Frontside Lipslide
by Scott McLachlan

Lipslides are one of the more difficult boardslide type tricks (especially backside lipslides - forget about them for the moment), and can take a bit of guts and determination to learn well. You'll want to be able to frontside 50-50s, plain ol' backside boardslides, and frontside 180s before you try f/s lipslides.

Description: The skater rolls up to a rail/ledge frontside, and pops a frontside 90 ollie, with the back truck popping over the object. The skater slides in a boardslide position, with the centre of the deck on the object, facing forwards throughout the slide.

OK, find a flatbar, 'cause it's the best thing to learn lipslides on. I've always found boardslide tricks of ledges and boxes a pain in the ass, but I suppose if you're into them then give it a try. Let's just say we're using a rail for the moment. Make sure you can f/s 50-50 and b/s boardslide it, and even just ollie over it.

Approach the rail at a medium speed - if you go to slow you'll never get a slide goin', and if you go too fast you'll probably slip out backwards and crack your skull open, so go at medium pace. Also come at a slight angle, as with most boardslide tricks.

When you get to the rail, pop an ollie high enough to clear your trucks above it, and shift your feet over the rail like you would for a f/s 50-50. Now's where your frontside 180 skills come into play - as you reach the peak of your ollie, use you feet and body to turn your board 90degrees, and land on the rail in the f/s lipslide position (which is like a b/s boardslide, if you were wondering). It's almost like you're doing a late f/s 180, just to 90degrees. Don't worry if you can't get it straight away, good things take time y'know.

If you've done everything properly, by now you should be sliding in a lipslide. As far as weight placement goes, it all depends on your speed and how slippery the rail is. If you're going fast or the rail is really slippery, you'll probably want to shift your weight forward onto your toes, so you don't fly out backwards. However if you're going slower or the rail's a bit sticky, you'll want to lean back a wee bit and put some weight on your heels, almost push your board through the slide. You've pretty much got to use your own judgement where balance is concerned.

Now the only thing to worry about is coming out. I find coming out regular is the most natural - to do that you put a bit of weight on your tail and push your front foot forward. Coming out to fakie is (in my opinion) a bit trickier, and doesn't look as good as to regular. Anyway, if you want to, you have to put some weight onto your front foot and sweep your back foot forward. Confusing? Maybe, but once you get f/s lipslides down pat you'll be wondering why you needed a trick tip in the first place. Now get off your ass and go skate, dawg.