List of grinds (inline skating)

Grinds are central to a more aggressive form of inline skating that requires balance, agility and strength to execute tricks. Grinds favor lighter aggressive skaters with more technical footing which is why they are the starting point for most beginners. In competitions, participants are judged on their ability to execute creative combinations and variations as well as being able to integrate the grinds into lines or hammers which usually involve larger, riskier, technical tricks. If you want to get creative, use all of your resources: environment, trick vocabulary, and style. Here is a list of every trick in its base form and every variation that can be done to it. The possibilities are endless.

Sole Based Grinds

Makio

A trick for beginners and pros alike, a simple one-footed sole grind. The skater grinds with his/her sole foot on the obstacle and grabs the other foot or lets it hang (freestyle makio). Beginners usually start with the makio because it allows the skater to keep the non-sole foot on the ground until he/she is comfortable to grind with both feet.

Rokio

a rocket grabbed makiosono

cappucino-espresso-machiato

a makio with a under-grab = sole with your right foot then sit & grab your left non grinding foot with your right hand under the rail .(M.C.D.)

Soul

The back foot rests on the soulplate and the front foot slides on the h-block, pointing toward the obstacle.

Mad Sole

A sole grind with the front foot grabbed

Kool grind

a sole grind with the front foot rolling on the heel wheel.

Unkool grind

a soul grind with the front foot rolling on the toe wheel.(M.C.D.)

Acid

'Acid' refers to the direction the non-soul foot is pointing. In a traditional soul grind, the front (non-soul) foot is pointing toward the obstacle. However, in acid soul position, the front foot is point away from the obstacle. Most people do not use the 'acid' modifier when referring to a trick. For example, a pornstar is an acid miszou while a miszou is an acid pornstar. A soul could technically be called an acid acid soul. Because of this redundancy, 'acid' or 'acid soul' only means grinding with the back foot resting on the soul plate and front foot sliding on the h-blocks, pointed away from the obstacle.

Mizou

The soul foot is in front and the trailing foot rests on the h-block, pointing away from the obstacle.

Pornstar

A pornstar is an acid miszou, or grind in which the soul foot is in front and the trailing foot is pointing toward the obstacle. In the past around these were done only backward but now it is common for pornstars to be done forward. Backward pornstars are either alley-oop or truespin pornstars.

Sidewalk

a sit down pornstar , front foot on soul plate & back foot on the laces with the knee below the grinding surface .

Pier Slide

a pornstar with the back foot rolling on the toe wheel.(M.C.D.)

Ocean Slide

A Pier Slide with the back foot rolling on the heel wheel. the rolling foot's laces are against the back of the soul foot's cuff while grinding.(M.C.D.)

Teakettle

A Rough Pornstar. ( see rough )

50%

a Pornstar with the back foot skate laying completely flat ( boot & cuff grinding ) on the ledge with the toe pointing forward.

X-Grind

There are actually two variants of the X-grind. X-grinds are done on the souls of both skates. X can be done either with the regular foot topside, trailing the switch foot, or the regular foot trailing the topside switch foot. The trick gets its name from the X-shape both frames make when viewed head-on.

Duck Hunt

Rough and Tough X-Grind.

H grind

Grinding on both negative soul plates. ( most often on a narrow ledge or square rail with each negative soul on opposite sides of the grinding surface )

Torque Soul

A forward Soyale. The torque soul combines the fahrvergnügen ('farv, or simply full-torque) and the soul grind. The trailing foot is placed on the soul while the leading foot is placed on the backslide plate. Both feet are nearly touching each other.

Mistrial

The sister to the miszou is the mistrial. The basic stance is similar but in the mistrial position the back foot is resting on the backslide plate and not the h-block. Both feet should be close together to aid in balancing. also called a "Meow"

Kazoo

an alley oop mistrial

Citric Acid

Wrapping the leading foot around the back of the soul foot and placing it in front in an acid position. This trick is very unnatural and has been found to be a little easier when done negative.

Stub Soul

A soul Grind with the front foot grinding on the negative soul plate .

Snub Soul

Grinding on the soul plates with both feet, with heels facing each other.

Biscuit

Grinding on the soul plates with both feet, with toes facing each other.

Tender Tear

a sidewalk grind with the back foot & knee in reverse . front foot on soul & tuck the back knee inwards onto the ledge with back foot hanging off the ledge .

H-Block Grinds

Frontside

One of two beginner grinds, the other being the soul; the frontside is a grind performed on the h-blocks. The skater spins 90° and lands in the space between the middle wheels, with both feet facing the obstacle.

Backside

The skater spins 90° and slides perpendicular to the obstacle with his/her back turned to the obstacle.

Royale

Like the Frontside, this grind is done with the skater's back foot resting on a special area called the 'backslide plate' or 'royale groove'. The skater bends his/her knees and shifts his/her weight backward whilst leaning forward to form the letter "C" with his/her body.

Fahrvergnügen

Fahrvergnügen, Farhve, Nugen, or Full-Torque grinds are like royales except they slide the opposite direction. The skater spins 90° and slides perpendicular to the obstacle, but the front foot is sliding on the backslide plate and has nearly all the weight placed on it. The skater leans his/her body backward while bending and pointing knees forward to form a backwards "C" with his/her body. The word 'Fahrvergnügen' is German for "driving pleasure" and stems from the fact that while it is such an unusual, and unnatural grind, it is also one of the most stylish grinds in aggressive skating. Also known as alley-oop/negative/reverse royale; even though h-block tricks have nothing to do with souls and cannot be done alley-oop, nor can they be done on the negative side of the soul plate.

Darkslide

an acid royale - a royale with the front foot turned acid (a backside darkslide is more natural feeling)

Fignuten

An opposite acid royale. back foot in a royale and the front foot is twisted inward to a backside royale.(M.C.D.)

Unity

Crossed legs on both backslide plates with the leading foot wrapped around the front.

Savannah

An alley-oop or backwards unity - Crossed legs on both backslide plates with the leading foot wrapped around the back . Also called a Savage.

Cowboy

Sliding a torque and backslide at the same time without crossing your legs.(it looks like you are riding a horse) Also known as a cab driver

U.F.O.

Bending inward with the knees drastically while doing a Frontside or Backside.

Slash stance

a frontside or backside grind with your feet spread wide apart

Byn Soul

Turning the soul foot on a Soul grind into a torque.

Tabernacle

A frontside grind with the front foot in a backside royale or acid. ( acid frontside grind ) Also known as a Bitch Slap or Nasty Grind.

Neighborhood

a backside alley oop tabernacle - go to do an alley oop mizou but turn your soul foot to acid/torque

Jervanah

Rotating the soul foot on a Citric Acid one step further in the difficult direction. It has only been seen done once by a John Goodman on YouTube. That's the only reason it's even listed on here.

Backslide

A one-footed royale. The skater slides with only his/her back foot resting on the edge of the boot on the backslide plate/royale groove.

Torque

A alley oop backslide - one-footed Full-torque/Fahrvergnügen. The skater slides with his/her front foot resting on the backslide plate.

Fastslide

A frontside grind with just the front foot grinding on the inside or bottom of the frames H-block .

Pudslide

A alley-oop or backwards fastslide - A frontside grind with just the back foot grinding on the inside or bottom of the frames H-block . also called a "Wonder grind"

Christ

Setting your non-grinding foot on top of your grinding foot in a backslide grind position.

Acid Christ

Setting your non-grinding foot (turned to acid) on top of your grinding foot in a backslide grind position.

Anti-christ

a alley oop christ

Wheelbarrow

a royale with the front foot rolling on the heel wheeel.

Hobo

a royale with the front foot facing the back foot and rolling on the toe wheel . like a soyale with the soul foot rolling on the toe wheel instead of on the soul plate .

9 Bar

A alley oop backside Hobo. front foot in a backside torque and front foot is rolling on the toe wheel with the toe facing forward.

Big Wheel

back foot in a torque and front foot wrapped around the front and rolling on the heel wheel . ( kind of like a front foot rolling byn soul )(M.C.D.)

Backside Heel

back foot in a backside royale and front foot in a rough grind position ( see rough )

Crosswalk

A acid boardwalk. front foot is in a backside royale and the back foot is rolling on the toe wheel.

Kinda Grind

A frontside grind with the back foot rolling on the toe wheel with the toe pointing backward. ( jump like you were going to do a kind grind but have the back foot rolling on the toe wheel )(M.C.D.)

Gay Sailor

A frontside grind with the front foot rolling on the heel wheel.(M.C.D.)

Naked Sailor

A alley oop backside Gay Sailor. front foot in a backside and back foot is rolling on the heel wheel.(M.C.D.)

Tweaks and Variations

Topside

doin a soul grind variation with the frame flat on top of the ledge/rail instead of the normal soul position

Farside

Grinding the opposite side, from where you started, of an obstacle on a soul based grind.

Darkside

Coming into a ledge grind from on top of the ledge and grinding the opposite side.

Grab

Grabbing the free foot while doing a one-footed grind. You can grab it as a Plain (Safety), Cross Grab (Mute), Figure 4, Rocket, Parallel, or Stale.

Switch

Grinding in the unnatural mirrored position of a grind or spinning your unnatural direction.

Alley-Oop

Spinning towards the obstacle and locking into a grind.

Tru Spin

Spinning away from the obstacle and locking into a grind.

In-Spin

Spinning towards the obstacle from fakie and locking into a grind.

Out-Spin

Spinning away from the obstacle from fakie and locking into a grind.

Zero Spin

Jumping into a grind from fakie without spinning at all.

Illusion

Looking over the opposite shoulder of the direction you are going to spin.

Med Spin

Rotating one foot on the ground just before beginning the greater part of the trick.

Medwind

A Med Spin while then spinning the opposite direction of the initial spin.

Hurricane

Spinning a 360 away from the obstacle into a grind. ( tru spin 360 to a grind )

Sugarcane

Spinning a 360 towards the obstacle into a grind. ( alley oop 360 to a grind )

Revert

Spinning out of a grind following natural momentum.

Rewind

Spinning the opposite direction of the natural momentum set by the initial grind spin.

Switch-Up

Changing over to another grind position mid-grind.

Budget

Switching up with one foot while the other foot stays in contact with the rail.

Negative

Grinding on the inside soul plate instead of the outside soul plate.

Disaster

Gap to grind.

Rough

A variation on any soul plate based trick where you are grinding on your heel instead of your whole foot.

Hard

a topside rough variation - a "hardgrind" is a sweatstance with the front topside foot angeled out just grinding on the back part of the frame and heel of the soul plate .

Tough

A variation on any soul plate based trick where you are grinding on your toe instead of your whole foot. if done with a soyale its called a "AWOL"

Christ

Setting your non-grinding foot on top of your grinding foot.

Taps and Bonks

Knocking another obstacle with a free foot on purpose while grinding or gapping something.

Thread the Needle

Cross grabbing one foot and then jumping the other foot through the hole while maintaining the grab. Can be done with Gaps and Grinds.

Shifty

Pretending to go one way on take-off by twisting the body one direction then going the very opposite direction.

Transfer

Jumping over to another obstacle mid-grind.

Topside Grind Names

Sweatstance

Topside Mizou.

Kind Grind

Alley-Oop Topside Mizou.

Helicopter

A truspin kind grind .

Misfit

Alley-Oop Topside Mistrial.

Fishbrain

Topside Makio.

Fishbone

topside rocket grabbed makio

Cloudy Night

Alley-Oop Topside Pornstar.

Sunnyday

topside porn

Training Wheel

back foot is in a topside soul and the front foot is rolling on the heel wheel. also called a "Deadfish"

Boardwalk

front foot is topside and the back foot is rolling on the toe wheel

The Dagger

Out-Spin Sweatstance.

The Sword

Out-Spin Fishbrain.

Dark Chocolate

A topside Chocolate. ( see Chocolate )(M.C.D.)

H-block grind variation names

Cabbage

270 Savannah. Not from fakie.

Pretzel Wrap

270 Unity. Not from fakie.

Frankenfarhve

Parallel Grabbed Farhve.

Ty-Fighter

Parallel Grabbed Royale.

Grabs

Safety

Curling up like a cannonball and grabbing the outside soul plate on the same side.

Mute

Curling both legs to one side and crossing one hand over the front of both skates and grabbing the opposite outside soul plate.

Indy

a unnatural or switch mute

Fly Fish

it looks like a rocket fishbrain in the air

Method

Throwing both legs backwards bending at the knees and grabbing the main body of the boot.

Rocket

Extending both legs out straight and crossing one hand over the front of both legs and grabbing the opposite outside soul plate.

Soul Grab

Curling both legs to one side and grabbing the outside soul plate on the same side.

Stale

Curling both legs to one side and grabbing the underside of the skate through the backside.

Japan Stale

A Stale grab but straighten out the top ungrabbed leg to the side.

Judo

A Stale Japan but straighten the ungrabbed leg to the front. ( one leg is an ungrabbed rocket and the other leg is a stale grab )

That Grab

Curling both legs to one side and grabbing the frame of the opposite skate. like a mute but grab the frame instead of the laces area.

Liu Kang

Safety Grab on one foot while the other leg is fully extended. looks better when the ungrabbed foot is kicked out fast and returned to bent.

Kung Lao

A Liu Kang with a downward kick and then curling under the grabbed foot.

Bruce Lee

Extending one leg outwards with the other foot folding under the extended leg, grabbing it on the other side.

Abstract

Crossing your legs during air time with no grab. looks like a unity grind in the air

Genie

A Abstract grabbing each side of the skates.

Parallel

The same as a Mute Grab except the forearm must run parallel with the outside leg's shin.

Other Tricks and Tweaks

Cess Slide

Sliding on the boot usually across the top of a ledge instead of the edge of it. Can be done in a variety of grind positions.

Sailboat

A one footed cess slide off of a ramp into a obstacle or wall.

Manual

Rolling on only the heel or toe wheel of your skate.

Monkey Plant

Planting over an obstacle using your hand.

Monkey Flip

Planting a hand on an obstacle in the middle of a bio 360. looks better when you go more than bio but not as much as a front flip.

Gap

Jumping from one place to another, usually over a defined obstacle. Can be done with Grabs, Spins, Corks, Bios, and Flips as well.

Wall Ride

Rolling on a wall mid-jump. Can also be done with Grabs and Spins.

Stall

Locking into a grind position without sliding.