---
title: Side Slide
seo_title: How to do a side slide on a wakeboard
skill: do a side slide
tags: [surface]
switch: true
image: 11-side-slide.mp4
image_source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1e2Dt8WN4
image_credit: Shaun Murray
image_credit_url: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEO3Li9O64abJD8jQwCXSKA
image_title: "How To Side Slide Wakeboarding"
image_clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1e2Dt8WN4?3:12.00-3:18.00
authors: []
prerequisite: [full-round, switch-riding]
published: 2026-04-12
---

A side slide is a controlled sideways drift on flat water. While riding, turn the board 90 degrees so it's perpendicular to your direction of travel and slide across the surface. It looks simple, but it teaches two things you'll use forever: finding the balance point between your heel and toe edge, and keeping the handle locked at your hip through a rotation. Every surface spin and every box trick is built on this.

Start it by gently pressing through the balls of your feet as you rotate your hips. The board pivots, and the water does the rest. Don't force it. Side slides that come from the upper body will always wash out.

Drill it in both regular and [switch](/wakeboarding/switch-riding) stances once you can ride [full rounds](/wakeboarding/full-round) cleanly.

Learn more here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1e2Dt8WN4

*[Shaun Murray](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEO3Li9O64abJD8jQwCXSKA) · [How To Side Slide Wakeboarding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1e2Dt8WN4)*

## Key tips

- Initiate with your hips, not your upper body
- Keep the handle close to your center
- Flex your knees to stay balanced during the slide
- Practice both heelside and toeside slide positions