Backside grind in aggressive inline skating: frontside as prerequisite, build-up in stages, protection and risk data. No body-position instruction, with coach.
The honest answer up front: the backside grind is the counterpart to the frontside grind: you slide across the obstacle, but with your back to the obstacle. That is how the scene describes it; the definition comes from scene descriptions and was not checked against a primary source, because there are no peer-reviewed technique studies on individual grinds. In plain words: what you need about the execution, you get from an experienced skater or coach, not from a text. This guide describes build-up, protection and risk, not body position.
What research does show is the risk. In a field study of 66 aggressive skaters, medical treatment was needed on average 1.4 times per skater per year, about one injury per 586 skating hours; knee, shin and ankle were affected more often. Only 32% wore complete protective gear [1]. And a review names even experienced skaters trying new tricks as at risk [3].
For biomechanics there is a pilot study of a frontside grind with ten skaters: vertical impact force fell with experience, and in stalls it was lower when the knee was more flexed [4]. That is TRANSFER: the study concerns the frontside, not the backside, and ten men are few. But it speaks for bending the knees on landing instead of standing stiff.
How hard is it? That cannot be put in weeks across the board. There is no study on it. In experience terms you only learn backside once frontside sits cleanly several times.
These steps describe build-up and milestones, not the body position at the obstacle. How feet, weight and gaze are set in the backside is shown to you live by your companion.
You skate frontside cleanly several times in the same way, ride fakie securely and wear complete protective gear (practice standard). Milestone: three clean frontsides in a row on a low box.
Roll up to the obstacle without grinding. Check height, surface and runout. In the backside you usually do not see the end of the obstacle because your back is turned (practice classification), so memorize length and exit beforehand.
With a companion you practice the target position at the low obstacle, without speed, without height.
The first attempts are short and controlled. More knee flexion on landing went with lower impact force in the pilot study [4]. Milestone: three short, clean contacts in a row (as judged by your companion).
Make the grind longer only when the short one sits. A slippery or wobbling obstacle is a reason to stop.
Narrower surfaces raise fall risk. Switch only when the box is boring (practice).
Film yourself from the side and from behind and look only at knee flexion on landing: do you go softly into the knees or stay stiff? In the pilot study greater knee flexion went with lower impact force [4]. Then count how many of 10 attempts you hit cleanly and write the number down.
A grind across the obstacle with your back to the obstacle, the counterpart to the frontside grind. The description comes from the scene and was not checked against a primary source.
A secure frontside grind and secure fakie riding, with complete protective gear.
In a field study of 66 skaters there was one medically treated injury per 586 hours, and only 32% wore complete protective gear [1].
There is no reliable figure. Only when frontside sits cleanly several times is backside a sensible next step.
Royale Grind: A Pro Trick in the Park, Build-Up, Protection and Honest Limits