You could be the best skateboarder in the world if you could bail every trick safely. Seriously. The key to progression and the key to longevity in skateboarding is simple: stay safe so you can come back and practice again tomorrow.
But before we dive in, a quick reminder: the safest bail is the one you never have to make. Skate within your abilities, especially when learning something new. I'm a huge fan of padding up—knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, wrist guards, butt pads—whatever helps you walk away in one piece is the right call.
Bails vs. Slams
What we're talking about here are bails, not slams. A bail is when you fall almost on purpose. You see it coming and make a decision to exit the trick safely. A slam is the opposite: you're caught off guard, and the ground hits you before you can react.
The goal is to turn as many slams into bails as possible. Never let a bail become a slam.
Soft Knees: Your First Line of Defense
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is locking their knees. If your legs are stiff, and your board shoots out, you're going to go down—hard. Keep your knees soft. This allows you to:
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Jump off the board
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Lower your center of gravity
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Even just sit down instead of falling
Yes, your clothes might get dirty. Yes, you might rip your favorite pants. But it's worth it to stay safe.
The Eject Button
Every skater needs an eject button. If you feel yourself leaning too far back, jump off the board and stay on your feet. Don’t risk falling straight onto your back.
Try this: slowly roll forward and lean back. Just before falling, jump and see if you can land on your feet. Practicing this helps build the instinct.
It’s useful in all kinds of situations—someone cuts you off, you bail mid-trick, or you need to stop quickly.
The Backwards Butt Slide
Not glamorous, but incredibly effective. Slide on your backside instead of hitting the ground hard. Key points:
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Get your feet down first
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Commit to getting low
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Use your full body to spread out the impact
It hurts less than you’d think and a lot less than a slam. More surface area on the ground equals less concentrated impact.
The Forward Butt Slide
Especially useful when you’re going fast or trying high ollies. This bail is similar to the eject button, but requires you to drop into a deep squat and sit down.
Letting yourself loop out while standing tall will hurt way more than simply dropping into a slide.
The Classic Run Out
A staple bail in skateboarding. If you’re falling forward, jump off the board and start running.
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Jump to get clear of the board
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Run faster than you think you need to
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Try to stay light on your feet
This bail is common because most tricks are landed by leaning forward. When it doesn’t go as planned, a quick run out can save you.
The Forward Shoulder Slide
If a run out isn’t an option, use your side to slide. This works well when you’re not quite in a good position to stay upright.
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Drop into a low stance
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Let your momentum roll you onto your side
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Push off your feet and slide it out
It hurts a little, but it’s far better than bracing with your hands and risking wrist or shoulder injury.
The Backwards Run Out
Used most often in tricks where you end up rotating and facing backwards. It’s just like the classic run out, but in reverse.
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Jump backwards off the board
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Try to run it out in reverse
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If you’re going too fast, transition into a backwards butt slide
Real-World Bail Scenarios
Let’s talk about when to apply these bails in real skating:
Boardslides
If you’re board sliding a bump-to-bar, have a bail plan. Personally, I prefer to run it out. Staying forward gives me more control. If something goes wrong and I feel the board stick, I just jump and run it out. Better to sprint off a rail than end up falling backwards onto it.
Hips
If you’re hitting a hip feature, an eject button bail works well. Since you're already tilted forward by the ramp, you don’t want to overcommit and trip. Stay upright and bail early if it feels wrong.
Step-Ups
Going for something like a backside flip up a step-up? Plan for a backwards butt slide. If you're rotating and facing backwards, this is the safest exit.
Stair Sets
When bailing stairs, get as close to the ground as possible before impact. If you fall forward, try to run it out. If you fall backwards, drop low and slide it out. Never put your hands down. That’s how wrists get broken.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to bail is just as important as learning how to land. Practice it. Anticipate it. Don’t let your pride get in the way of staying safe.
Because the more you skate, the more you'll fall. But if you can fall well, you’ll be back on your board the next day—better, stronger, and still stoked to keep progressing.