How to Skateboard on Water Riding Rails

Many skateboarding inspired tricks have spread into other boarding sports and have created new categories, such as extreme wakeboarding and extreme snowboarding. Although these sports are practiced on water and snow, handrails are used to pull off tricks, just like in skateboarding. Water riding rails, when removed from the water, can provide hours of fun for skateboarders looking to improve their skills. Grinding and board sliding on a rail require commitment and patience, so don't give up if you make a few mistakes while learning.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the rail on a flat, dry area. Concrete or asphalt are the best surfaces to skate on and are the easiest to find. Place the rail in an area away from car traffic, such as an empty parking lot.

    • 2

      Back up about 10 to 20 feet away from the rail. Place your front foot directly on top of your front truck, or wheel axle, and push off with your back foot. Keeping your front foot firmly planted, take an additional two pushes with your back foot to gain speed. Place your back foot on the back truck and balance your weight in the center of the board while you approach the rail.

    • 3

      Approach the rail slightly to one side and start your ollie when you are about 3 to 6 feet away from the rail. Stomp down with your back foot and slide your front foot forward slightly towards the nose of the board, raising the board off of the ground. Ollie high enough to clear the rail, or you will get caught up and fall. Shift your weight forward as you ollie.

    • 4

      Practice performing a board slide by twisting your board 90 degrees so that it is exactly perpendicular to the rail while you are in the air. Lean forward slightly while keeping your weight centered over the board. Allow the board to slide to the end of the rail. As you approach the end of the rail, slide the front of the board 90 degrees so that you are back in the position before you ollied. Bend your knees to soften the landing and ride away.

    • 5

      To perform a 50-50 grind (basic grind), keep your board parallel to the rail as you ollie. Center you weight and land with both trucks on the rail. Ride to the end of the rail and lift your nose by applying light pressure to the tail with your back foot as you come off the rail and land.