The crooked grind — often written “k-grind” — is one of the most stylish tricks in street skating and a rite of passage on ledges. It is essentially a nosegrind with the nose turned into the ledge so the underside of the nose drags alongside the front truck. That extra contact point makes it feel locked and planted, but getting into it cleanly is the challenge. This guide covers the stance, the angled entry, how to hold the lock, and the errors that cause the front truck to slip out.
What a Crooked Grind Is
In a crooked grind, you grind on the front truck like a nosegrind, but the board is angled so the nose points slightly into the obstacle and the underside of the nose skims along the top edge. Two things are touching the ledge: the front truck and the nose. The tail is up and the back truck is off. The name comes from that “crooked,” angled-in position of the board.
Because the nose is dragging, a crooked grind naturally slows you down more than a nosegrind, and it has a very distinct locked-in feel. Most skaters learn it right after the nosegrind and 5-0.
Setup
- Ledge: Shin-to-knee-height, well waxed, with a clean square edge. The crooked grind needs the nose to slide, so wax both the top surface and the top corner of the ledge.
- Deck: A defined nose that is not badly worn locks in and slides far better. A rounded, chewed nose skips instead of gliding.
- Trucks: Any grind-worthy trucks work. If yours are brand new and grippy, a few sessions of grinding or a rub of wax on the hanger helps.
How to Crooked Grind, Step by Step
- Approach with more angle than a nosegrind. Come at the ledge at around 30 to 40 degrees. That angle is what puts the nose into the ledge instead of parallel to it.
- Ollie toward the edge. Pop a small ollie and aim the front truck at the top corner of the ledge, with the nose slightly ahead pointing into the surface.
- Land front truck and nose together. As you set down, the front truck catches the edge and the underside of the nose lands on the top surface. Lift the tail.
- Drive your weight over the front foot and slightly toward the ledge. The lock comes from pressing the nose down into the surface. Your front knee bends and moves over the nose; your shoulders stay fairly level with a slight turn toward the ledge.
- Keep the back foot high and quiet. Any pressure on the tail pulls you out of the crook and into a nosegrind or a slip-out.
- Ride out. As the grind slows near the end of the ledge, straighten the board by turning the nose back parallel, level it out, drop the back wheels, and roll away. A pop-out is an option once you are comfortable.
Why Your Crooked Grind Slips Out
Not Enough Angle
If you approach almost straight, the nose never engages the surface and you just get a wobbly nosegrind that slides off. The angled approach is the single most important ingredient.
Weight on the Tail
Like every front-truck trick, carrying weight back unweights the nose. The crooked grind is even less forgiving because the nose has to stay pressed into the ledge to keep the lock. Commit forward.
Turning Too Much
Over-rotating the board into the ledge digs the nose in hard, kills all your speed, and stops you dead. You want the nose just into the surface — a shallow angle, not a hard dig.
Looking Down
Watching the truck drops your head and shoulders and destabilizes the lock. Eyes at the end of the ledge.
Progression and Combos
Start on a short, low ledge and just try to feel the lock for a foot or two. Add length, then speed, then height. Once it is dialed, the crooked grind opens up crooked grind pop-outs, crook shove-its, and crooked grind to nosegrind combos. It also pairs naturally with the noseslide for lines down a long ledge. If you skate ledges regularly, a good crook is one of the highest-value tricks you can own. For dialing in your setup for ledge tech, our truck buyer’s guide is worth a read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a crooked grind and a nosegrind?
A nosegrind is on the front truck only, board parallel to the ledge. A crooked grind adds an angled-in nose so the underside of the nose drags on the top surface alongside the front truck. The crook feels more planted and slows you more.
Why does the crooked grind slow me down so much?
Because the nose is dragging on the surface in addition to the truck. That extra friction is normal. Carry a little more speed into it than you would for a nosegrind.
Is the crooked grind harder than the 5-0?
Generally yes. It needs a more precise angled entry and a firmer forward commitment to keep the nose engaged. Most skaters land 5-0s and nosegrinds before their first clean crook.
Do I need a nose bump or is a flat nose fine?
A standard concave popsicle nose is fine. What matters is that it is not badly worn flat and rounded. A defined edge slides; a chewed one skips.
Can I crooked grind a rail?
Yes, on a flat bar, but it is significantly harder than on a ledge because the nose has less surface to press against. Learn it on ledges first.
