How to Do a 50/50 Grind on a Skateboard

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Grinding on a skateboard - in other words, sliding your board along an object - is all about weight, the angle of approach, and speed.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Skate Rails
Skateboard Decks
Skateboard Helmets
Skateboard Pads
Skateboard Parts
Skateboard Trucks
Skateboard Wheels
Skateboarding Shoes
Skateboards

Step1

Decide on the object that you want to grind. A curb or small ledge is easiest.

Step2

Approach the object on a near-parallel course at a comfortable speed. If your approach angle is too wide, you'll glance off your target; too narrow and you'll just smash into it.

Step3

Ollie a little higher than the object, and aim your trucks over its edge.

Step4

Stay light on your board when your trucks first make contact, and lay into it slowly to see how it's going to grind.

Step5

Lift your front truck off the object as you do a small ollie (no need to hit your tail), turning your shoulders in the direction you want to come off.

Tips & Warnings

Some objects will grind fast and easy; other stuff has to be forced into submission. When this occurs, you'll need more speed and varying ollie height.
The faster you go at the object, the faster and further you will grind (and occasionally, when it doesn't grind, the harder you will fall).
Eventually you'll figure out how much weight you need, the angle of approach, and the speed you need to put into a particular grind by instinct. Then anything will be possible.
Skateboarding is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

Comments

samjstam94 said

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on 2/8/2007 i can ollie high enough to get on to the curbs and rails i try, but i can't land on them cuz my board pops out from under me or i don't ollie. what am i doin wrong?

Anonymous said

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on 7/30/2006 You must know if the curb, rail, or anything you're trying to grind can be done so. If you are not at a skate park, you will most likely need some wax to even make you trucks slide. Also, if you are planing to grind a curb, make sure that it's not a rocky curb.

Anonymous said

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on 7/23/2006 First you want to know for a fact that you'll be able to grind across the object if not wax it down. Then you'll want to be sure there are no notches out of the curb your you'll stop dead in your tracks. Then figure the angle and get some speed and ollie up onto it. Make sure you don't put all of your weight onto the board. Then to turn out, push down on the tail, but don't smack your tail down. Then turn your front shoulder out the way you want to land.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 The first time you try to 50-50, try it slowly to see if it will slide. Then get a ton of speed and olie on to the ledge.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Approach the curb, ledge, rail, or handrail at whatever angle feels comfortable (if you are beginning to skate, ride parallel to the object). Then, pop an ollie and center your weight. Land on the object (you must have a considerable amount of speed to actually grind). Once you have ground then pivot out or ollie, absorb the landing, and roll away.

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