Abstract: A skid rider button is provided for use in a steel reheating furnace to reduce gouge-type damage of a steel slab heated in the reheating furnace. The button includes a top surface defining an interface surface area to receive the steel slab to be reheated, a bottom surface couplable with a skid assembly of the reheating furnace, a front surface, a rear surface, and two opposing side surfaces positioned between the front surface and the rear surface. An overall height of the button between the bottom surface and the top surface may be reduced to lower the interface temperature of the button. The interface surface area may be increased to lower the interface temperature of the button. The button may include rounded edges between each of the surfaces to reduce the mechanical impact between the button and the steel slab.