Rolling In

Ollie Roll In

Photo By: Brent Heckerman

Pacifica, Ca

Difficulty: Intermediate

Rolling in is a great trick for transition skating. Once you can drop in, the roll in is the next step.

1. Approach the coping with a good amount of speed (If you're going too slow, you may hang up on the coping).

2. Lift up the front of the board and let your back wheels bonk over the coping.

3. Lean forward and bend your knees as if you are dropping in (You need to shift your weight forward so that your body adjusts to the transition).

It is best to roll straight in at first, while you are learning. Then try rolling in at an angle (Frontside and Backside).

Challenge yourself: Once you can roll in comfortably, try to ollie into the transition!

As you approach the top of the transition, ollie before the coping. Since you are landing into the transition, you need to adjust your body accordingly (Lean forward, bend your knees, and pump the transition, just like you would for the regular roll in).

Frontside Grind

Photo by: Joe Brady
Taken at a backyard pool in the East Bay, CA

Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced

The Frontside Grind in a pool or on any transition is the combination of:
1. Frontside Carve
2. Frontside Kickturn
3. Frontside 5-0 grind one would do on a ledge or rail (street skating)

Personally, the Frontside Grind is my favorite trick!

The Frontside Grind is a staple of transition skating, with its roots in street skateboarding (ollie onto a ledge obstacle and grinding on the back truck, aka the Frontside 5-0).

The trick is referred to as "Frontside" because you are facing the coping when you grind

Let's begin with the Frontside Slash: approaching the coping at a slight angle, carving and kickturning on the coping, but keeping your body in the bowl..

The difference between the Slash grind and an "Upright" Frontside grind: The Upright FS grind involves standing up on the top of the coping, grinding, and riding on the top surface of the transition.

Once you've mastered Frontside Slash grinds, the next step is pushing the board and your body out of the transition for an Upright Frontside grind.

Frontside Grind - Step-by-Step - Instruction

Approaching the coping at a 45 degree angle, I lift the board slightly to Slash grind, but push forward with my heel to set my back truck onto the coping all the way. This trick requires more speed than the simple Slash grind, as you need the momentum to stand up on the coping, while grinding.

Once I lock in the grind with my heel, I lean back slightly to lift the front of the board up, and grind as far as my speed allows. It's good to drag your tail on the top surface of the bowl to control the grind.

Dangerous Drew's Safety Tip - Leaning too far back may cause you to slip out, so be sure to keep your shoulders over the center of your board.

Also! Note in the picture above: I am keeping my front knee bent so I can reenter the bowl without losing my balance.

Lastly, lean and kickturn into the bowl and continue riding :)

This trick requires speed to lock in, so don't be afraid to go fast!