How To 50-50 Grind

Know what you’re getting into. The 50-50 grind consists of riding the edge of a rail, ledge, or curb with the trucks of your skateboard, rather than your wheels.

Make sure you know how to Ollie, a maneuver that gets you and your board high enough for the 50-50 grind.

Find a low, straight rail or curb for your grind. If you’re using your own grind box or you’re on your own property, coat the edge you’ll be grinding with a thick layer of skate wax. Waxing is messy, so if you’re on someone else’s property ask for permission or skip waxing entirely.

Roll to the ledge and perform an Ollie with enough force to put you and your board on the top of the ledge, shifting your weight to your trucks, which should be balanced on the edge.

After you feel confident in shifting your balance, try the trick. Do the Ollie as before, but don’t stop. Shift your weight so that the trucks are hanging over the edge of the surface you’re riding, and slide forward to the end of the ledge.

When you get close to the end of the ledge, shift your weight to the board’s tail, Ollie off and land on your wheels.