This is some what of personal opinion, although I feel strongly on the matter It really doesn't matter so much.......well at least it matter to me, so sit back and enjoy the next god knows how long of my very twisted and subjective opinion...RB xx.

During what some would come to call the golden era of skateboarding, a dispute started that to this day I cannot get my head around....the case of the over crook.

Some say this mythical beast was just that, a myth, stuff of legend.

Some revelled in the glory that was a new trick for none but the most gnarly.

Others set out to corrupt the world with their (cough cough wrong) view of the subtle and graceful Over crook.

Now I'm no big rail skater....But I know what's right and what's total bs....and I don't mean back side.

we all know there is no such thing as a fakie full cab, that nollie fs and fs are totally different, and that if you pop in fakie....the trick is a fakie...none of this fake ollie to switch five O nonsense now!

Some facts though are undisputed, things like if you dont extend your front foot when kick flipping then its mob...Mongo is abhorrent especially switch! and if you touch during a manual Weck will EVENTUALLY get you.

The argument stems from two tricks, and what I believe is a miss understanding of basic board physics.

the typical point come across that an Overcrook doesn't exist, due to the fact you 'have too' lock a nose grind a certain way on a handrail...this makes the trick look like it is hanging over the rail in a crooked position. 

But I don't get the 'Oh you have to lock a nose grind that way on a rail' it's nonsense and as I'm absolutely positive this will change your mind. 100% cash back guaranteed!!

I am now on a righteous path to correct the ill gotten ways of the incorrect...with examples, very good and thought out examples.

Railequette - The Quest Edge For Correctness.

This is Leo Romero.

This is a FS NOSE GRIND. the board is parallel to the rail..parallel to the rail, this is important as it is one of the most visible and easy to spot characteristics of a good nose grind, also notice that the nose of the board..how it is hovering above the rail...this is a text book fs nose grind.

 

Railequette - The Quest Edge For Correctness.

This is probably one of the gnarliest nose grinds in existence. This is Jamie Thomas

If you don't know the spot or the story behind this trick..look it up!

This is a FS NOSE GRIND. the board is parallel to the ledge..PARALLEL to the ledge, this important fact is one of the most VISIBLE AND EASY TO SPOT characteristics of a good nose grind, also notice the nose of the board..how it is hovering above the rail.

Railequette - The Quest Edge For Correctness.

Again Mr Romeo blessing us with a bs nosegrind...not fs I know but a perfect example.

  1. This is a NOSE GRIND. the board is parallel to the rail..PARALLEL to the rail, this is important as it is one of the most visible and easy to spot characteristics of a good nose grind
  2. notice the nose of the board..how it is hovering above the rail

Now for the fun bit. The 'Overcrook'

Railequette - The Quest Edge For Correctness.

This is Matt Mercer..this is either a perfect example of an Overcrook or Matt Marcer's ollies make Andrew Brophy cry at night.

  1. Notice the board at an (dare I say it..oh I dare) crooked angle.
  2. Notice the nose in contact with the rail
  3. Notice the 'pinch' on the far side of the front truck
  4. Notice that the board has to be popped OVER the rail to lock in much like a blunt or a lip slide.

Railequette - The Quest Edge For Correctness.

This is Diego Pozo. this is a beautiful shot

  1. Notice the board at an (dare I say it..oh I dare) crooked (cough cough) angle.
  2. Notice the nose in contact with the rail
  3. Notice the 'pinch' on the front truck..not quite as obvious as before but still clear enough
  4. Notice that the board has to be popped OVER the rail to lock in much like a blunt or a lip slide.

To think the two trick the same is like saying a crooked and a nose grind are the same, they are definitely not.

It's tosh, complete tosh! The very fact the truck is pinched should be reason enough to distinguish these two tricks from each other. 

The logical reason to me is that, real, proper, hovered nose grinds on handrails are probably really, really, really hard to do. I get that balancing a flat hangar on a round rail is gonna be tough, and I also understand that in essence this doesn't matter...but we're not taking about Santa, this has been one of my favourite rail tricks ever.

From personal experience crooked grinds are not that difficult and much safer as you can pinch into place and almost hold onto the rail...you can clearly see from the pinch that the trick has locked in..a true nose grind is about balance and not resting on your nose.

I stand in your defence Over Crooks!

Weck would back me up on this 100% I'm sure..get @me son!!

And so the overcook must be separated from the holy grail of hand rail heavenly goodness..the nose grind. 

It's all good though..you do you, but I'm doing overcrooks!

 

Stay rad

 #railequette

March 01, 2022 — Rupert Butcher

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