If you are a longboarding enthusiast and don’t know how to or where to begin, this article is the perfect piece for you. Longboards are slightly different from skateboards. They come in various shapes, sizes, and lengths. But generally, longboards are longer than conventional skateboards. Compared to skateboards, longboards are steadier and have more footing and toughness due to bigger wheel measures and lower rubber hardness of the wheel. Numerous longboards utilize trucks (axles) that have diverse geometric parameters than skateboards. Longboarding has competitive races downslope where longboarders can reach speeds up to 60 mph. The wider turning sweep of longboards, as well as their capacity to coast long distances make them more reasonable for cruising and commuting on lanes. They give an adrenaline rush to the adventure-loving riders. Longboarding is smooth and rhythmical with a flow to it, whereas skateboarding tends to be more dangerous. Other than that, skateboarding is generally used to perform jumps, whereas longboarding is surfing – optimized for cruising and carving. If you are just starting your journey with longboards, things might be a little difficult for you to get a hold of. But, once you have done your research about the tricks and tips on longboarding, your learning curve will flatline in no time and you will become a pro. So, let’s get started on the longboarding tips for beginners.
- Selecting the Right Kind of Longboard:
Longboards come in several sizes and shapes, and the “right” board generally contrasts from one rider to another. You need to consider the measure of the board, the shape of the deck, your ability level, and expected riding goals are a few of the variables when looking for the perfect longboard for you. There are numerous brands and models around nowadays, and way too many parameters to consider. Selecting the first board is certainly a challenging assignment. Beginners are ordinarily uncertain about whether they should get a longboard or a shortboard. We propose you begin small with a shorter board and work your way up as you learn the ropes. You should select a steady and strong one that will not fall apart in your initial stage of learning.
- Choosing Your Perfect Stance:
Your stance could be a vital portion of learning how to ride a Longboard. Each of us features a special natural position for riding board sports. There are indeed cases where this position can shift from a sport to another. The position does not apply to how you put your feet on your longboard but moreover how you hold the rest of your body when riding. To put it another way, it means your position on your board and how you stand on it. Other than how you position your feet, the orientation of your shoulders and hips, the degree of twisting in your knees, as well as the leaning of your torso, choose your longboard position. Before starting to explore this sport, you should decide what type of rider you want to be. Find out if you are comfortable with your right leg forward or left leg forward. A simple way to decide is by taking help from a friend. Ask someone to push you while keeping both of your legs on the board. While stumbling, notice which foot you put forward. If it is the left foot, that means you are what they call “goofy” and if it is the right one, you are “regular”. The rest of the techniques largely depend on whether you are regular or goofy.
- Practice Your Fall:
This may sound crazy, but you should also plan on how you going to fall. Select a favorable posture for falling. This will help you from bigger injuries if you face any accidental falls. Longboarding could be a sport that highlights a lot of falls and rolls. Beginners and experienced riders alike can fall prone to falling at whatever point they get on the longboard. To sustain harm after your fall, riders wear different protective equip. the art of falling is what will secure you against extreme or lasting wounds. The most perfect way to go around falling is to tuck your arms or hands around your torso as opposed to impulses of putting out your hands. Also, attempt to land on the ground utilizing your lower arm and roll sideways on either of your shoulders to constrain the effect. This will save you a few broken bones and bruised knees, and as a noob, you should attempt practicing Tucking and rolling at home on a yoga mat before taking the board for a ride.
- Practice to Push:
In case you’re a beginner Longboarder, you ought to practice moving forward when you begin balancing the board. Utilize your rear foot to drive forward. Make sure you hold your body is free when making a push since it’ll help you to balance. While standing on your longboard within the grass or a carpet, turn your front foot so that your toes point forward toward the nose. At the same time turn your shoulders and hips to moreover confront forward. As you are doing that, lift your back foot off the deck, adjusting your front leg. Your front foot being turned forward will help you to stabilize. Moving your weight onto your front leg, twist your front knee to lower your back foot to the ground without moving your hips. Touch the ground with your back foot to give yourself a push forward. This might seem a bit complicated, but you will soon master this technique once you get started.
- Learn Your Brake:
Now you got to learn when to stop boarding which means your braking technique. You can follow either the foot brake or Coleman slide. For the foot brake technique, put the balance on your front foot while holding most of your weight over the foot on the longboard. Then carefully exchange your back foot to the ground. Firstly, do nothing with the foot. Then gradually skim over the ground, and build weight to halt the board slowly. Make sure you approach the ground along with your foot level while keeping your toes are lifted, so as not to capture your toes on any split or bump as you scrub the floor to brake. Try to do this as delicately as possible and the brake will go easily. If you apply as well much weight, you might break too forcefully, lose the board or even trip over.
- Learn to Slow Down the Speed:
Carving in an S shape will help you to reduce the increasing speed while you are boarding down a hill. To carve, move your body weight to the toe edge of your foot, and after that move your weight to the heel side. While carving, twist the knees to lower the center of gravity. Attempt to thrust the knees forward, as in weight on the toes, to do toeside carves. You’ll have to drag the butt in reverse, centering weight on the heels, to do heelside carve. To memorize how to carve properly, practice on a street with a slight decay or in a parking spot. Always make sure to wear a helmet while you longboard. You’ll carve with wider turns to plummet the slope gradually or carve with smaller turns to descend with more speed.
- Protective Gears and Accessories:
After choosing the board, your stance, and your fall technique, it’s time to pick out the necessary accessories for your sport. As for protective gear, helmets, knee and elbow pads, and gloves are a must. For accessories, you should select a good longboard carrier to carry your longboard.
Helmets are security gears to shield your head in case you drop accidentally on the concrete. Don’t just select a random helmet. pick one that fits your head properly. Always wear slide gloves when riding your longboard. Slide gloves are security gears to assist to avoid any harm to your hands if you fall as well as to hold balance as you slide and move. you should always wear Elbow and Knee pads while riding. The kneepad guards your knee against direct hits and avoids contact burns. The more turns and flips you are doing all through your ride, the more essential it gets to be to wear your security pads. Elbow pads do the same for your hands.
For accessories, you need a longboard carry bag. You can always commute on a longboard. Sometimes you need to get off and carry it in a longboard carrier. A longboard carrier will protect your board from tractions too.
Conclusion:
If you are a beginner at longboarding, don’t expect to master all the skills overnight. Along with the aforementioned tips, practice the sport exclusively in a safe place without hurting yourself and with protective gear. Nothing can beat hardcore practice while learning to successfully longboard. When you feel confident, take your longboard carry bag and set out to explore this amazing sport. You will surely love the rush in your blood.