Learning the 50-50 grind — Your first street grind, broken down, no bullshit

If your ollie is solid and you’re eyeing skaters locking their trucks on every city ledge, you’re in the right place. The 50-50 is the gateway to street skateboarding. It opens up the whole game: 5-0, nosegrind, crooked, smith. But before all that, you need to master this fundamental, don’t skip it.

⏱ Reading: 5 min

What exactly is the 50-50?

The 50-50 grind is the most basic grind and the first one landed in skateboarding history. The principle is simple: you ollie onto an edge — curb, ledge, rail, coping — and you slide by pressing both your trucks at the same time on that edge. Two wheels on one side, two wheels on the other, and the trucks grinding in the middle.

It’s the grind everything else builds upon. If you’re struggling with your flips, you can always go home with a solid 50-50: it’s the trick that doesn’t forgive when messed up, but commands respect when locked in. And it’s also a common base for all disciplines — street, park, bowl.

The 3 prerequisites before you touch it

Before you even think 50-50, you need three things locked down. Skipping just one will force you to backtrack, so you might as well do it right.

1. A clean, high ollie

You need to be able to ollie to the height of the obstacle you’re aiming for. If you’re hitting a 15 cm curb, your ollie needs to clear 20 cm effortlessly. No negotiation.

2. The axle stall on a curb

Before grinding in motion, doing a stationary axle stall — ollie onto the curb, lock both trucks, roll off — is the ideal muscle memory builder. You learn where to place your feet without the adrenaline of speed.

3. Equipment that keeps up

Classic metal trucks, tightened properly so they don’t twist on the lock, and most importantly, quality wax on the obstacle.

The ideal setup: a low, waxed curb

For your first 50-50s, look for a curb that’s 10 to 15 cm high, 30 cm max. Wide, flat, raw concrete or with a metal edge — anything but a grainy surface that will catch. City plazas are full of these spots: pedestrian areas, parking lots, schoolyards.

And wax is not optional. Without it, your trucks will stop dead on first contact. Apply it generously along the entire length, like a crayon on rough paper — see our complete wax guide if you’re unsure of the technique.

The progressive 5-step method

Step 1 — The parallel approach

Roll along the curb, almost glued to it. Moderate speed, feet in ollie position. Your board’s axis must be parallel to the edge, no angle.

Step 2 — The lateral ollie

Pop an ollie, shifting the board slightly towards the curb. No giant ollie — just high enough for the trucks to clear and land right on the edge.

Step 3 — The lock

This is the critical moment. You need to feel both your trucks click onto the edge at the same time. Back foot slightly towards the tail, weight centered, knees bent. If only one truck catches, you’ll fall.

Step 4 — The grind

Look forward, not at your feet. Shoulders aligned with the board. Your approach speed carries you naturally; resist the urge to lean forward — you’ll end up face-planting on the asphalt.

Step 5 — The exit

Small ollie off the end of the edge, you land back on 4 wheels, you roll away. Don’t jump too high — the goal is a clean landing, not a show.

Mistakes that cost you learning

Approaching too fast. Beginners think speed saves them. False: too fast, you’ll exceed your ability to correct your balance. Start slow, accelerate gradually.

Landing on only one truck. If you lock on the front truck only, you’ll pivot and fall forward. On the back truck alone, you’ll lift off. The visualization to keep in mind: both trucks land together, like an airplane landing.

Looking at your feet. Your body follows your eyes. Fix your gaze on the end of the curb, your brain will do the rest.

Not enough wax. If your trucks stop dead, it’s not you — it’s the spot. Apply another layer, focus on the contact area.

From curb to ledge to rail: your roadmap

The classic progression happens in three stages. First, the 15 cm curb: you’ll master it in two weeks if you practice every day. Then the 30-50 cm ledge, more challenging, more street. Finally, the rail, where fear becomes your only real opponent.

Once the 50-50 is locked in motion with a clean exit, everything opens up: 5-0 (back truck only), nosegrind (front truck only), crooked grind (angled nose). It’s the same vocabulary, just different foot placements. The 50-50 gave you the grammar — now it’s up to you to write your full line.