Backside Smith Grind (Ledge Edition)
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Think of the backsmith as a polite argument between your trucks and the ledge. One says “I’m in,” the other says “I’m out,” and your job is to keep them civil.
🧱 Foundation: Build the Castle Before the Balcony
Before you invite the backsmith to the session, make sure these tricks already live rent-free in your legs:
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Backside 50-50s that don’t wobble like a loose shopping cart
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Backside 5-0s you can hold without panic
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Backside tailslides where the board listens when you talk to it
These teach balance, shoulder discipline, and that subtle push against the ledge that the smith demands.
📐 Approach: Sneak Up, Don’t Charge
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Roll in slightly angled, hugging the ledge like it owes you money
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Set your feet kickflip-style: front foot relaxed, back foot ready to pop
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Eyes locked on the lock-in point, not your phone, not the filmer, not your fear
Close is good. Too far is betrayal.
🔄 Execution: The Lock-In Ritual
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Pop like a backside 50-50, clean and confident
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Keep your shoulders parallel to the ledge, calm as a monk
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Let your lower body do the twist, dipping the board into smith territory
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Use your front toe to gently push the board into the ledge, like nudging a door that’s already open
Your upper body stays composed. Your lower body does the weird work.
⚠️ Common Mistakes: Respect the Dip
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Over-dipping is the classic rookie curse. Too deep and the ledge grabs back.
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Start with a straight, mellow smith. Style comes later, scars don’t have to.
Think “controlled disagreement,” not “full collapse.”
🚀 Exit Strategy: Leave on a High Note
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Hold the grind straight and steady
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Give a small, clean ollie out once it feels locked
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Roll away like that was always the plan
No rush. The ledge will remember you either way.
🧠 Final Thought
A good backsmith isn’t forced. It’s negotiated. Trucks, board, ledge, and gravity all sign the same contract for just a second. When it works, it feels less like a trick and more like a quiet understanding.