How to Guide Your Skateboard

There are two main ways of guiding a skateboard, allowing you to steer and alter directions. The techniques are progressively more difficult and require practice to perfect. The easiest is called "tick-tacking," and can be done even at a complete stand still. The moderate way is known as leaning, which can make a full 90-degree turn within 5 to 6 feet, even at fairly slow speeds. The faster your board is traveling, the quicker you can make the turn, but at a higher risk.

Instructions

  1. Tick-Tacking

    • 1

      Stand on your board with your dominant foot in the back and your other foot in front. Your feet should be about shoulder length apart and your back foot should be as close to the back of the board as is comfortable.

    • 2

      Gently apply pressure with your back foot so that the front of the board elevates slightly in the air, and begin steering the front of the board with your less dominant foot in the direction you wish to steer.

    • 3

      Allow the front of the board to fall back to the ground intermittently in a chopping effect. The board should come up and fall back down about three to four times before you make a full 90-degree turn.

    Leaning

    • 4

      Stand on your board with your dominant foot in the back and other in the front. Your feet should be about shoulder length apart with your back foot between the back of the board and the screws that hold the back wheels in place.

    • 5

      Kick off with your back foot to get the board in motion. It is best to start slow and gradually increase your speed as you become more and more comfortable with your balance.

    • 6

      Lean on your toes to steer the board toward your dominant side (usually your right), and lean on your heels to steer to the other side.

    • 7

      Avert your balance back to an even distribution between your toes and heels after each turn is complete to restore a straightforward motion.