Learn time
3-8 weeksⓘ
Category
Grinds
Stance
regular

Your progress

Steps

  1. 1

    Frontside approach angle

    A frontside approach angle makes it easier to lock the front truck onto the ledge.

    Force
    ●○○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    centered
    TipThe approach angle is more critical for nosegrinds than 50-50s.
  2. 2

    Lead with the nose

    Your ollie should put the nose truck above the ledge first.

    Force
    ●●●●○
    Direction
    up
    Weight
    front
    TipImagine you're trying to put only the front truck on — that intention often works.
  3. 3

    Lock the nose truck

    Come down nose-first onto the ledge. The tail should clear the ledge edge.

    Force
    ●●●○○
    Direction
    down
    Weight
    front
    TipKeep your front knee bent to absorb the lock-in impact.
  4. 4

    Maintain tail elevation

    Keep weight over the nose. Use your back foot's pressure to maintain the tail angle.

    Force
    ●●○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    front
    TipYour back foot is constantly micro-adjusting, same as a nose manual.
  5. 5

    Pop out

    Pop off the front truck at the end of the ledge.

    Force
    ●●●○○
    Direction
    up
    Weight
    centered
    TipNosegrind pop-outs can go frontside or backside — decide before you start.

Common mistakes

Sliding into a 50-50

What
The back truck drops onto the ledge.
Why
Not enough nose-weight bias on the lock-in.
Fix
Commit more aggressively to the nose-first entry.

Tail dragging on ledge

What
The tail catches on the ledge edge and kills momentum.
Why
Back foot isn't keeping the tail elevated.
Fix
Practice nose manuals on flat ground to build the feel for keeping the tail up.

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Why this works

The mechanics behind the trick

Board
The nose truck bears all the grind load while the tail remains elevated. The tail balance is harder because it's behind you and out of sight.
Feet
Your front foot controls the nose lock-in. Your back foot's tension prevents the tail from dragging.
Weight
All grind weight over the front truck, with enough back foot tension to keep the tail elevated.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to learn a Nosegrind?
Most skaters land their first nosegrind within 3-8 weeks of consistent practice, once you can 50-50 grind consistently.
What should I learn before the Nosegrind?
The nosegrind builds on 50-50 Grind. Get that consistent first, since the nosegrind reuses the same pop, balance, or flick.
Is the Nosegrind hard to learn?
The nosegrind is an intermediate trick. It gets much easier once you can already 50-50 grind.
Who invented the Nosegrind?
The Nosegrind was invented by Mark Gonzales in 1985 in San Francisco.

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