Backside Smith Grind

also known as: Back Smith · Monty Grind

grind streetparkvert difficulty 6/10
⚑ Report an issue ✎ Propose an edit

Sign in to add this trick to your list.

roll 0° yaw 0° pitch 0° body 0°
surface obstacle

Shown for a regular-footed rider. Teal ring + arrow = the rider's facing direction; teal band = the tail; a dot is where a hand holds the board - bright yellow for the front hand, amber for the back one, which is the whole difference between a mute and an indy. Board and rider rotate independently - each follows its own component. Drag to orbit.

How it works

The back truck grinds while the nose dives down along the near face of the obstacle, the deck's heel-side rail pressing against the corner between the trucks - a three-point wedge of hanger, deck rail, and front-foot pressure that gives the smith its locked-in feel. Approached with the ledge behind the heels, the front foot pushes the nose down and slightly toward the near side while the back foot keeps the rear axle loaded; the deck rail sliding on the corner adds friction, so the lock trades speed for stability. Exiting means lifting the nose back over the edge before unweighting off the back truck.

Step by step

  1. Approach with the obstacle on your heel side at a shallow angle with good speed.
  2. Ollie in as if for a 5-0, but keep the front end low.
  3. Land the back truck on the edge and immediately push the nose down along the near face, letting the heel-side deck rail seat against the corner.
  4. Weight splits roughly 60/40 back-to-front: rear axle carries you, front foot maintains the downward wedge.
  5. Grind with knees deeply bent, front knee driven inward over the toes to hold the angle.
  6. To exit, lift the nose level with a sharp front-foot pull, unweight, and pop off the back truck to flat.

Body mechanics

Front footBehind the front bolts pressing the nose down and toward the near face; it creates and holds the smith wedge.
Back footOn the tail with steady pressure over the grinding truck; also the pop for the exit.
ShouldersSquare to the obstacle, dipped slightly toward the nose.
ArmsFront arm low, tracing the ledge; back arm raised behind for pitch balance.
GazeLock-in spot, then just past the front truck where the deck rail rides the corner.