50-50
aka Boardslide 50-50
The first jib. Ride straight onto a box with your board parallel to it, balance flat-base, and slide right off the end. Every rail trick starts here.
The Breakdown
Four phases from roll-up to roll-away. Scrub the analyzer above — each phase lights up as the board hits it.
- 01 Approach
Square up to the feature
Pick a low, wide box and approach it dead straight with your board pointed down the lane, parallel to the rail. Keep a calm, steady speed — enough to clear the whole feature without stalling. Stay centered over the board with knees soft and eyes on the end of the box, not your feet.
- 02 Ollie On
Pop onto the lip
As your nose reaches the start of the box, pop a small flat ollie to lift the board onto the surface. You barely need height — just enough to set the base down flat instead of catching the leading edge. Land both feet evenly so the board sits parallel along the top.
- 03 Slide Flat
Ride it flat-base
Once you are on, keep the board completely flat — no toe or heel edge — and stack your weight straight over your bindings. Resist the urge to look down; staring at the nose tips your shoulders and steers you off the side. Keep your hips quiet and let the board carry you across.
- 04 Ride Off
Off the end clean
Ride straight off the end of the box and let the nose drop into the landing. Absorb the small drop with bent knees and keep the base flat until your edges re-engage the snow. Roll away pointing the same direction you came in — done.
When It Goes Wrong
The most common ways 50-50 bails — and the fix. Diagnose your slam, then get back on.
Why does my board catch and stop dead on the box?
You are riding an edge instead of a flat base. The toe or heel edge bites the box lip and stalls you. Press both feet down evenly to keep the base perfectly flat, and trust it — a flat base slides, an edge grabs.
I keep sliding off the side of the box.
Your shoulders are twisting, usually because you are looking down at your feet. Keep your eyes locked on the far end of the box and your shoulders parallel to it. Center your weight over both bindings instead of leaning into the heel or toe side.
I wash out the moment I land on the rail.
You are coming in too slow or too crooked. Approach faster and dead straight so the board is already parallel before you pop on. A confident flat-base landing is far more stable than a tentative, edged one.
I'm scared to commit to the box.
Start on a wide flat box that is close to the snow, not a skinny rail. Sessions on a low box let you bail safely by simply stepping off. Lock the straight 50-50 there before you take it anywhere higher or narrower.
The 50-50 is the first real jib — and like the ollie on flat, everything in the rail garden is built on it. Boardslides, lipslides, presses and 270-ons all start by getting your base flat and balanced on top of a feature. Learn to trust a flat base here and the whole rails-and-boxes side of the park opens up.
Keep it boring on purpose. A clean, straight 50-50 you can ride off the end without looking down is worth more than ten sketchy attempts on something gnarlier. Dial it on a low, wide box, then start eyeing the skinnier stuff.
Dial In Your Setup
Gear that makes this trick easier to learn. Tune the setup, not just the technique.
True-twin park board
152–158cm · medium flex
A twin shape with a centered stance rides switch as easily as regular, which matters the second you start jibbing. Medium flex is forgiving on press and won't buck you off the box.
Shop boards & gearDetuned edges
Dulled tip & tail contact points
Detuning the edges near the nose and tail keeps them from catching the box lip on entry. A shop or a deburring stone takes the bite off so flat-base slides stay flat.
Shop boards & gearPark-flex boots
Soft–medium flex
Softer boots let you feel the board flatten out underfoot and make subtle balance corrections on the rail. Stiff freeride boots fight you when you're trying to stay loose and centered.
Shop boards & gearAffiliate links may earn nollie.zone a commission — never changes your price.
Stack Your Clip
Landed 50-50? Soon you'll drop your line here and battle the crew for the top of the board.