How to Switch Feet to Push Board - Skogging, Switch Stance Push, Pump and Carve DEX(Distance, Endurance, X-Country)

In 1975, I wrote a Skateboarder Magazine article "Cut the Jive and Jog" outlining the parameters of switching legs to push one's skateboard for long distances.
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http://blip.tv/file/1622297/
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www.skogging.com for more.
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The word "skogging" roots from an idea of the words "skateboarding" + "jogging"
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http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=skogging&aq=f

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Skateboard
• Safety Equipment
• Various Learning Surfaces
• Desire to Evenly Work Both Sides of the Body

1. 

   Pick out a board to learn on. Most boards can work. I think excess surface as well as a shortage can work against you. Try having minimally 3 lengths of your foot equal the length of the deck. Anything after that is personal choice that may or may not work against you depending on how balanced challenged one is. As of October 2006, several skateboard manufacturers contributed skogging test equipment. My production "skogging" model is a design incorporating engineering conducive to the skogging advanced style demonstated in the aforementioned videos.

2. Flatland. If you've never attempted to switch pushing legs, I strongly recommend flatland/no board preparation. Being able to stand on one leg and gently bending at the knee and waist while imagining rolling is a good place to start. Then switch legs and do the same. The better you imagine yourself rolling while on one leg, the easier the next step is.

3. Carpet and Board. No Rolling in this Step. Set your board on the carpet and make sure if you fall, the board doesn't shoot in an injurious direction. Set your board on the carpet and go through the same movements as in Step 1. Practice for hours and perhaps a whole week before going on to the next step. The idea is to feel your balance evenly and come to terms that if you cant get by this step, you might want to take up another exercise.

4. Restrictive Surface. Carpet, a golf green, or something that will prevent a full rolling experience that one has on cement or asphalt. Attempt to push with both legs for 10-20ft. Alternate and feel the required balance as if you were one a smooth surface. Do this for an entire week at least a few hours a day. Watch the animation above and view the videos at http://tinyurl.com/felhs for guidance.

5. Taking it to the streets. If you could imagine having a full out sprint exercise with one difference, you have a skateboard under your feet that is being rotated in between pushes to maintain speed. By simple definition you push your skateboard with both legs by alternating pushes. With advanced skogging, it is similar to downhill bump skiing where turns are being made with one-foot as the transition between pushing legs takes place while agressively moving forward at average speeds of 8mph or more. Cranking turns in this mode with one foot are made in either direction while alternating feet. In the spirit of true skogging it is the culmination of converging movements of switch stance push, pump and carve. The weight focus is similar to downhill skiier's fall-line where both sides of the body are used symmetrically to produce clean arcing turns. When all is said and done, the ability to switch feet to push and then switch alternating lead foot while cranking turns is the heart and soul of skogging while traversing long distances. See www.skogging.com for more.

Tips & Warnings

• Every beginner should at least be able to stand stationary on one leg while making twisting motions and gently bending at the knee.
• A skateboard length at least 3 times the length of one foot. Size varies per age. Most longboards will work but the longer the length the easier for some to catch on. Most adults around 180-200 lbs can get away with a 40" x 9"ish. At times, the longer boards make it more difficult to to maneuver.
• Safety First! Equipment. Elbow, Knee, Wrist and Helmet strongly recommended
• Be ready to fall! Tumbling classes are recommended.
• Most skogging experts prefer boardwalks with the least amount of cracks. Cracks in both sidewalk and pavement can make miserable moments come alive. When going over cracks, unweight while clearing them at an angle.
• On boardwalks, for some reason, many bikers think they own the road. Avoid them by giving them plenty of room. Some bikers think it takes a lot of talent to ride a bike which gives them the right to own the road. Most bikers can share the road.
• Keep an eye out for youngsters that like to make unnannounced turns.
• Watch out for bottle caps, rocks, and pieces of wood. These may teach you about the birds and the bees of skate braking where you may get stung. I have many scars from similar outtings.
• Many public sidewalks have an 8mph speed limit. You might want to keep your speeds down for a number of reasons. Water, oil and sand are not your friends!
• Avoid night skating unless you have good surface area lighting. Like any other vehicle at night, reflective devices are encouraged as well as a decent headlamp flashlight.