Breaks Grind And Push To Ground

Breaks, Grinds, and Push to Grounds: Mastering the Fundamentals of Street Skating

This article delves into the foundational tricks of street skating: breaks, grinds, and push to grounds. We'll explore the techniques, safety precautions, and progression paths for each, helping you build a solid foundation for more advanced street skating maneuvers. Learning these will unlock a world of possibilities and help you confidently navigate urban landscapes on your skateboard.

Understanding the Basics: Stance, Balance, and Commitment

Before tackling these tricks, it's crucial to have a strong foundation in basic skateboarding. This includes comfortable riding, turning, and stopping. Mastering your stance – whether regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward) – is paramount for balance and control. Remember, maintaining a low center of gravity and a relaxed but focused posture is key to preventing falls and executing clean tricks. Above all, commitment is key. Hesitation will often lead to failure.

Breaks: The Controlled Fall

Breaks, often seen as an essential precursor to grinds, involve sliding your truck along a surface. There are several variations including frontside and backside breaks.

• Frontside Break: Approach the obstacle (ledge, rail, curb) at a slight angle. Shift your weight to your back foot, and as your front wheels hit the obstacle, gently drop your front truck onto the surface. Maintain your balance and control the slide by adjusting your weight and pressure on your back foot. Use your front foot to maintain control and to guide the slide. Practice on smaller, less intimidating obstacles before progressing to higher ones.

• Backside Break: Similar to a frontside break, but this time you approach with your back foot leading the charge. Your back truck makes the initial contact with the obstacle. The pressure and weight distribution are inverted compared to the frontside break.

Grinds: Sustaining the Slide

Grinds involve maintaining your board balanced on the obstacle while sliding across its length. This requires significantly more balance and control than breaks.

• 50-50 Grind: This is the most common grind, where both trucks are placed on the obstacle. Maintaining balance is vital here. Practice your approach and ensure a balanced slide. It takes practice to maintain your balance on the grind and ensure a smooth and consistent slide.

• Boardslide: This grind involves only the side of your board resting on the obstacle. The technique requires precise balance and weight distribution. Mastering this requires proper foot placement and weight distribution to keep the board from wobbling.

• Nosegrind/Tailgrind: Involve balancing your board on the nose or tail, respectively, while the other end hangs off the obstacle. These are advanced grinds, requiring excellent balance and technique.

Push to Grounds: The Controlled Drop

Push to grounds involve pushing off a wall or ledge, performing a slight pop, and guiding your board gently to the ground. The key here is controlled movement and a steady, well-timed approach.

• Practice Proper Technique: Ensure you have enough speed in your approach to facilitate the jump and transition to the ground.

• Consistent Foot Placement: The exact placement of your feet will be different based on your individual style.

• Controlled Landing: Aim to have a clean, grounded landing rather than a bumpy one.

Safety First: Essential Gear and Precautions

Always prioritize safety! Wear appropriate protective gear, including a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Start with smaller obstacles and gradually increase the height and difficulty. Find a safe environment away from traffic and other potential hazards. Don't be afraid to take breaks and rest when needed. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injuries.

Progression and Practice: The Key to Success

Mastering these tricks takes time, patience, and consistent practice. Don't get discouraged by falls – they are a natural part of the learning process. Start small, focusing on perfecting your technique before progressing to more challenging obstacles and variations. Film yourself skating to identify areas for improvement. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process of learning and progressing your skateboarding skills. With dedicated practice and persistence, you'll be smoothly landing breaks, grinds, and push to grounds in no time.