Grinds

Grinds and grind variations are virtually limitless. Grinds may be given new names when they have been modified slightly, despite being a variation of a basic grind. For example, a topside ally-oop mizou is called a Kind Grind. The following is a list of the fundamental grinds and common variants.

Frontside / Backside Tricks:

* Frontside - In this trick your feet are perpedicular to the object your are grinding (rail or ledge), you are facing the object, and you are sliding on your "H" block grooves on both feet.
Picture Video
* Backside - Same as frontside except your back is facing the object you are grinding.
Picture Video
* Royale (aka shifty) - It is similar to the frontside and backside grinds and still uses both feet sliding in the h-blocks. What makes the Royale different to the frontside and backside is the angle of the feet. In a royale, the trailing foot is bent over, so that the trailing boot is sliding on the backslide plate.
Picture Video
* Fahrvergnügen (aka Farv, Nugen, Full Torque) - The Fahrvergnügen, also known as the inverted royale, the full torque, and sometimes abbreviated to 'farv' or just 'nugen', is essentially a 'backwards' royale. The lead foot becomes bent over so that it slides on the side of the skate. It can be easier to imagine it as a Royale, but going in the opposite direcion with the feet in the same position. The German word 'Fahrvergnügen' means, 'driving enjoyment'.
Picture Video
* UFO - The UFO is very much like a standard frontside or backside grind, the only difference is that the the feet are further apart. You should also try and keep your knees as close together as possible for added effect.
Picture
* Cab Driver (aka rodeo or cowboy) - The Cab Driver, or Rodeo, is a cross between the Royale and the Fahrvergnügen, both feet are bent inwards so that the two skates are both sliding on their backslide plates (grind plates that protect the outer edge of the skate).

Unity and Savannah:

The next two tricks can be easily confused with each other and need a little explanation so I gave them their own section in this thread. These two tricks are basically the same trick but with legs crossed in an opposite manner and are defined by the way a skater spins into the grind.

* Unity - A cross legged frontside or backside grind. Your leading foot is crossed in front of the other leg unless you are doing it ally-oop (see below).
Picture
Video - instruction on Unity
Video - instruction on Backside Unity
Video - instruction on True Ally Oop Unity

* Savannah - This is the only variation to the Unity grind. The two tricks differ in the way that you approach and spin into the grind. A Savannah will take some explaining (see below).
Picture

* A Backside Savannah
You approach the object with it on your left hand side, you jump, spin 270 degrees counterclockwise, and land with your legs crossed in such a way that the left leg is crossed in front of the right leg (if you were looking down at your feet then that is the way your legs should be crossed).

The description above is just one way of doing a Savannah, the grind can be done coming from the other direction to the object, and this will make it frontside. You might become confused with the positioning of the grind in the picture (above), as he could be preforming an ally-oop backside unity or a Back Savannah, but it all comes down to the way he spins into the grind.

• If it was an "Ally-oop backside unity" he would approach forward and do a 90º turn clockwise onto the ledge with his left leg crossed in front of his right leg.
• If he was to do a Savannah he would approach the object forward, and jump 270º counterclockwise off the ground to get on it backside shown in picture above.

* A Frontside Savannah
You approach the object with it on your Right hand side, you jump and spin 270 degrees counterclockwise and land with your legs crossed in such a way that the left leg is crossed in front of the right leg (if you were looking down at your feet then that is the way your legs should be crossed).

* Ally-oop Unity and Savannah
Also keep in mind doing a Unity or Savannah ally-oop make them look differently. An ally-oop unity is the same as a unity but moving the opposite direction. For example, if you taped someone doing a unity and played it backwards they would be doing an ally-oop unity.

270 ally-oop backside unity = backside savannah

Soul Tricks:

* Soul - It is one of the most basic sole based grinds done using both feet. The leading foot is placed on the object in the frontside position (with the toe of the skate pointing towards the object) and the trailing foot is placed in the soul position (with a soul plate resting on the object).
Picture Video
* Topsoul - A variation of the soul grind. Topsoul is the name given to a soul done topside
Picture
* Torque Soul - A variation of the soul grind. A Torque Soul is a grind similar to the Soul grind, the only difference being that the leading foot is placed in the 'torque' position, with the outside of the boot touching the object and bending inwards.
Picture
* Soyale - A variation of the sole grind. This trick is an ally-oop torque soul.
Picture
* Acid- A variation of the soul grind. In an Acid grind the front foot is in a backside royale position and the trailing foot is in the soul position.
Video
* X-Grind - Another variation of the soul grind. One foot is placed in the soul position and the other foot is placed in the topsoul position.
Picture
* Mizou - This trick is a sole based trick done using both feet. The leading foot is placed in the sole position (with a sole plate resting on the object) and the trailing foot is placed in the backside position with the "H" block resting on the object.
Picture Video
* Kindgrind - A variation of the mizou grind. This trick is an ally-oop topside mizou.
Picture
* Mistral - A variation of the mizou grind. When in a mistral grind, the trailing foot is bent to slide on the backslide plate.
* Misfit - A variation of the mistral grind. The misfit is an ally-oop topside mistral.
Picture
* Sweatstance - A variation of the mizou. A sweatstance is a topside mizou.
* Pornstar - The front foot is place in the soul position and the other leg is wrapped around the back of the front leg so the skate boot rests on the backside plate.
Picture Video

1 Footed Tricks:

* Makio- The makio is a sole based trick and is done on only one foot. The other foot is usually grabbed with a hand, but it can be performed 'freestyle', where the other foot is not held. The Makio is one of the oldest tricks in Aggressive Skating and can be done using either the left or right foot.
Picture
* Fishbrain - When the Makio is done topside it is referred to as a 'Fishbrain'. The name 'Fishbrain' was coined after the early Aggressive Inline skater 'Tom Fry', who was nicknamed 'Fishbrain'.
Picture Video
* Backslide - The Backslide is a grind done sliding on the back foot only. The skate slides on the h-block and the backslide plate. The Backslide is similar to the Royale, just without the leading foot.
Picture
* Pudslide - The Pudslide is one of the newer grinds used in Aggressive Skating, it can be very similar to a Farfegnugen without the leading foot. Only the trailing skate is used to slide and it is bent opposite from a Backslide, so the foot is angled with the direction of motion. This move has been popularized by skaters such as Chris Farmer and Dustin Latimer. The Pudslide is sometimes referred to as a Wondergrind.
Picture
* Fastslide- The Fastslide is very similar to the Wondergrind, but the feet change positions. The leading foot is sliding just on the h-block.
Picture
* Torque Slide- The Torque Slide is much like a Farfegnugen, but without the trailing foot. The leading skate is sliding just on the h-block and backslide plate.
Picture

Grind Variations

* Backside - Only h-block based grinds can be done Backside or Frontside, the grind is 'backside' when the skaters back is facing the object being grinded. A "Frontside" grind is actually called a "Backside" when the trick is performed in the backside variation.
* Frontside - Only h-block based grinds can be done Frontside or Backside, the grind is 'frontside' when the skaters front is facing the object being grinded.
* Farside - Any soul based grinds can be performed farside. It means to jump over to the 'far side' of the object and land in a grinding position.
* Tough - Lifting the rear of the soul foot whilst in a grind.
* Topside - Soul based grinds can be performed topside, frame ontop of the obstacle as opposed to being beside it.
Picture - Topside Acid.
* Negative - All soul based grinds can be performed 'negative'. As opposed to using the outer soul plate to grind on, the inside area of the soul plate located on the opposite side of the frame is used.
Picture
* Grabbed - When performing single-foot grinds, it is common to "grab" or hold the foot that is not involved with the grind to demonstrate control and balance. Variations can be performed on grabs as well.
* Freestyle - Only used in single foot grinds. The trick is done freestyle if the free foot is not grabbed.
* Disaster - When you jump from a distance or height to land in a grind on the obstacle, or over an obstacle, into a grind.
* Stall - Any grind can become a stall. A stall is when you don't move along the rail and stay in 1 spot. Stalling is a good way to learn new grinds.
* Rough - Lifting the front of the soul foot whilst in a grind. Eg. Rough Mizou
Picture - Rough Mizou

Spins

* Ally-oop (aka AO) - Jumping 180 degrees in toward the object and landing in a reverse grind. If the object is your right you spin to the right. If the object is on your left you spin to the left.
Video - Ally-oop Fishbrain Video - Ally-oop Soul
* Truespin (aka Truspin or just true)- Opposite spin direction of ally-oop. Jumping 180 degrees out from the object and landing in a reverse grind. If the object is on your left you will spin to the right. If the object is on your right you spin to the left. This trick is just the opposite of Ally-oop.
Video - Truespin Top Soul Video - True Kindgrind
* Inspin - Riding backwards and spinning towards the object into a grind. If the object is on your left you spin to the left. If the object is on your right you spin to the right.
* Outspin - Opposite spin direction of Inspin. Riding backwards and spinning away from the object into a grind. If the object is on your left you spin to the right. If the object is on your right you spin to the left.
* Rewind - Spinning out of a trick the opposite way you spun into the trick.
* Half Cab - The term used to describe the motion when you approach the object backwards (fakie) and jump 180 degrees to land in a grind.
Video
Video - instruction on Half Cab

* Full Cab (aka Cab) - Skating backwards toward the object and spinning a complete 360 degrees before you land to grind.
Video
* Hurricane (aka Tornado) - Jumping 360 degrees the longest (most difficult) way round from the object and landing in a forward grind. If the object is on your left you will be spinning to the right. If the object is on your right you will be spinning to the left.
Video
* 180, 270, 360, 540, 720, 900, etc... - Indicates the number of degrees you spin into a grind. A 270 royale would be a royale on a ledge on your right hand side that you spun 270 degrees clockwise into.

Switch Ups

In Aggressive Skating it is not uncommon to see skaters 'switch up' their grinds. This term means to change feet positions whilst in the motion of the total grind. There are a few aliases to certain motions that you can use to switch up.

* Budget - A budget 'switch up' is where only one foot is moved when changing between grinding positions, usually making an easier switch.
* Step over - Some grind variations can be done by stepping over one of your feet (whilst keeping it stationary). An example of this would be to go from a Soul, to a Pornstar - you would simply step over your leading foot.
* Wrap Around - Some grind switch ups can be done using a wrap around technique. A common one to see is skaters doing a Backslide Grind, and then wrapping the free foot around the grinding foot and landing in an Ally-oop Pornstar position

Grabs

* Big-0/Flying squirrel/Parachute - Both legs bent behind body, and grabbed right hand to right ankle same on left.
* Crawford - Left leg under right leg, grab left skate with left hand over right leg (or right leg under left grabbing with right hand over left leg).
* Flying Fish - Right leg forward and left leg behind, grabbing the right leg.
* Indy - A variation of any listed grab, where the feet are at an angle leading the rotation of the individual as opposed to lagging behind as traditionally performed.
* Japan - Both feet bent behind back except left foot held over the right, grabbing the right.
* Judo - Right foot behind back and left leg forward, grabbing right foot with left hand.
* Lui Kang - Leg pulled under body, held with hand from the same side, with the other leg extended out in front.
* Kung Lao/T-Bone - Similar to the Lui Kang, although the opposite hand is used to grab the foot.
* Rocket - Both legs stretched out in front whilst grabbing a foot with one hand.
* Cross Rocket - Same positioning as the Rocket, although the grabbing hand grabs the opposite foot.
* Safety - Legs tucked up under body, with either the right hand grabbing the soul plate of the right skate, or vice versa.
Video
* Stale/Stalefish - Grabbing the wheels.
* Stiffy - Similar to a Rocket, with legs skewed to one side.
* Unity - Both feet crossed, usually held with the right hand.
* Buddhagrab - cross legs and grab both like a buddha.
* Stale Japan - left leg behind the right leg and grab with right hand the right leg, or vice versa.
* Cannonball - like safety, only both soul plates are grabbed.
* Mute - both feet tucked up underneath you with your left hand grabbing your right skate or your right hand grabbing your left skate.
Picture

Aerial

* Abstract- Crossing the legs underneath the body.
Video
* Shifty - Like an abstract, this is not essentially a grab, but the body is twisted to one side and then straightened out when coming down to land.
Video
* Ally-oop - Airing across a ramp the opposite direction you are spinning. Example: Spinning to your left (counter clock wise) while airing to the right (beginning on the left end of the ramp and landing on the right end).
* Backflip - Spinning head over heels, spinning backwards.
* Berani Flip - A 180 Frontflip off a ramp. (as opposed to the mctwist in the halfpipe)
* Bio- Spinning parallel to the floor.
Video
* Brainless - 540 Backflip.
* Corkscrew - Spinning horizontally through the air, in the same plane as a bio spin, the head or feet lead, and the spin, hence the name, has the same motion of a corkscrew being turned.
* Flatspin - Most popular on vert but it can also be done over a spine or launch box. It can be thought of as a backflip done on the side, parallel to the floor.
Video
* Frontflip - Spinning head over heels, spinning forwards.
* Inverted - Any spin that is done upside down in the air.
* Hot Flip - A sideways flip similar to what is often called a 'Barrel Roll'.
* McTwist - 180 Frontflip in a halfpipe.
* Misty Flip - where you turn 90 degrees and sideflip then turn another 90 degrees so you land backwards.
Video
* Vile - Off-axis Bio.

Cess Slides

A Cess slide is a trick performed in the sport of aggressive skating. The trick is performed by sliding on the frame and soul plate, or the sides of your skates so the wheels aren't touching the ground. Almost any grind can be converted into a cess slide. You can think of a cess slide as grind on a flat surface instead of a rail or ledge. Cess slides are best used in combination with other tricks. Try cess sliding into or out of grinds or other tricks.

Here are some examples of cess slides.

* 720 hurricane cess slide
* Savannah cess
* Royale cess
* More cess slides

!!!! Warning !!!! - If it isn't obvious to you by watching the videos, cess sliding a lot will quickly wear out your skates.

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