50–50
Pronounced “fifty–fifty”. A type of grind, ie. a 50–50 grind. Grinding with the axles of both trucks on the edge of an object.
axle
The metal rod running through the hanger on which the wheels are screwed.
boardslide
Sliding along an object using the underside of the board.
coping
Metal piping running along the top edge of ramps.
cred
Credibility.
deck
Main platform area of a skateboard.
dissed
To be “disrespected” by another.
fakie
Riding backwards on a skateboard.
fat
Used to express a skateboarding trick that is performed over a long distance or to a great height. Also spelt “Phat”.
focus
Snapping the board into two pieces.
funbox
A platform object with banked sides used for skateboarding tricks.
gnarly
Exciting.
grind
Moving along the edge or top of an object with the axles of one or both trucks.
handplant
A form of handstand where the board is held in the air by either a hand or the feet.
hardflip
A kickflip combined with the board rotating 180 degrees.
heelflip
Flipping the board with the heel of the front foot so it spins around in the air. The board will spin in the opposite direction of the kickflip.
kerb
One of the most used objects on the street for skating. Painted kerbs provide a smooth and grindable edge, though most can be made this way by applying candle wax.
kickflip
Flipping the board in the air by “kicking” the board with your front foot. The board will spin in the opposite direction of the heelflip.
kickturn
A turn where the board is rotated on the rear wheels with the front wheels raised from the surface.
lip
The top edge of the ramp.
nose
The part of the deck in front of the front truck. Opposite end of “tail”.
noseslide
Sliding along objects such as gutters, rails and benches on the nose of the board.
ollie
Making the board jump without using a ramp or hands. Invented by Allen “Ollie” Gelfand.
pop shoveit
When the board rotates under the feet during an ollie.
rad
Short for “radical”. Brilliant or spectacular.
rail/railing
rep
(1) Reputation. (2) Representative. As in the representative of a skateboarding company.
rock ’n’ roll
A ramp trick where the board is “rocked” over the lip, stopped, then turned and “rolled” back down the ramp
sick
An impressive move or trick.
slam
Falling off the board and crashing.
skatepark
A place dedicated to skateboarding, which normally has various boxes, ramps and rails for tricks to be performed on.
streetskating
A style of skateboarding suited to pavements, streets and other public areas.
switch stance
Performing tricks with the feet in the opposite or unnatural stance on the board.
tail
The part of the deck behind the rear truck.
tail stall
Resting on the coping or lip of a ramp on the tail only.
transition
The part of a ramp or bank that curves
upward.
vegie
A student in his or her first year of high
school.
vert
A large U–shaped ramp.
First published 2001 by University of Queensland Press
PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia
Reprinted 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014
www.uqp.com.au
© Pat Flynn
www.patlfynnwriter.com
This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any foram or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
Typeset by University of Queensland Press
Sponsored by the Queensland Office of Arts and Cultural Development
Cataloguing in Publication Data
National Library of Australia
Flynn, Pat
Alex Jackson: Grommet
For upper primary and secondary school students.
1. Skateboarding - Juvenile fiction. I. Title.
A823.4
ISBN 978 0 7022 3223 7(pbk)
ISBN 978 0 7022 5672 1 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7022 5673 8 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7022 5674 5 (kindle)