Interestingly, I find frontside boardslides (FSBS) easier to do than backsides since it requires less body turn (you don’t even have to turn your upper body; you can keep looking down the fall line the entire time). But it could also be due to the fact that I initially learned how to sideslip on my toeside edge. At any rate, this is how I do them; your mileage may vary.
As with any trick, start small and less complex (i.e., start on a small, ride-on box vs. a jump-on C rail).
1. Approach the box/rail/whatever at a comfortable speed. Remember that you can’t go too slowly or you will fail (you’ll stop on top of the element or you’ll slide off midway).
2. As you approach the ride-up, begin turning your board so you’re facing away from the fall line; I.e., turn toeside. Alternatively, you may want to perform two small pre-carves: first carve heelside, then toeside (handy for a last minute speed check). Either way, starting your turn a tad early will make the transition to the FSBS easier.
3. Use the toeside carve to turn your board perpendicular (90°) to the box/rail/whatever. Keep looking down the fall line; just turn your lower body away. I find this easier by remembering to look over my shoulder at the rail.
4. Ride onto the element FLAT-BASED. This is the most important step. The most common reason people bail on rails and boxes is that they pretend it’s like snow and dig an edge in. Listen, you CAN’T carve on a box/rail. If you fail to keep your board flat, I guarantee you will catch an edge and fall.
5. Breathe. Relax. You’re doing it.
6. Spot your landing when you can see the end of the rail. Allow the momentum of your boardslide to carry you off of the rail, and turn your board 90°, back to your natural side.
7. Stomp that shit and ride off with your head held high.
:E
i’m still working on my frontside boardslides myself. i love them when i clear them.. but theyre still very inconsistant for me. still, it’s a really great trick to have.
john and i got our first runs this past sunday.. it was sick but i wont rub it in.. (rub rub rub)
anyway, on our first park run we went to some little shit park.. the rails were as long as i’m tall.. yup, SHORT. it was whack so we took a drive to the other side of the mountain where the bigger park was.. (early season – not many connecting trails)
my first suggestion to learning frontsides is to be sure you’re already comfortable with gettin on rails 50/50. with that said, find a rail/box about 10 ft long that does not intimidate you and camp that shit.
eugene’s steps are a very straight forward recipe to gliding some clean frontsides all day.. just be sure that ur setup carve is not too wide and rounded because if it is, it wont matter if ur solid and flat based, ull come off the side for sure. i like to setup carve early, then straightline the entrance to the element. that gives me the forward motion to clear the rail clean.
also, depending on how i feel on the rail, i do not always ride off on my natural stance (goofy). when learning boardslide tricks i think it is important to be able to ride switch pretty decent. this gives you the option of riding out the trick in ur natural stance or switch.. you can get fancy with the ride out once u mastered the basis of the trick itself. while its still sketchy and inconsistant for me, its nice to know if i over rotate or under rotate on the rail, i wont have to bust my ass coming off of it.
my strongest rail trick is still the backside boardslide.. ill post a ‘how to’ later.
roaldSNOWald