50-50

The 50-50 is the basic trick on rails and boxes: you ride straight onto the feature with the board lined up along it and slide all the way to the end. No spins, no weird angles: just you, the board, and the rail. It’s your first step into the park and the base for every other trick on features (rails, boxes, and the other park obstacles).

How to Do It

1. Ride at the rail straight on, lined up with its length, at a moderate, steady speed. Always come in head-on, never from the side.
2. Do a small ollie to get on. You don’t need much pop: just enough to get up onto the feature.
3. Once you’re on the rail, keep the board parallel to it, your base flat, and your weight even over both feet.
4. Look at the end of the rail, where you want to go. Keep your knees slightly bent and your arms out for balance.
5. At the end of the rail, ollie off or just let the board slide off. Land soft.

Common Mistakes

• Coming in from the side: if you approach the rail at an angle, it’s almost impossible to get on it straight. Always come in head-on.
• Weight on your heels or toes: on the rail your weight has to stay neutral and centered, with a flat base. Lean on an edge and you’ll slide off sideways.
• Looking down: balance starts with your head. Eyes on the end of the rail, not on your feet.

Progression

The 50-50 opens up the whole park. From here you can learn the Boardslide (the board turned 90° on the rail), the Nose Press on a Rail to add style, and then all the more technical slides and grinds.