Boardslide vs. Lipslide — What's the Difference?

In a boardslide, the skateboarder approaches the rail and jumps, landing the middle of their skateboard directly on the rail, with the board perpendicular to it. The trick can be performed with either the front or back trucks leading. In contrast, a lipslide requires the skateboarder to ollie high enough to lift the tail of the skateboard over the rail, landing the middle of the board on the rail from the opposite side.

While performing a boardslide, the skateboarder's body typically faces down the rail, with their feet positioned to balance the board as it slides across. On the other hand, in a lipslide, the skateboarder must rotate slightly to get the tail over the rail, making it necessary to manage a more complex body rotation during the trick.

Boardslides can be executed on both the frontside (where the rail is in front of the skateboarder’s leading shoulder) and backside (where the rail is behind the skateboarder’s leading shoulder). Lipslides, however, require more precision because the skateboarder must clear the rail with the tail of the board first, adding an element of difficulty.

A boardslide is generally considered less risky compared to a lipslide because the skateboarder does not have to maneuver the tail over the rail. This makes boardslides a more common choice for beginners learning slides on rails. Lipslides pose a greater challenge due to the need for higher ollies and more precise control.

Both tricks are staples in street skateboarding and are judged on factors such as the smoothness of the slide, the length of the rail, and the skateboarder’s exit from the slide, though the lipslide typically scores higher in competitions due to its complexity.