Smith Grind
A stylish grind with your back truck on and front truck off.
The Smith Grind is a technical grind where the back truck is grinding on the ledge or rail, while the front truck hangs off the side, with the board angled downwards. It is named after skater Mike Smith.
5-0 Grind, 50-50 Grind
🎯 Get technical with your grinds!
The Smith Grind is a classic and respected trick that requires a lot of balance and control to perform correctly.
👟 Foot Positioning
1. Front Foot Position
Your front foot is over the front bolts, used to push the nose down and away from the ledge.
2. Back Foot Position
Your back foot is on the tail, providing pressure to keep the back truck locked on the grind.
📈 Detailed Smith Grind Execution
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Approach
Approach the ledge at a sharp angle.
Ollie and Lock In
Ollie towards the ledge, aiming to place your back truck on top and dip your front truck down the side.
Grind
Lock in and slide, keeping your weight on the back truck and using your front foot to maintain the angle.
Come Off
To come off, lift your front truck up and turn out, or pop off the tail.
Golden Tip!
The key is the entry. You need to come at the ledge with enough angle to get into the specific Smith position.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Slipping into a 5-0 grind: You need to dip your front truck more.
Front truck hitting the side of the ledge: Approach with more angle.
Losing balance: It’s a difficult position to hold. Keep practicing.
This tutorial will help you learn the technical Smith Grind:
Video Tutorial
Credits: Braille Skateboarding
Watch on YouTube →🏆 Congratulations! You made it to the end!
Now it's time to practice! Remember: consistency is the key to success.