Skating Tricks: How to Do a Frontside 50/50 Grind

A frontside 50/50 grind is a skateboarding trick where the skateboarder ollies their board onto an obstacle (like a handrail or bench), grinding forward on the middle part of the deck before landing their board on the ground again. The “50/50” part refers to how the board hangs half-on and half-off the chosen obstacle.

Good balance is imperative to pulling off any basic grind trick. To learn how to land the frontside 50/50 grind, check out the steps below:

1. 1. Pop your board parallel to the obstacle. While skating parallel to the obstacle you want to jump onto, pop your ollie. Make sure you ollie high enough to clear the obstacle completely, so you can bring your front trucks and back trucks down upon it. When starting out, try with a lower obstacle, like a curb, then work your way up to benches and rails when you’re comfortable.
2. 2. Rotate frontside. Rotate slightly frontside so both of your trucks land on the edge of the obstacle in a grind position. Be sure to land on the heelside of your trucks—if you land on your toeside you will fall backwards off the obstacle.
3. 3. Grind. Grind in a forward motion and come off at the end of the obstacle, putting pressure on your tail to bring your nose up as your front truck clears the obstacle, so you won’t nosedive.

Whether you’re just learning how to ollie or ready to tackle a Madonna (the vert trick, not the singer), the MasterClass Annual Membership can help you find confidence on your board with exclusive instructional videos from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, street skater Riley Hawk, and Olympic hopeful Lizzie Armanto.