The backside boardslide is a solid trick to use as an introduction to grinds and slide. It's something that can be done on many types of things, but for this trick tip we're just going to cover doing them on your standard flat bar. Also, in case you're unfamiliar with how to figure out the difference between backside and frontside, remember that you'll be approaching the rail with your back facing it. Anyway, let's get this one started.
What You Need to Know
Ollie
You have to know how to ollie because this is what you're using to get onto the rail.
Frontside 180
The ability to do a frontside 180 with come in handy with enabling you to have enough control to rotate your board and get onto the rail.
What You May Find Useful:
Before you start trying this one, you should know this is something that takes a high level of commitment. Chances are when you're learning this you don't have much experience with skating rails, so this one can be intimidating. Just make sure you give it your all each time.
Doing The Trick
Positioning:
Set both of your feet up just as you would for an ollie. You really don't need to change anything about this foot set up.
Motion:
Before we talk about the actual execution of the trick, we need to get some things figure out. Firstly, how slick is the rail you're going to slide on? If it's waxed considerably well, you don't need a large amount of speed. Make sure that before you try sliding on anything, you become familiar with how slick it is.
Okay. So you know how fast you need to be going based on the rail. You're gonna be going at a decent speed.. Not too fast and not too slow. You have your feet set up for an ollie and you're approaching the rail.
Give yourself proper room to pop an ollie and clear your front trucks over the rail. Usually, this takes about two feet distance. Pop the tail and slide your front foot up the board executing an ollie, while slightly turning your body and board 90 degrees putting you over the rail. Try to land the center of your board on the rail to make balance easier. If your skateboard isn't completely centered, you can still try to slide this one through, but it might be a little bit harder. Considering this is the first time you're trying this trick, I'd suggest you only try to hit the last few feet of the rail.
This trick really starts once you get on the rail. It's important that you have both feet over the bolts of the skateboard. Bend your knees slightly upon landing on the rail. If you don't do this, you're not going to be able to control the trick. Also, lean forward just a little bit. This will help make you slide through. Further information on this will be in the Troubleshooting part of this guide.
Doing everything said above, you should be sliding on the rail approaching the end. How you get off the rail is up to you. You have the option to land regular or switch. For the time being, I'd suggest you stick to trying to land regular, as this will further help you control the board and get out of this one riding. Just as you're reaching the end of the rail, start guiding the board around back to position for riding. This is done primarily with turning your upper body back to the state it was and using your feet to guide the board with you. Make sure to keep your upper body lined up with the board.
Landing can be pretty hard at first. It's important your feet have a solid stance on the board to keep it under you. Without this, it's very possible the board could roll over, resulting in landing primo and taking a nasty fall. It can also be difficult to land if you don't get the board turned a full 90 degrees back. If you don't do this, you can try landing and riding out at an angle or tic-taccing out. Don't worry so much on how it loos for now, just get it landed.
Absorbing the impact for this one isn't going to be anything new to you. It will feel like landing an ollie. Make sure to keep your body centered over the board and to not let it shoot out on you or anything. Considering you wont be flying at a high speed off the rail, you shouldn't find it too difficult to land.
Video Trick Tips:
Troubleshooting
If I were to sit and try to list all the possible problems that could come out of this one, I'd probably never get done with it. So these are going to be to most common problems you'll face with learning backside boardslides.
-I can't get on the rail. My front trucks or the nose of my deck hits the rail.
This can be corrected multiple ways. One thing to try is possibly making your ollie a little bit higher. You don't need to try to get a few feet above the rail, but you need to give yourself enough height to get on. Also, you might be too close to the rail when trying to get on. The next time you try it, put a little bit more distance between yourself and the rail.
-I get on the rail and my board shoots out in front of me
One of the most common problems with boardslides is losing the deck on the rail. There are a handful of reasons this could be going on. One of them being you're going too fast. Slow down a little before you get on the rail so you can better control it. Also, you're probably not leaning forward enough or you might even be leaning back. You have to lean forward and stay over the board to keep the motion going. If you don't, it's going to shoot out every time.
-I get on the rail, and the the board just stops and my body goes forward
This could be the result of a poorly waxed rail. Not every rail out in this world can be hit. Try getting some wax and putting it on the rail to make it easier to slide on.
Another reason you could find this happening is because you're leaning too far forward. While the leaning forward part is one of the most important aspects of this trick, you have to make sure not to over-do it!
-I land on the rail with my board and it doesn't stay on the rail. One of the sides of my skateboard falls over the side of the rail
This is a balance problem. I'd suggest you make more effort to having your board centered when landing on the rail. Also, don't let yourself apply too much pressure to either side of your skateboard with your feet. You need to keep everything as even as possible.
-I can't seem to land it. I slide to the end and just lose it
Use more force when trying to turn your board back to position for riding. Also, make sure you're keeping your upper body lined with your lower body. Don't let yourself get twisted up on this one.
Also make sure you have your feet in a solid stance on the skateboard. If you're barely on the deck, you're not going to be able to maintain control enough to turn it and remain on it until hitting the ground.
If you're having too many problems with this and really feel like it's out of your control, you might want to consider finding a lower rail. The less distance between you and the ground, the easier this one will be to land.
Remember. This trick takes a lot of commitment. It also can take a lot of time to get everything worked out. This trick has a lot more to it than your regular flip trick, so don't stress it too much if it takes a while.
Where Do I Go From Here?
This is an essential trick. It is going to help teach you balance that you will need for learning the more advanced grinds/slides. Polish this one up and you can consider possibilities of longer slides, steeper slides (such as downrails and handrails), and even getting techy with it and finding a place to insert a flip trick or body varial!
i dont get fs en bs with boardslides. when your going foreward and you go boardslide en you can face the direction as you slide than its fs isn it??? There a loads of guys that say its so and other ones say that that is back board
I'm a bit confused, I admit. But I think I can answer you. You're asking the difference in bs and fs, right?
Now.. This is for grinds and slides ONLY.
Frontside = When you roll alongside the object you want to grind/slide, and you're facing it. It's in front of your body.
Backside = When you roll alongside the object you want to grind/slide and it's BEHIND your body. Your back is to it.
Now for flip tricks and rotations.. It's a bit different, but that's another subject... But hope that clears up your confusion.
edit-
So with boardslides.. A backside boardslide will have you sliding forward on the object. You be looking in the same direction you slide. Frontside is the opposite. You will be sliding backwards, and will be facing the direction opposite of that which you're sliding.
Now.. This is for grinds and slides ONLY.
Frontside = When you roll alongside the object you want to grind/slide, and you're facing it. It's in front of your body.
Backside = When you roll alongside the object you want to grind/slide and it's BEHIND your body. Your back is to it.
Now for flip tricks and rotations.. It's a bit different, but that's another subject... But hope that clears up your confusion.
edit-
So with boardslides.. A backside boardslide will have you sliding forward on the object. You be looking in the same direction you slide. Frontside is the opposite. You will be sliding backwards, and will be facing the direction opposite of that which you're sliding.