What Is a Good Way to Stop on a Longboard?

The origin of longboarding is deeply rooted in the West Coast surfing culture of the 1950s and '60s. When the waves were flat or droves of tourists rendered the surf unrideable, surfers took to their garages and fashioned long planks of wood with roller skate wheels screwed to the underside. On a longboard, you can shred the streets like a cresting wave or simply cruise leisurely down a mellow hill. Before trying any advanced maneuvers, you'll need to learn how to slow down and stop quickly in case of an emergency.

Instructions

    • 1

      Lock your ankles and straighten your upper body while leaving your knees slightly bent. Raise both arms straight out to the side to apply the "air brake" technique. The goal with this technique is to reduce your speed by catching wind resistance with your body.

    • 2

      Shift your weight gradually to the toe side of the board to perform a long, sloping carve turn. Move into another carve by shifting your weight toward the heel side of the board. Repeat these carving turns to shave speed and maintain control.

    • 3

      Bend your knees and shift your weight to your front foot. Carefully move the ball of your back foot off the toe side of the board. Lightly press the heel of your back foot onto the ground to begin braking.

    • 4

      Press your entire back foot onto the ground to brake completely. Putting your foot all the way to the ground should only be performed once you have slowed down sufficiently with your heel brake.

    • 5

      Ride into a patch of grass or dirt on the side of the road. If you need to stop immediately while moving at a high rate of speed, this may be your only option. The grass or dirt will immediately slow down your wheels, often without pitching you off the board. Remember to keep your ankles locked and knees bent while going off-road to maintain balance.