Different sized longboards have different advantages and disadvantages. Shorter longboards are more agile (meaning you can turn more) but less stable (meaning it’s easier to fall over). Longer boards are more stable but less agile. Beginners should stick with longer boards. [1] X Expert Source Jon DepoianSkateboarding Instructor Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.
For gear, be sure to get: A good-fitting helmet Skateboarding shoes (flat bottomed) Elbow pads (optional) Knee pads (optional) Slide Gloves (depend on the board you have)
To find out whether you ride regular or goofy, have someone shove you from behind with no warning. Whichever foot you put out to catch yourself is the one you want to lead with on the skateboard. If it feels wrong, try switching to the other foot. Another way to find out is to slide on a smooth surface in socks or lay on the ground; whichever foot you use to get up with will be the foot you want to lead with on your longboard.
This is just one stance that you can use. After getting comfortable with your longboard for a little bit, you very well could find that other stances work better for you. Go with what feels comfortable.
If you want to use your front foot to push off, give it a try. Most boarders don’t do this — it’s called “mongo” — but it’s more important do ride comfortably than do what other people do. [9] X Research source After you get the hang of it, practice generating more speed by doing harder kicks. You’ll find that, after you’ve gotten to a certain speed, one good push will keep you going for quite a while.
Heel edge carving: you move your heels downward and you turn to your inside. Heel edge turns for people who ride regular give you left turns. Toe edge carving: you move your toes downward and you turn to your outside. Toe edge turns for people who ride regular give you right turns.
Carving: snaking down the hill by leaning from side to side pushes on your wheels and will help keep speed down. Air braking: at high speeds, simply standing up and putting your arms out can slow you considerably.
Point your front foot forward while bending your knees; shift your weight to the front. Slide your back foot off your board, flexing your front knee to make contact with the ground. Apply gradual pressure to stop Try not to use your toes or heel to touch the ground; instead, opt for the middle of your sole. It is also very important you don’t put weight on your back foot. Doing that will almost ensure you will slip backwards. Try to keep more weight on the foot you have in front, leaning forwards is much safer than leaning back.
