How to Crooked Grind | Sidewalk Basics
Get to grips with crooked grinds here - watch the video and check out the step-by-step trick tips below...
The crooked grind is a very popular trick as you can lock into the grind and sit in it once you’ve mastered the technique. This is the backside version, but the crooked grind can also be done frontside, fakie or switch and it is one of the most versatile grinding tricks out here; so it’s woth spending the time to master it.
The invention of this trick is often credited to Eric Koston although he has publicly stated that his one-time H-Street team mate Dan Peterka, (who later became a pro snowboarder), actually invented the crooked grind.
Either way, it’s a fun trick and one well worth rinsing.
Approach your obstacle at a parallel angle with a good amount of speed.
Crouch and compress, ready to pop your ollie. Spot your entry point for the crooked grind as you approach.
As you get close to the obstacle, get ready to pop and ollie high enough to get over the grinding edge.
Pop your tail and use your shoulders to guide your front truck towards the grinding edge.
Control your ollie with your front foot and get ready to transfer all your weight to the nose when you land.
Land with all your weight on your front foot and lock your truck and wheel against the grinding edge. Lift your back foot up and hold the pose.
Hold yourself in position and control the grind with your back foot.
Keep grinding for as long as you can and spot your landing.
As you come to the end of your grind, prepare to nollie out and clear the end of the ledge.
Perform the motion of a nollie out of the crooked grind and control your descent with your feet.
Try to stay level.
Land with all four wheels down at once and bend your knees to absorb the impact.
Roll away at speed.
Taken from Sidewalk’s Skate Basics in partnership with Nike SB. Available for Free at your local skate shop.
For more step-by-step trick tips see these links:
Beginner – How to Axle Stall
Beginner – How to Pop Shove-It
Intermediate – How to Crooked Grind
Intermediate – How to Kickflip
Advanced – How to 360 Flip
Advanced – How to 360 Shove-It
Advanced – How to BS Tailslide
Advanced – How to FS Ollie
Advanced – How to Hardflip