How to Master the Knee Slide in Skateboarding

The knee slide skateboard maneuver is when a skateboarder intentionally lands on their knee pads and slides down a vert ramp to a flat surface. Sliding on your knees allows you to safely bail out of a trick and control your fall. It’s essential to master the knee slide before you head to the skatepark.

Learning to do a knee slide is essential if you’re new to skateboarding. It’s especially important if you want to try vert skating or pool skating, as opposed to street skating.

1. 1. Secure your knee pads. They should fit snugly over your knees without constricting blood flow in your legs. To test them out, drop to your knees to ensure that they fit comfortably and can absorb the impact of a fall.
2. 2. Test out a knee slide on a flat surface. With your knee pads on, run a short distance, then drop to your knees and slide. Keep your weight evenly distributed between your knees and feet, and steady yourself by leaning back.
3. 3. Test out a knee slide on a vert ramp or swimming pool. When bailing out at the height of a vert ramp, either toss your board or hold it out at your side to avoid getting tangled up with it as you fall. Slide on your knee pads to the bottom of a ramp.
4. 4. Always land with your knees in front of you. Bend your knees, position them under you, and lean back slightly to avoid falling forward on your face. Alternatively, you can take one step on the transition while coming down before entering into your knee slide to absorb some of the impact.

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