After Skater XL players figure out how to ollie and do flip tricks, the next step is grinding rails and ledges. Grinding may seem straightforward, but new players often have trouble getting on rails successfully. Compared to games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Skater XL grinds can be tricky, but players can use certain techniques to make the process easier.
Depending on the height, length, and slope of the grindable rail or ledge in Skater XL, players will need to approach it differently. For instance, a flat rail close to the ground requires they be pointed in a direction heading parallel to the rail; ollieing while moving forward and landing on a flat rail will initiate a grind. However, if trying to grind a handrail, players need to approach it at close to a 45-degree angle.
Players will need to experiment with different run-ups to find the best position for each rail and ledge. Approaching too parallelly can lead to bailing, and approaching too perpendicularly can cause the player to bail or to accidentally do a lip trick. Taking a diagonal approach gives the board more room to land.
How To Grind Rails & Ledges In Skater XL
There are several base grinds players can learn in Skater XL. The following tips should help in successfully performing each grind type.
- Boardslide: Approach the rail and turn the board 90 degrees, grinding the middle of it along the rail to do a boardslide.
- Lipslide: Turn the opposite way and pull the back foot over the rail to do a lipslide on the middle of the board.
- 50-50: Approach almost parallel to the rail. Both trucks must be on the rail to do a 50-50 grind, so players may need to pull their back foot toward the rail to get both on.
- 5-0/Salad: Approach almost parallel to the rail and bring the back foot backward when the trucks are over it. Pulling the back foot too soon can cause the back truck to clip the rail.
- Nosegrind: Approach at close to a 45-degree angle. Pull the front foot directly upward when the front truck is over the rail to nosegrind.
- Crooked: Approach at close to a 45-degree angle. Pull the front foot a bit inward to do a crooked grind.
- Tailslide/Noseslide: Approach the rail as closely to horizontal as possible. Players still need to me moving forward, but it is easier to lock into a tailslide or noseslide at a more perpendicular angle. Don’t ollie too high; keep both trucks from going over the rail, as these grinds only involve the nose or tail of the board.
- Bluntslides: Approach the rail at a similar angle to noseslides and tailslides. This time, get both trucks over, doing a tailslide or noseslide on the opposite side of the rail.
Bluntslides are possibly the hardest grind in Skater XL. Since players must ollie over the rail or ledge and lock into the grind on the opposite side, it’s easy to miss the rail or ledge entirely. Slamming down the back or front foot decisively once both trucks are on the opposite side of the object will ensure the grind is locked in with force.
Skater XL is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.