Boardslide
aka Board
Ollie over the rail so the middle of your deck lands across it, turn 90 degrees, and slide. The first real rail trick most skaters ever lock.
The Breakdown
Four phases from roll-up to roll-away. Scrub the analyzer above — each phase lights up as the board hits it.
- 01 Approach
Roll up to the rail
Approach the rail at a slight angle with steady speed, feet set like a normal ollie. Pick the spot on the rail where the middle of your board will make contact. Keep your shoulders relaxed but ready to turn — the rotation starts the instant you pop.
- 02 Ollie & Turn
Pop and rotate 90
Ollie up and turn your front shoulder toward the rail so the board swings to ninety degrees across it. Aim to land the center of the deck — right between the trucks — flat on top of the bar. Lead with your eyes and shoulders, not by kicking your feet.
- 03 Slide
Ride the middle
Land balanced with weight centered over the rail and let the underside of the deck slide. Keep your knees bent and your chest open, arms out for balance. Stay stacked right over the contact point so you don't slide off the front or back.
- 04 Turn Out
Unwind and roll away
As you near the end, turn your shoulders back to straight so the board swings off the rail facing forward. Spot the ground, level out, and land over the bolts. Bend the knees to soak up the drop and roll away clean.
When It Goes Wrong
The most common ways Boardslide bails — and the fix. Diagnose your slam, then get back on.
Why does my board slide off the front or back of the rail?
Your contact point is off center. Aim to land the rail dead between your trucks and keep your weight stacked right over that spot. Drifting forward or back shifts the balance point and slides you straight off the end.
I can't get the board to turn 90 degrees onto the rail.
You're trying to kick the board around with your feet instead of leading with your body. Turn your front shoulder and head toward the rail as you pop and the board follows. Commit the rotation early — half-turning leaves you sideways and slipping.
I keep falling backward off the rail mid-slide.
Your weight is sitting behind the rail instead of over it. Keep your chest up and centered directly above the contact point, knees bent. Leaning back is the instinct — fight it and stay stacked on top.
How do I commit without slamming on the rail?
Start on a low, fat box or a flat ledge before a round rail. Locking the slide on a forgiving surface builds the muscle memory so the real rail feels familiar. Speed and commitment actually make it more stable, not less.
The boardslide is the rail trick that finally makes rails feel possible. Instead of locking trucks on metal, you’re laying the middle of the deck across the bar and sliding on wood — and that 90-degree turn is the whole trick. Lead it with your shoulders, land dead center, and trust the slide.
Box first, always. A low flat bar lets you find the contact point and practice unwinding the turn-out without paying for every slip. Once the lock feels automatic, a real handrail is just the same motion with more commitment behind it.
Dial In Your Setup
Gear that makes this trick easier to learn. Tune the setup, not just the technique.
Low-to-mid deck (8.0"–8.38")
7-ply maple · medium concave
A slightly wider deck gives the underside more surface to catch the rail and lock the slide. Make sure the bottom graphic isn't too worn — bare, sticky wood drags instead of slides.
Shop decks & partsSkate wax
Bar or block
Wax the rail and even the underside of your deck for a slicker slide. A boardslide rides on raw wood, so a waxed surface is what keeps it smooth instead of catchy.
Shop decks & partsRail or fat box
Flat bar · knee height
Learn on a low flat box before stepping to a round handrail. A forgiving surface lets you dial the lock and the turn-out without the consequences.
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Stack Your Clip
Landed Boardslide? Soon you'll drop your line here and battle the crew for the top of the board.