How to Skateboard: Master Slash Grinds, Rock to Fakie, Fakie Tail Stalls & Axle Stalls

If you’re searching for how to skateboard and want to level up your skills with some stylish transition tricks, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re skating a mini ramp, bowl, or even a backyard ramp, learning these core tricks—slash grind, rock to fakie, fakie tail stall, and axle stall—will help you build confidence and style.

Below, we break down how to do each trick step-by-step, with tips to land them clean. For a full overview and a look into how to perform these and additional beginner skateboard tricks on transition, watch the video first:

🛹 How to Skateboard: Getting the Basics Down

Before diving into these intermediate tricks, make sure you're comfortable with the fundamentals:

• Dropping in

• Carving and pumping on ramps

• Maintaining balance and speed

• Kickturns 

If you’re still learning how to balance or ride comfortably, check out our beginner’s guide to how to skateboard for tips on stance, pushing, and turning.

🔥 How to Slash Grind

The slash grind is a quick, stylish grind done on the coping of a mini ramp or bowl. It’s a great intro to coping tricks because it doesn't require a full lock-in.

Steps:

1. Approach with speed at a slight angle, not straight up the ramp.

2. Pump up the transition and shift your weight toward your back foot.

3. As your front truck clears the coping, snap a carve-like turn with your shoulders.

4. Let your back truck grind briefly across the coping—no need to lock both trucks.

5. Ride it out and re-enter the ramp smoothly.

Pro Tips:

• Keep knees bent for control.

• This trick is all about timing and flow, not force.

🔁 How to Rock to Fakie

The rock to fakie is a classic ramp trick where you “rock” your board over the coping and come back in fakie (backward).

Steps:

1. Approach the ramp straight on with moderate speed.

2. Ride up until the front truck clears the coping and the center of your deck touches it.

3. Pause briefly with your board “rocking” over the coping.

4. Lean back and shift weight to your tail to pivot back into the ramp fakie.

Pro Tips:

• Commit! Coming back in fakie requires trust in your back foot.

• Practice rolling fakie before trying this trick.

🔄 How to Fakie Tail Stall

This trick blends control and balance. You’ll roll up the ramp fakie and stall with your tail on the coping.

Steps:

1. Start rolling backward (fakie) up the ramp.
   

2. Tap the tail on the coping with the nose pointed up.

3. Balance briefly, then drop back into the ramp your normal stance

Pro Tip:

• This is easier to learn on a mini ramp with mellow transition.
  

⚖️ How to Axle Stall

The axle stall is one of the most important building-block tricks in skateboarding. It teaches balance, setup for grinds, and full coping control.

Steps:

1. As you reach the coping, do a half kickturn (90-degree turn) on the back truck.

2. Land with both trucks locked on the coping, wheels on either side.

3. Balance for a second, then shift your weight to re-enter the ramp.

Pro Tips:

• Don’t rush the re-entry—stay centered and let gravity help.

• Focus on getting both trucks locked in cleanly.

Final Thoughts: Progressing in Your Skateboarding Journey

Learning how to skateboard is all about progression and confidence. Mastering these four tricks—slash grind, rock to fakie, fakie tail stall, and axle stall—will open the door to more advanced transition tricks like smith grinds, blunt stalls, and even airs.

🔑 Quick Recap:

• Slash Grind = Speed + carve motion.

• Rock to Fakie = Timing + commitment.

• Fakie Tail Stall = Control + pivot.

• Axle Stall = Balance + technique.

Ready to Shred?

Whether you're skating your local park or building your own mini ramp, these tricks will keep your sessions fun and challenging. Keep practicing, and soon these moves will feel like second nature.