So, you’ve been skating for awhile, and you have fs/bs boardslides down on rails. Maybe you want to warm up on a hubba with something simple, or a ledge or box is all you have around. You can take that old boardslide and add new life to it on a ledge, box, or hubba.
Slappy boardslides are decent enough to kiss the last bit of the ledge, but to really impress, you want to pop on entirely and slide a good 5-6 feet, then pop off cleanly.
A high ollie, good control, and placement are all essential to truly perform this trick with consistency.
For both bs and fs boardslides, you want to approach the ledge at a small angle, with full speed. You can’t pussyfoot with this or you’ll end up on your back or face. Gather courage and roll up with speed and confidence. Place your foot on the board with your front toes towards the opposite edge. Pop a clean ollie, and turn over the ledge. For a bs boardslide, you want to come completely perpendicular with the ledge; for a fs boardslide, a 60-70 degree angle is more sensible.
IMPORTANT: you have to have control once you hit the ledge. Unlike a rail, you can’t lay the board flat over. On a flat surface, your wheels will scrape and stop you up before you can slide a foot. You want to lean and slide at a slight angle, wheels hovering over the surface. Don’t lean too far back, or you’ll bail right away. This is the hardest part about boardsliding ledges, finding balance, and has discouraged many a skater. Practice until you can confidently pop onto the ledge, whether bs or fs, and slide as much as you wish.
After sliding the length of the ledge, or if you lose speed, you need to lean onto the tail and pivot the front wheels and the nose off the ledge without hitting. You can turn completely before coming off, or pivot a little once you land, whatever works for you. As always, repetition is the only way to completely learn.
Remember, flatground boxes and ledges require lots of speed. Try slanted boxes or hubbas with less speed to avoid slipping back.
Like usual, it’s easier to practice on something lower and shorter. Just build yourself up until you can hit a real hubba.
Go skate.