50-50
aka Straight Slide
The first jib. Ride straight onto a box or rail with both skis parallel along it, stay balanced over your feet, and ride off the end clean.
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
Line it up square
Approach the box straight on at a slow, controlled speed, aiming to ride onto it dead center. Keep your skis parallel and pointed straight down the feature. Stay centered with knees soft and hands forward.
- 02 Lock On
Pop on flat and balanced
Give a small ollie to set both skis flat onto the top of the box, parallel and even. Land with your weight stacked right over your feet, not leaning forward or back. The lighter, flatter touch keeps you sliding straight.
- 03 Slide
Hold center and glide
Stay tall and balanced over the middle of your skis as you slide. Keep your eyes up and looking to the end of the feature rather than down at your skis. Let the box do the work and resist any urge to fight for balance.
- 04 Out
Ride off the end
As you reach the end of the box, give a tiny pop or just let the skis run off naturally. Land base-flat with knees bent to absorb, keep your hands forward, and ride away clean and centered.
When It Goes Wrong
The most common ways 50-50 bails — and the fix. Diagnose your slam, then get back on.
How do I stop sliding off the side of the box on a 50-50?
You're not centered over your skis or your weight is on your edges. Stay stacked directly over your feet with the bases flat on the box, eyes up and looking to the end. Keeping your weight balanced and your edges off keeps you tracking straight.
I keep catching an edge as I get onto the box.
You're approaching at an angle or setting the skis down on edge. Line up dead straight and pop on with the bases flat and parallel. A square, balanced approach is what locks the 50-50 in cleanly.
Should I look down at my skis on the rail?
No, looking down throws your balance forward and makes you tense. Keep your eyes up and focused on the end of the feature. Where you look is where your balance follows, so looking ahead keeps you upright and sliding.
What feature should I learn my first 50-50 on?
Start on a wide, flat box that is low to the snow, not a skinny round rail. The width gives you margin for balance and the low height keeps falls harmless. Once flat boxes feel easy, progress to narrower features and rails.
The 50-50 is your entry into the world of jibbing — riding features with both skis parallel straight along the box or rail. It is the first jib everyone learns because it teaches the core rail skill of staying centered and balanced while you slide.
Keep it simple. Square approach, flat skis, eyes up, ride off the end. Master the 50-50 on a wide flat box and you have the foundation for boardslides, switch-ups, and everything else the rail garden throws at you.
Dial In Your Setup
Gear that makes this trick easier to learn. Tune the setup, not just the technique.
Twin-tip jib skis
True center mount · softer flex
A centered, slightly softer twin-tip presses and balances on features predictably. The symmetric shape lets you ride on or off forward or switch without surprises.
Shop skis & gearWide flat box
Low height · grippy surface
A wide, low box is the friendliest place to learn the 50-50. The extra surface gives you balance margin and the low height means a slip costs you nothing.
Shop skis & gearDetuned underfoot edges
Edges dulled below the boot
Dulling the edges underfoot keeps them from grabbing and catching on metal or plastic features. It lets the ski slide smooth and straight instead of hooking up mid-box.
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Stack Your Clip
Landed 50-50? Soon you'll drop your line here and battle the crew for the top of the board.