Longboarding Basics

A longboard is a low-impact form of transportation often used to navigate college campuses and sidewalks along the beach. The soft wheels of a longboard allow you to glide across an asphalt riding terrain with ease. Unlike the conventional street skateboard, the longboard features an elongated deck for increased speed and stability.

  1. Gaining Speed

    • Learning to increase your momentum is one of the most basic and essential techniques of longboarding. Choose a mellow terrain that features a gradual slope when learning the pushing technique. Lower your lead foot over the four bolts located toward the front of the longboard. Place your opposing foot flat on the ground. Bend your knees to balance. Thrust your back foot off the ground to increase your forward momentum. Repeat the process until you attain a comfortable speed. Lift your back foot off the ground and place it onto the tail of the longboard to coast.

    Turning

    • Shifting your body weight to the edges of the longboard will allow you to navigate around any hazards in the riding terrain. Transfer your body weight forward while applying downward pressure with your toes on the side where you want to turn. Hold your arms parallel to the ground as you traverse the riding terrain into the turn. Shift your body weight onto your heels as the momentum of the longboard begins to decrease. Rotate your shoulders as you turn in the opposing direction. Repeat the process to perform a basic longboarding technique known as the S-turn.

    Braking Techniques

    • One of the most basic braking techniques involves dragging the sole of your shoe across the pavement. While this technique will quickly decrease your momentum, it can seriously damage the bottom of your longboarding shoes. According to "The New York Times," advanced longboarders often drag their hands across the pavement to check their speed during hairpin turns. Another braking technique involves sliding your wheels across the asphalt by turning the long sideways, perpendicular to the direction you're traveling. A variation on the sliding technique is to grab the edge of your longboard while rotating it, and lean back to maintain a balanced sliding stance.

    Safety Gear and Longboard Equipment

    • Wearing the appropriate longboard gear is the most basic way to prevent injuries during downhill runs. A longboard helmet will keep your skull protected during accidental falls and slide outs. According to All Sport Protection, a longboard helmet often features a dome-shaped design as well as an outer shell made from carbon fiber, fiberglass or Kevlar. Wearing a pair of reinforced longboard gloves will allow you to safely drag your hands across the riding terrain. Downhill riders generally wear a form-fitted racing suit made from durable leather.