How to Carve on a Longboard

Carving is a longboard technique where you shift your bodyweight to the toe edge or heel edge of your foot to create an “S” pattern. Get both speed and balance to perfect the move, which is an essential part of longboarding.

Things You'll Need

  • Longboard
  • Boarding shoes with rubber soles
  • Helmet, elbow pads and knee pads
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Instructions

  1. Getting Some Speed

    • 1

      Choose a quiet street with few or no vehicles passing. The surface should be even and may have a slight decline.

    • 2

      Point the board downhill and position your feet hip-width apart on the board.

    • 3

      Kick with your back foot to pick up speed and head straight downhill.

    The First Half of the “S”

    • 4

      Bend your knees slightly and maintain your speed.

    • 5

      Lean back and shift all your body weight to your heels.

    • 6

      Point your toes upward and your heels downward without arching your soles.

    The Second Half of the “S”

    • 7

      Lean forward and shift your body weight to your toes.

    • 8

      Point your toes downward and your heels upward, while keeping your soles flat on the board.

    • 9

      Observe how you create an “S” pattern after leaning backward and then forward. Stop after finishing the “S” pattern.

    Maintaining Stance and Stopping

    • 10

      Begin carving or leaning backward before picking up more speed to gain better control over the movement.

    • 11

      Practice the backward heel carve and forward heel carve individually before you connect both parts of the "S."

    • 12

      Put your foot back or push your foot slowly on the ground to stop safely.

    • 13

      Keep your knees bent or slightly bent to maintain balance and avoid falling when you carve.