Beginning longboarding can be a challenging task, as there are variable styles and types of longboards to choose from. However in this guide we go over the most important longboarding tips for beginners.
This is the best guide, that you should prepare with, as many longboarders will take to the hills without the knowledge of the basic skills and lessons that you should know!
This is a list of the important longboarding tips for beginners that’ll assist you with getting skating as soon as possible and these essential tips will help you avoid any mistakes!
Table of Contents
- Important Longboarding Tips for Beginners
- 1. Getting The Correct Longboard Type
- 2. How To Find The Perfect Longboard Stance
- 3. Longboarding Tips for Beginners – Find Your Balance
- 4. Practice Your Stance Whilst Turning On A Longboard
- 5. Attempt Your Pushing & Braking Stance
- 6. Longboarding Tips for Beginners – Slowly Start Rolling
- 7. How To Brake On A Longboard
- 8. Starting Longboarding On Hills
- 9. Watch YouTube Videos to Learn New Skills
- 10. Attempt Carving On Your Longboard
- Conclusion – Longboarding Tips for Beginners
Important Longboarding Tips for Beginners
1. Getting The Correct Longboard Type
This may seem like a simple suggestion or tip for a beginner longboarder, although many new-starters may choose a random type of longboard and not understand the consequences of selecting that particular type.
For instance many longboarders may choose to use a downhill longboard for cruising, which makes it more difficult than it should. Furthermore, if you’re a new starter, than you should check out our guide on selecting the best beginner longboard.
If your are to choose a correct longboard, you should be factoring your body size, age, ability, style and needs. If you consider these aspects, you’ll be on your way to selecting the best longboard for your needs.
2. How To Find The Perfect Longboard Stance
Every longboarder will have their own riding stance, when it comes to regular skateboards and snowboards. Naturally when you get onto your longboard, if you have your left foot forward and your right foot back, you will have a ‘regular’ stance. Alternatively if you do the opposite of this, you’ll have a ‘goofy’ riding stance.
Your riding stance should ideally be the first aspect you find out about yourself when getting into longboarding. A typical skateboarder method of finding out your stance is letting someone push you from behind, as the foot your put forwards, is your natural stance to prevent yourself from falling.
Ultimately one of the most important longboarding tips for beginners is finding your stance. If you’re a goofy skater, pressing your toes down whilst skating will make your turn left, whilst pressing your heel down will enable you to go right, this is then vice-versa for regular skaters.
3. Longboarding Tips for Beginners – Find Your Balance
If you’re completely new to skateboarding, as well as longboarding, then you’ll need to become comfortable with balancing yourself on a deck, beforing balancing on one whilst its moving.
The best method of practicing this is through placing your longboard onto some grass, as the board will not move due to the friction. You’ll then need to get into your natural stance with your feet shoulder width apart, with then your feet placed near the bolts on the deck.
Your back foot is then should be perpendicular on your deck, whilst enabling your foot to be slightly angled with your longboard, at around 45º. After this you’ll finally need to to lean forward and bend your knees, so that you’re feel comfortable.
4. Practice Your Stance Whilst Turning On A Longboard
Whilst still preforming and practicing the step previously mentioned, where you’re attempting balancing on your board, you’ll need to begin to attempt turning on your board.
To do this you’ll need to lean to the sides and put pressure onto your deck. At the same time of doing this, practice rolling forwards and backwards, allowing yourself to make your longboard deck lean to each edge, as this will replicate you turning whilst rolling.
Next you’ll need to practice locking your ankles whilst enabling the deck to leaning, by only shifting your weight backward through your heels and forwards through your toes.
5. Attempt Your Pushing & Braking Stance
A next essential skill that you’ll need to attempt is the stance whilst braking or pushing, as you’ll be putting pressure only onto one leg on the deck. You’ll be balancing solely on your one leg as the other one will be pushing and braking.
This again, can be done through placing your longboard on the grass and rotating your front foot towards the nose of your deck. Next you’ll be required to turn your hips and shoulders whilst remaining forwards.
As you’re preforming this, you’ll need lift your back foot whilst staying balanced on your front leg. To help with stabilization on your board, you can turn your front foot slightly, plus shift your body weight forwards to keep stabilization and maintain balance.
To practice this, you’ll be required to get into this stance, then to touch the ground with your back foot for only two seconds, then squatting onto your front foot. After you’ve done this, slowly try to bring your foot back to its position. Pracitice this multiple times before you start to roll to give yourself a good basis to work off.
6. Longboarding Tips for Beginners – Slowly Start Rolling
Once you’ve mastered all the stance types in regards to longboarding, you’ll next need to attempt to actually get moving. The best method of practice rolling is by finding a parking lot where you cannot be disturbed or risk injury.
Once you’ve done this, step onto your board and let yourself to be moved through gravity. Next, you’ll need to attempt your push stance whilst moving, to start this begin by only doing small pushes.
Allow yourself to get some momentum and speed, whilst practicing steering and balancing in general. If you’re on rough terrain, then put less pressure on your front foot as it’ll allow you to go over bumps and cracks.
When you begin to get comfortable with this, push harder and faster to boost your confidence.
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