Longboarding is very much similar to skateboarding, except for the long size of its board which has a wide variety of shapes. Longboards are quite good for cruising, carving, and downhill racing. For enjoying these activities, you need to learn how to ride a longboard. These are becoming more and more popular with the infusion of dance and gymnastic tricks that involve freestyle and precise movements.

The longboards are quite bigger than skateboards, around 33” to 60” in length with 9” to 12” in width. There is a huge variety of shapes, such as pintails, drop decks, swallowtails, flat-nose riders, and drop-through decks, with modifications such as wheel cutouts. Longboarding is a versatile sport, which allows you to travel, commute, carve, dance, surf, and fluidly perform various activities. 

This article focuses on various methods of riding the longboards in a safe and fun way. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, safety is a must for everyone. Longboarding comes with great fun, and no doubt, you will be tempted for trying out downhill racing and ghost riding. So for collective safety, read the article and learn how to ride a longboard with simple steps. 

How to ride a longboard downhill

As much as it is fun, it can be dangerous too. While riding downhill, position yourself into a balanced stance and start slowly. Keep your feet loose and slightly bent at the knees, don’t be nervous as it causes your muscles to tense up and you wobble.

Keep most of your weight on the front trucks, bend your upper body too and lean forward. Since you’re balanced, start riding speedily, and if you want to stop, try making carves or do a foot brake. Keep focused on riding smoothly at a steady pace, and avoid rough surfaces and hilly debris that could be dangerous. 

How to ride a longboard cruiser for beginners

For beginners, the key is balance. Before you learn how to ride a longboard, practice balancing on the board. Start by learning to push yourself first and then balancing on the board with both feet parallel, comfortably. For turning, you must learn to keep your feet parallel, and then little by little shift your body weight and lean towards the side edges. Lean towards the front-side edge for turning right and the back-side edge for turning left.

During the whole time, keep your trucks tight so that you can control the board and not fall. The best method to stop the board is a foot brake, which involves dragging your back foot on the ground to slow down and finally stop. Remember, you’re a beginner, so safety gear is crucial with patience.

How to ride a longboard surfboard

The first step is to move to an area with fewer surfers and get hang of the board. Start by sitting on your longboard and feeling the water move in a rhythm of waves you can wait for a wave. Once you spot a good wave, lay back on the board and start paddling with your legs and arms while turning back to face the shore.

When you receive a slight hit on the back of the board, give a few more paddles and then stand quickly when the wave comes in a relaxed manner. Adjust your footing while leaning front and back with stability and bend your knees along with your upper body. Keep the balance and land safely. Practicing the technique is important, so you get no injuries. 

How to ride a longboard skateboard for beginners

If you’re a beginner, learning how to ride a longboard skateboard can be very fun. Begin with placing your feet on the board at shoulder width or a little more. Then press your knees, bend them while standing, and crouch down a little with your body relaxed.

To get moving, push the board with your foot to get speed quickly. Stopping is also important while riding on a longboard. You can either stop by foot braking to come to a gentle stop or bail onto a grassy area and roll away.

Then you need to learn to carve, you can practice it by shifting your weight to the side you want to turn, leaning towards that direction with your heel or toe edge. 

Try carving gently and slowly start by cruising over a flat area then over slopes and once you’re comfortable with gentle slopes, try it a little faster. Always remember to wear safety gear and be aware of the obstacles in the way. 

How to ride an electric longboard

For riding an electric longboard, you have to be careful of its speed and thus, learn how to ride a longboard by making more balanced movements. Begin by placing your feet on the deck shoulder-width apart, with a dominant foot forward stance.

Then get into the balancing posture (non-stiff/non-firm), with your arms relaxed and spread out, head upright and high, and a little bend in the knees all the time. Control the speed of the board by carving, rotating your whole body along with the board while changing directions. Begin with your torso and shoulders, then go with the flow.

It is easy to change directions by rotating your body (torso and shoulder) in the required direction. This method helps you with a clean and successful carve by leaning your shoulder inwards, causing your hips to rate, and putting a little pressure on the toes. You can do the same with the forward stance. It is to be noted that these techniques require perfection over time because an electric board can speed up too much giving an injury.

How to do a ghost ride on a longboard

Ghost riding is like dancing on the longboard. It is kind of a trick, where you jump off the board and then jump back on the board while moving. Tricky isn’t it? Still, people find it amazingly challenging and practice to become a pro. Start by placing your feet shoulder-width apart, between the wheels.

Then, place your front foot in the center and make it perpendicular to the back foot. Move your back foot off the board, around the front leg, and jump off the board with your front foot while pushing it forward. This way, the board rides alongside you.

Then, keeping your back foot on the ground, turn your front leg around it back to the board, continuing the motion. 

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