How To Longboard Like A Pro Guide 2017

So, you were driving down a long, curvy hill and pass by some kids on funny looking skateboard. The board was long and almost resembled a surf board.

The kids were going fast and looked to be having a blast, so you went home and did some research and found out that it’s actually called longboarding, and now you want to learn how to longboard yourself, but you just don’t know where to begin. Fortunately, you’re not alone. Longboarding is a fast growing sport for all ages.

Longboarding has been around for a very long time. Invented back in the 1950’s, it is used for practical things like getting from point A to point B on deck.

That’s made for long trips (rather than a skateboard which is made mainly for tricks), fun things like going down winding roads, and even dangerous things like going down a very steep hill for a long period of time. It’s a great way to have a good time and try something new.

Getting Started

The first thing you’ll have to do is decide what you want to do with your longboard. Think about it like bike riding.

You wouldn’t buy a mountain bike if cycling like Lance Armstrong is your goal, and you wouldn’t buy a unicycle if you want to ride in the woods at the local park. The same goes for longboarding. Decide what you want to do first.

If you walk a lot, it could be a great way to get places quicker; it’s much easier to store than a bike, and much less hassle than rollerblades.

If you want to be like the kids you saw on that windy road, living dangerously and having a blast, then you’ll want it to fit that specific need. Not all boards fit the same needs, so you’ll need the one right for you.

Choosing a Board

Longboards come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors, and they’re made specifically to be good at certain things.

If you’re new to it, you must have been introduced to it to someone, or seen someone riding one, so ask them questions.

Tell them what you want to do, then ask if you can try their device out. They can probably give you some great suggestions on what to buy and where to get it. They may even have used deck(s) they could sell you and save some cash.

There are several different kinds of them to choose from:

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• Cruiser boards are close to normal skateboards, but have kick tails in the back. The trucks (think axle on a car) are higher and the wheels larger and softer than a regular skateboard. They are for what the title says: cruising.
• Hybrid boards are smaller and made more for tricks.
• Drop-Through boards have a cutout in the deck, which allows the truck baseplates to be mounted through the deck for a shorter board. A shorter model gives much better steadiness at high speeds.
• Pintail boards – boards that come to a point in the back – have a pintail shape and a surf board feel. The pintail end is thinner than the front of the board so there is no wheel bite (wheels rubbing against the board), which gives it a smoother ride.

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Stance

There are two standard stances when riding a longboard, standard – with your left foot in front, and goofy – with your right foot in front.

If you ride a skateboard or snowboard just do what you already do with those. Choose whichever is most comfortable.

Most people will use the regular stance as most folks are right dominated. Have someone push you and see what foot you catch yourself with. Figure those out and you can probably tell which stance is best for you.

Getting Comfortable

Just like anything you learn, at first it’s going to feel awkward. Get comfortable with your deck. Take it out to the driveway, your garage, or parking lot and stand on it.

Get in a comfortable stance where you feel you have the most control. Then, start pushing. Right foot for standard riders, left for goofy. It’s that simple. Now you’re riding. Make sure to have on a helmet and pads to protect yourself.

Stopping

The easiest way to stop is to just drag the foot you push with. If you’re going too fast just jump off, or aim for a soft spot like grass.

You can also do what regular skateboarders do and use the back as a stop, but that tears up the deck and the length of the board makes that more difficult.

Whatever you do, start out slow, get with other experienced riders, and be safe. Longboarding is a lot of fun, but like anything else it takes time to master. Once you do, the fun is endless!

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