Essential Longboarding Skills

Longboarding has been around since the 1970s, although it wasn't until later that it gained popularity. Longboards are great for getting around on, cross-training for other sports such as surfing and snowboarding and riding in skate parks and on the street. A longboard's size and construction make it easy to use as a mode of transportation; larger wheels aid it in getting over bumps and cracks in the sidewalk.

What's the Difference?
The variations between a shortboard and a longboard extend further than just looks, although that is the most obvious difference. While a shortboard is short and has hard wheels, a longboard is longer-anywhere from 34 to 50 inches-and wider, with a bigger wheelbase and larger, softer wheels. Longboards also come in a variety of shapes, while a shortboard is generally one standard shape.

The ride itself is another huge difference between longboarding and shortboarding. While there are some longboarders who use their skateboards at the parks and on ramps, the majority are just cruising. Longboarding is similar to surfing in that you simply ride, carving and feeling the wind as you go.

What You'll Need
You'll definitely need a longboard. Longboards, unlike their shortboard counterparts, usually come already set up. You don't have to worry about which trucks or bearings you'll need, or what wheels will work best. You can change your setup by visiting a local skate shop, and you can also get new wheels there when yours wear down.

The longer your board is, the more stable it will be. This means rocks, imperfections in the road and other obstacles won't be felt as much as they would on a shorter board. If you plan on cruising, go with a longer board. It won't be able to turn as quickly as a shorter board, but it's great for getting around.

You will also need flat-bottomed shoes. Although skateboarding shoes are preferable, they're not always necessary. Any shoes with a flat bottom will work for this, except sandals. Sandals are not recommended when you're learning, as your feet can easily come unbalanced and you'll be more likely to fall. 

You may want to wear a helmet, particularly if you'll be riding near streets. This is helpful especially for beginners. If you plan on downhill skating or anything else risky, a helmet is needed. Knee and elbow pads can make learning a little less painful, and wrist guards are always a good idea, since broken wrists are one of the most common skateboarding injuries.

Getting Started
It's important to know which foot you should have in the front and the back of the board. This is different for each individual and helps determine your balance as well as your ability to maneuver. Most right-handed people are regular-footed, meaning they keep their right foot back and their left foot toward the front of the board. Goofy-footers are generally lefties and ride with their right foot forward. There are plenty of exceptions to the right-hand, left-hand rule, so decide if you're more comfortable regular or goofy. One way of doing this is to stand in front of a line with your toes even. Pretend you're about to run a race and step forward. Which foot did you step with? That's likely to be your rear foot. 

Stopping
Before you go any further, you should know how to stop. You're not ready to hit the road until you can make a controlled stop. One method of stopping is to drag your rear foot, called foot braking. This is when skateboarding shoes come in handy. They're built to withstand heavy wear and tear, and your foot won't bear the pain of the drag. Try to keep your foot flat on the ground, which works best if you're not going too fast.

Another easy option is to simply ride until you run out of speed. Don't continue to push, and wait until the longboard comes to a stop.

Bailing, or jumping off your board, is advantageous if you feel you're going too fast to control your board or you are in danger of crashing. This is as easy as it sounds; just jump off your board and aim it at something that won't damage it (or that your board won't damage). Try not to jump off while your board is heading toward a street unless you must to prevent injury to yourself. Keep your board out of water, which can warp or delaminate the deck and rust certain fittings.

Another option is a sliding stop, sometimes called a Coleman Slide. This is best for advanced skaters and involves a squatting, sliding motion. You will want to wear gloves when attempting this, as it involves crouching down and dragging your hands along the pavement until the board comes to a stop.

Cruising
Cruising is for you if you're more into the soul of longboarding or want to get around or just go for a ride. To begin, place your feet about as far apart as the trucks on your board. Your front foot should be facing out, at about a 45-degree angle. Your back foot will remain mostly sideways, with your toes just a few inches out. Keep your knees a little loose and try crouching down and then standing back up. You want to get comfortable on your board.

Take your back foot off the board and give yourself a push. The more you push, the faster you'll go. Once you're satisfied with your speed, return your foot to its original position on the longboard. 

You'll also want to practice on a small hill, even if downhill longboarding isn't for you. You're bound to come across a hill or two in your travels, and you don't want to learn the hard way with roadrash. To practice, find a low hill, even a small driveway, and let yourself roll down it. You won't need to push, just roll. Keep your center of gravity low to help yourself balance. Remember that the lower you crouch, the faster you will go.

The next step is to learn to carve. This isn't difficult to do; just lean in the direction that you want to turn. You can put pressure on either your heels or your toes, depending on where you want to go. Practice carving left and right, remembering to keep pushing off with your back foot to maintain speed. 

Downhill
For downhill longboarding, you may want to wear additional protective gear besides the helmet. Downhill skateboarding always carries the risk of the unknown-cars, running children, animals-in addition to high speeds that make it difficult to stop. Look for streets that aren't busy. Having a friend as a lookout is a good idea as well.

Downhill longboarding is very similar to cruising, except you're on a downward slope and going much faster. Your stance for downhill skateboarding is different than that of cruising. Your feet should be wider apart than the trucks, both feet facing forward. The more forward-facing your feet are, the faster you'll go. To gain even more speed, put your weight on your front foot. 

Downhill longboarding also offers the option of contests and slalom. You can find information about contests at your local skate shop.