How to Slow Down on a Skateboard

Whether you skate on the street or at a skate park, knowing how to slow down on a skateboard is one of the first skills necessary to mastering control of your board. There are a few different ways to reduce the speed of your skateboard—carving, bailing out, the Coleman slide—but the easiest and most useful technique for newbie skaters is the footbrake method.

Things You'll Need

• Skateboard
• Skateboard helmet
• Skateboard pads

Instructions

1. Position your body so that your front foot and chest are pointed toward the nose of the board. Your back foot remains in the standard skating position with toes parallel to the back trucks.

2. Transfer your weight to your front foot and pull your back foot off the skateboard. Keep it straight as you lower it toward the ground.

3. Maintain your weight on your front foot and slowly press the ball of your back foot to the ground. Continue to drag the sole of your skate shoe to slow down your skateboard. Apply more pressure to slow down quicker.

4. Return your back foot to the skateboard once you have regained control or slowed down sufficiently.

5. Keep cruising at your new, slower speed.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice stopping at slow speeds first to learn how to balance and apply the footbrake method correctly.

• Remember to keep all of your weight on your front foot. Even just a little weight on your back foot will cause it to skip off the ground.

• Maintain contact with the ground by skimming the pavement with your foot rather than stomping.

• Bail out if necessary. If you are on collision course at high speed and haven't mastered footbraking yet, save yourself by jumping off your board.

• Don't forget to wear skateboard pads and a helmet to protect yourself against injuries.