How Do You Ride a Longboard?
Longboards have surged in popularity over the past several years. These modified skateboards are designed for distance, speed and efficiency rather than tricks. Longboards have longer, more flexible boards, larger wheels and better bearings that allow less energy be turned into more movement.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Basic Movement
-
1
Place your longboard on a relatively smooth pavement surface. The pointy or more rounded end should be pointing forward.
-
2
Find your foot placement, which comes down to personal preference. One of your feet will remain on the board at all times, while the other will occasionally push off the ground to build momentum. Some riders prefer to put the stable foot on the front, while others prefer to have it on the back. There is also some leeway in which foot should be used for which purpose. Again, different riders have different preferences. Keep your feet on the inside of the board. You don't want your foot to go in front of the front wheel, or behind the back wheel. This can cause the board to immediately stop or fly out from under you.
-
-
3
Start moving. Face your steady foot forward on the board, and push off of the ground with your other foot.
-
4
Swivel your steady foot 90 degrees to face the side of your board. At the same time, bring your pushing foot onto the board, also facing the side.
-
5
Take your pushing foot off the board and push off the ground, whenever your momentum starts to die down. You may want to build up some speed by pushing several times before putting your feet back into place.
Turning
-
6
Build up some momentum. Going too slowly makes it harder to balance a wide turn. Keep in mind that wide turns on a longboard are relatively easy, while sharp turns are a bit more advanced.
-
7
Lean in the direction you wish to turn while cruising with both feet on the board. This allows you to make a wide turn, though practice will help you judge your limits and eventually make sharper turns.
-
8
Travel at a relatively slow speed to make a sharp turn. Push off and get both of your feet onto the board. Place your back foot behind the back wheels. Push down on the back to raise the nose of the board. Reach a balance where the nose is in the air, but the back of the board does not touch the ground.
-
9
Use your body weight to swivel the board in the direction you want to turn. Once you are facing the proper direction, push down on your front foot to bring the nose back down to the ground.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Skilled riders can make 360-degree turns using the advanced turning method. Putting some practice into this technique saves time in the long run!
Test each of the riding stances to see which you prefer. Some riders simply prefer different techniques.
Practicing the advanced turn at a complete standstill if you cannot seem to get the hang of it.
Make sure to wear protective equipment when learning to ride your board!
While advanced turns are very useful, you should be confident in your basic riding skills before attempting them. It's very easy for the board to be swept out from under you by your own momentum using this technique.
