The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series is known for a lot of things, but there's one sound effect that triggers something in every gamer from the early 2000s: the special sound effect. Specials are as synonymous with the Pro Skater series as Tony Hawk himself, and the recent remake of the first two Pro Skater entries introduced both new and old specials to the series.
Grind specials are a bit harder to pull off than most flip or grab specials, but the reward for pulling them off are some of the silliest and most impressive-looking tricks in the game. What's more fascinating is that most grind specials in the Pro Skater series are based on real-life moves, not physically impossible ones like grab or flip specials.
15 15. Big Hitter II
Bucky Lasek's special grind trick is the Big Hitter II. For this trick, Lasek will stand on the back of his board with one foot while lifting the other side of the board and grinding on the very edge of the board itself.
It's a tricky-looking trick, but it kind of looks a bit goofy compared to the other precise grind specials in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2.
14 14. Crail Slide
The Crail Slide is Rune Glifberg's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2. For this special, Glifberg lifts the front of his board and holds the front's underside above the rail while grinding on the back wheels.
It's a cool trick for sure, but the only thing turning heads is Glifberg's outstretched arm beckoning witness.
13 13. The Hurricane
The Hurricane is Chad Muska's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2. Despite the cool-sounding name, Muska basically spins his board almost fully around and lands back on it to grind normally.
It's not a bad trick, not at all, but compared to some of the other special grinds it leaves the player wanting a bit more pizzazz.
12 12. Fandangle
The Fandangle is Eric Koston's special grind trick. For this trick, Koston will gently tap the front of his board so it faces backward when he starts the grind, then he will balance with one foot on the front of the board for the rest of the trick.
It's one of the more graceful special grind tricks in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, and even though it hasn't been done in real life, Koston has done very similar tricks in his career.
11 11. Nose Grab Tailslide
Andrew Reynolds's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is the Nose Grab Tailslide. For this trick, Reynolds will lift the front of his board up and balance on the very tip of the back of his board.
It's a classic trick and one that is equally impressive in the game as it is in real life.
10 10. One Foot Smith
The One Foot Smith is one of Bob Burnquist's special grind moves. For this trick, Burnquist will kick out his front foot and lean almost completely backward, using his momentum and balance to keep himself stable in what looks like a very unstable trick.
Funnily enough, this is one of the specials that many people have done in real life, albeit a little less flamboyantly than Burnquist's animation in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2.
9 9. Rocket Tailslide
Bob Burnquist has another special grind move in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, the Rocket Tailslide. For this trick, Burnquist will jump onto the rail, rapidly turn his board to the side to balance on the tail end, then he will hold the front of the board upwards while finishing the grind.
While this specific version of a Tailslide hasn't been accomplished outside of the game, the basic Tailslide is one of the more commonly seen grind tricks in real life.
8 8. Rowley Darkslide
Geoff Rowley's special grind move in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is the Rowley Darkslide. For this trick, Rowley will flip his board upside down but balance only on one side of the board, leaving the other hanging off the edge.
It's a cool trick that's one of Rowley's signature moves, but even a normal darkslide is extremely difficult to complete in real life.
7 7. 5-0 Overturn
The 5-0 Overturn is Tony Hawk's special grind trick. For this trick, Hawk rapidly spins his board a full rotation before landing on the front end to grind, then leans forward to lift the tail end of his board up while finishing the trick.
The initial rapid spin is probably too much to do in real life, but the rest of the grind is pretty similar to a normal nosegrind.
6 6. Heelflip Darkslide
Rodney Mullen's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is the Heelflip Darkslide. For this trick, Mullen heelflips his board upside down and grinds the rail on the surface of the board.
It's a trick Mullen is well known for in real life, to the point that he says he is constantly asked to do a darkslide whenever people recognize him in public.
5 5. Madonna Tail Slide
The Madonna Tail Slide is Elissa Steamer's special grind trick. For this trick, Steamer will spin her board horizontally and pull one side up while kicking that side's foot out backward, as if to push against the air.
It's a special grind trick that is difficult to pull off, but there are in fact clips of skaters online completing grinds very similar to this in real life.
4 4. Hang Ten Nosegrind
Steve Caballero's special grind trick is the Hang Ten Nosegrind. The Hang Ten, of course, is a trick where you stand at the very front of your board, dangling all ten toes off of the edge, and is typically associated with surfing.
For this trick, Caballero stands on the front of his board, lifting up the back as he grinds forwards. It's not possible to do in real life, but nonetheless fun to see a surfing trick brought over to the skating realm.
3 3. Beni Fingerflip Crooks
Jamie Thomas's special grind trick is the Beni Fingerflip Crooks. For this trick, Thomas starts his grind like normal, then flips it while grinding and lands horizontally on the rail, balancing on the middle of his board for the rest of the trick.
It's a really impressive trick, but one that unfortunately nobody has pulled off in real life (it's nigh on impossible to flip the board mid-grind, after all).
2 2. Nosegrind to Pivot
Kareem Campbell's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is the Nosegrind to Pivot. For this trick, Campbell will start out his grind with his board horizontal balancing on the back of the board, then he pivots the board forwards and continues to balance on the back for the rest of the trick.
It's a flawless move that almost looks like it could be done in real life. Campbell is one of the best skaters in history, but he never pulled this one off.
1 1. Cab Flip FS Boardslide
Nyjah Huston's special grind trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is the Cab Flip FS Boardslide. For this trick, Huston will start his grind flip his board while spinning and raising his legs high before landing backward back on his board.
It's a lot to describe in writing, but it's easily the most dazzling special grind trick in the entire game. Plus, believe it or not, it's one of Nyjah Huston's signature moves, as he displayed at the 2014 Street League Pro Open skating competition.