How to Do a Pivot on a Skateboard

Skateboarding is a fun way to get from place to place, and a great way to get a little exercise. In addition to using a skateboard to get around, many people use skateboards to perform tricks. Many cities and rural areas have parks specifically designed for practicing these tricks. Skateboarders also enjoy using stairs, sidewalks, and railings to perform their tricks. Learning to perform these tricks can be a challenge. As with any activity, it's best to learn the basics first, such as how to pivot on the skateboard, before moving on to more difficult tricks.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand on the stationary board in your skateboard stance. Generally, the left foot should be near the top of the board and the right foot should be near the back. This is called the Regular stance. However, some skateboarders prefer to use the opposite stance, with right foot forward and left foot back. This is called the Goofy stance. Decide which stance way feels more comfortable and use it.

    • 2

      Position your feet on the board. If you are in the Regular stance, your left foot should slide up so that it's near the nose, or very front, of the board. Your right foot should rest near where the rear wheels of the skateboard are. If you are in the Goofy stance, it will be the right foot that moves forward and the left that moves back.

    • 3

      Twist your body slightly in one direction without moving the skateboard. Concentrate on twisting your shoulders and hips. You can twist in either direction. If you're in the Regular stance and you twist to the left, the direction is called backside, as your back is towards the direction of the turn. Twisting so that your front is toward the direction of the turn is called frontside.

    • 4

      Shift your weight forward, pressing your front foot down on the nose of the skateboard. This should make the rear wheels of the skateboard lift off the ground--they should only lift slightly. Lifting them too high may cause you to lose your balance.

    • 5

      Let your body untwist in the direction opposite to the one you twisted in Step 4. If you twisted backside, you'll want to let your body untwist to frontside. This should cause the board to pivot along with you. You may need to continue twisting your hips a little in order to complete the full pivot, which is usually considered correctly performed when the board rotates 180 degrees.