Skateboarding Tricks for the Smith Grind

Video Transcript

"Some of the tricks that you're going to have to learn before learning how to do a front side smith grind, are, you're going to have to comfortable be able to fifty-fifty, and ollie out with some degree of steadiness. It's the ollieing out part of a smith grind that makes them difficult. Sometimes it's easy to get into, but it's very hard to get out of, because what happens is, the ledge kind of hooks you in there and keeps you from coming out. But that's also the reason that it's so clean when you come out, because you pop out. So the positioning of a front side fifty-fifty is very similar and will help you learn how to do front side smith grinds. Another trick that can help you learn how to do front side smith grinds, or one of the tricks that you should definitely have down before trying a front side smith grind, is the front side five-o grind. What this does, is it teaches you how to ride and put just your weight on your back truck, and be able to come out front side from the ledge. Basically the weight that you're putting on the board is very similar to that of the front side smith grind. The only difference is with a front side five-o grind you try to keep your weight on the tail, and you try to keep the nose up, but for the smith grind, you're just bringing it down and letting it grind, but the weight that you put on the back truck is very similar for the front side five-o as it is for the front side smith. So it's a good trick to have before doing front side smith grinds."