Longboarding Techniques

Longboarding isn't just a skating style; it's a mental state. In "The Skateboarder's Journal," one longboarder, Justin Metcalf, referred to a friend of his who summed up downhill longboarding in one word -- bliss. Actually, there are different styles of longboarding that require different techniques. Learning some basic longboarding techniques will help make your longboarding rides, whatever they are, more like bliss.

  1. Stance Technique

    • Before you get going, practice standing, especially if longboarding is your first ever skateboarding experience. Bend your knees and keep your arms hanging loose. Keep your feet over the truck bolts until you're more comfortable with other footing. Practice shifting your weight from your toes to your heels, and vice versa. This is your primary way to steer once you're in motion. Since longboards are, in fact, longer than traditional skateboards, they have more flexibility, so get used to balancing yourself in harmony with the board's flexing.

    Stopping Techniques

    • Another skill to practice before you face the steepest hill you can find is the simple art of stopping. Start off on a flat surface and, once going, place your foot on the ground "Flintstone-style" to stop. Do this repeatedly at different speeds until you don't really have to think about what you're doing and stopping becomes more of a reflex. Longboarders at the LushLongBoards website note that some race skaters stop with their feet at such high speeds that they even create smoke.

      Another stopping approach -- which is actually more of a slowing method -- is the air braking method. Just stand straight up with your arms out to your sides and allow the increased wind resistance to slow you down.

    Tucking

    • Once you're comfortable with the correct way to stand and stop, then you're ready to pick up some speed. Many longboarders prefer racing style, where they fly down hills as fast as they can. To get up to higher speeds, you basically do the opposite of air braking by "tucking" your body to make it as small as possible on the board, thus decreasing wind resistance. To do this, first imagine yourself as a speed skater you'd see at the Winter Olympics, but in statuesque form. From a normal riding position, position your back foot "tip-toe" style on the board, while your front foot stays flat. Bend your knees and sink down so that your back knee tucks in behind your front knee. Keep your weight fully over the front of the board, and keep your chest as close to your front knee as possible. Keep your arms clasped behind you.

    Carving

    • Learning the carving technique will not only make longboarding more fun and enjoyable, it also happens to be another way to slow down. Basically, carving is turning left and right in a repeated pattern. The principles of carving also apply in cornering, or going around curves in the road. Again, the key factor is keeping your weight toward the front of the board as you glide downhill. Lean into the turns. As you lean, grip the board with your hand that's farthest from the curve while you keep the lean-in hand free for balancing. To carve at slower speeds and on flatter surfaces, simply exercise the shifting of weight that you practiced at the beginning.