If you want to learn the longboard, you are at the best place! The most important thing for learning any sport is to know about the basics. You have to start it anyway. A Beginning is the most significant thing for any work. First of all, you have to know about longboarding and the easy way of doing it. So let’s get to the point.
What Is Longboard?
A Longboard is mainly one kind of skateboard. In the 1940s, Preston Nichols made the first longboards. It became commercially accessible in 1959s. If you are already a skater, then it can be an extra benefit for you. Yet there is so many difference between a skateboard and a longboard. Longboards are more stable than skateboards. Because of its long shape, the longboard sounds almost perfect. It has a distinctive configuration; you can choose it according to your age, height, etc. You will see various shapes of longboards such as pintails, swallowtails, drop-through decks, flat-nose riders, drop-decks, etc.
What Is Longboarding?
When you ride on a longboard, you can address it as longboarding. The idea of longboarding emerged from the surfers of Hawaii. Longboarding is genuinely a street-oriented sport or game. Cruising, traveling, and downhill racing are some sectors where you can do longboarding. You can also use longboards as your transport for going out to a nearby place. Nowadays, longboard dancing and freestyle have also become crowd-pleasing.
Longboarding 101:
At the beginner level, you should learn longboarding in an easy process. Then you can get the primitive learning on how to longboard. So let’s give you a lesson on longboarding 101!
In this regard, you have to consider some essential things and follow some rules.
Fundamental Elements:
1. Proper Longboard:
Firstly, you will require an appropriate longboard. It is the leading equipment for longboarding. Depending on age, size, skills, riding goals, purpose, etc. You can buy it according to your preferences. The right board is particular for everybody. Therefore, you have to notice each and everything before buying it.
2. Protective Helmet:
A Helmet helps you to protect your head. It is like a savior for beginners. When you are learning this sport, you can fall on the road. It is quite familiar while learning cycling or longboarding. Fallen apart is a common incident in longboarding. It can occur because of imbalance. If you are starting to ride a longboard, it is a must-have material. Don’t forget to keep it whenever you are riding.
3. Elbow and Knee pad:
Elbow and knee pads are the safety equipment for longboarding. Trainers suggest two pieces of equipment for longboard learners. You can ensure a scar-free leg while using them. It can also secure you from leg spraining.
Longboard or Shortboard?
In the case of longboarding, you will face a general question- which one is better? Longboard or shortboard? In the experts’ opinion, shortboards are the better option for the amateur because it is easy to handle a shorter board. You can control and balance on a shorter board with ease.
After collecting the pieces of equipment altogether, you can start longboarding. Here are some tips and tricks to learn this sport quickly. Let’s have a look at them:
Tips:
1. Detect Your Stance:
Everyone has an intuitive riding stance for board sports. It may vary from sports to sports for some people. You can detect your perspective and type by knowing these two names called ‘regular’ and ‘goofy.’ While you move in a longboard, if you automatically stand with your left foot forward and right foot back, you’re regular. On the other hand, if you put your right foot forward and left foot ago, you’re goofy. As a beginner, this is the first thing you need to find out. There is a great way to detect your natural stance. An exemplar way is to stand on the ground with your feet together and have someone thrust you from the back. This push or thrust helps to accelerate the speed. Following this way, you will notice which foot you spontaneously put forward to keep balance.
2. Balance in an Immovable Mode:
Balancing is the most vital thing that you need to learn while longboarding. If you want to ensure your safety, you should start longboarding on grass or a thick carpet. So the friction can keep the board from rolling. Firstly, step on your static longboard and get into your comfortable stance, your feet about shoulder-broadness apart depending on your board span. It would help you to feel cozy and comfortable without having a stumbling problem.
3. Push and Brake Stance:
A push and brake stance is necessary for all the longboarders. An essential technique precisely needs to be proficient for any longboarding you will stabilize on one leg during your other leg brakes or pushes.
4. Satisfying Rolling:
A long driveway or parking lot can be an excellent place for practicing. You can stand on your longboard, and gravity will keep you rolling. Spin your front foot and shoulders onward, let go of your back foot to the ground. Then put some force to create momentum on your longboard. It will increase your speed and make your ride more stable.
5. Foot Braking:
In the case of any riding, you need to know how to brake. Foot braking is the first skill you’ll need to master. You will need to drop your back foot on the ground brushing with a foot sole. It will slow down the friction and originate a safe brake.
6. Improve Your Turning:
To improve your turning, you must practice longboarding on a flat surface and then on a little slope. You can turn your head, shoulders, and hips according to the turning direction. You must tight your tucks to make less turning on a hillside area.
7. Learn Carving to Slow Down:
The term carving refers to the successful turning on your board with an S shape diagram. Whenever you are riding on a hill or slope, you can change your speed by carving sharply. This method is mainly for slowing down the rate. You have to bend your knees to lower the midpoint of gravity.
8. Practice Riding in Mild Hilly Areas:
After practicing on a smooth road, you can start riding in some moderate hilly places. If you can brake on a flat, you are qualified to step up to a small slope. In this situation, you must carry helmets, gloves, and knee pads.
9. Learn Falling:
Falling is a part of learning any riding tool. Though it sounds weird and horrifying, you will be fat sooner or later. Don’t be scared of hearing this. An essential thing is not to fall on your arm or hand to prevent fracturing your arm or wrist.
10. A Shoulder Roll:
A shoulder roll is a skill that you should know for avoiding such accidents. You have to wrap your arms across your torso. Later you have to land on your forearm and scroll sideways on your shoulder. However, this shoulder roll is a fair process you will require.
Some Easy and Well-known Tricks:
1. Pivot:
Pivot is the most basic trick which you must learn as a beginner. It is a trick just 180 degrees with your body, and your boards will do 180 degrees. It is to wind up your body in the opposite direction to swing before you do the trick. Bending your kneck before doing any longboarding trick is the most decisive rule. It helps you to shift your weight to your front foot, making your board up. Pivot will make your lifting super stylish.
2. Fakie Shovit:
It is very identical to a pivot. In this trick, you have to stand on your tail. But your body will not wind up as you do with pivot. You have to stay in that position. You can start by doing a pivot and then at 90 degrees or more than 90 degrees. You are just going to jump up. The foot on the tail is going to the back to make your board at 180 degrees. This trick will make your practice way easier while you are not that comfortable at jumping.
3. Frontside Pivot:
This trick is quite similar to pivot, but you will not see where you are heading. You have to look over your shoulder, which might sound scary. Start by twisting your body again and finish it creating 180 degrees by bending your knees.
4. Ghost Ride:
Ghost ride is an effortless and easy step. You are going to side off by just riding around. You have to balance your front foot; your other foot will go everywhere, step on the ground. You can go back to your normal position following this way.
5. Ghost Ride Kickflip:
There is a lot of variation in the ghost ride. Ghost ride kickflip is one of the changed versions of it. You have to continue the regular ghost ride and kick the board and landing it very perfectly. Otherwise, you can do the ghost ride in the antipodal direction and do two footsteps and flip your board. To avoid hurting, you need to scoop your board and flip it.
6. Frontside 180 No Comply:
You have to put your front foot on the edge of your board, making a heelside carve. Then your back foot will pop your board and complete 180 degrees. Your board will stay under control by the back foot. You can jump on the board with your front foot.
7. Frontside 360 Tiger Claw:
It is an enjoyable trick to try for a longboarder. It is also safer than any other trick. You have to keep your body weight behind your board while it flys away. So you can grab the board using your hands and give your arm a little twist. In this way, you can jump on the board and ride away clean and smooth.
8. Frontside 360 Pirouette:
It would be best to turn your front foot inwards to wind up your body at 360 degrees. After that, you have to stand still on the board to go with the pace. It is so easy to practice repeatedly.
Completion:
If you are starting to attain the longboard, I believe all these tips and tricks are useful. Following the above rules, you may significantly learn longboarding. These steps and tips can differ from age, personal learning speed, previous experience, and personality. Longboarding can keep you active, which also refreshes your mind. So enjoy this tremendous sport with your friends and family to have some good experiences.