Coleman Slide
A technique you should consider mastering is sliding. It’s a widely used method to stop quickly. Sliding requires you to move your board out so the wheels glide without gripping the surface.longboardAny slide works. A well-known one, especially suitable for beginners, is the Coleman slide.
This sliding method was invented by the iconic Cliff Coleman in the 1970s. He continues to perform slides even today. The Coleman slide is often regarded as one of the top slides for novice longboarders.
Prioritizing safety is essential. Descending hills can be risky. Make sure to wearhelmetand protective gear! Very crucial. For sliding, you will require slidingglovesgloves. These are gloves equipped with pucks on the palms. Sliding gloves let you place your hands on the ground at speed without injury while sliding. They function as brakes.
Begin with small steps, skate in a large, flat area such as an empty parking lot. Gradually progress to a mildly steep hill, ensuring it has space to slide for 15 - 30 feet.
Advice: You need to gain enough speed to slide and ensure there’s enough room to slide 180 degrees. Avoid reaching too far back with your hand, as it may cause you to fall backward onto your backside.
Downhill Tuck
If you're entirely new to the concept of the downhill tuck, also referred to as the speed tuck, it involves positioning your body and limbs to minimize wind resistance. The downhill tuck is commonly used in downhill races, but it can also be applied, to a degree, in freeride and various other riding styles.
Patrick Switzer exemplifies the perfect downhill tuck. Patrick Switzer, also known as “P-Swiss,” is recognized globally as a champion in downhilllongboarding.
Initially, the speed tuck can feel uncomfortable and may create air pockets, but practice leads to improvement. You will notice that tucking is more challenging when in motion, so starting on a slower course is recommended. Besides the difficulty in maintaining stability while learning to tuck, you will also experience significant leg strain.
Heelside Stand-up 180 Slide
Before attempting this slide, you should already be familiar with carving and slowing down. It's simple to learn at very slow speeds and helps you get accustomed to controlling your wheels without placing your hand on the ground. As you gain speed with this, you'll discover it's one of the easiest slides to perform at high speeds, partly because it's easy to run out of it. If you're moving too fast to run, you can simply drop to your knees and slide it out; remember to wear knee pads if you choose this option!
To begin, position your front leg at the same distance from the trucks as your back leg and at a slight angle. The closer your feet are to each other, the more stable and longer the slide will be. Accelerate slightly, crouch down, start rotating your torso, and push the board forward with your back leg while keeping your weight centered over the board. Rotate your shoulders to switch, and your board will follow naturally.
Manual
A manual is a freestyle longboarding maneuver where you shift your weight to either the back or front of your board to lift the front or rear wheels off the ground without the tail or nose making contact with the surface.
When learning a manual, it's best to practice in an open area with flat ground and no obstacles, like a parking lot. When doing a manual, balancing is key. To start, gradually put weight on your back foot and gently lean slightly forward with your upper body while doing so. The increased pressure on your rear foot should lift the skateboard’s front wheels. Continue this for as long as possible. Focus on maintaining your natural balance. Slowly transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot. Return your upper body to a natural upright position as you do this.
180 Pirouette
A 180 pirouette is a half-spin around your own axis performed on one foot while moving forward. To prevent your back foot from landing on the ground instead of the board, practice is recommended if you want it to be a seamless movement.
To begin, place your front foot in the center of your board, lower your body and spring up, swinging your arms across your body. A good tip is to practice stepping around your board to get comfortable with the movement.
Peter Pan
The Peter Pan is a longboard dance trick where you walk in a criss-cross pattern with feet parallel to each other in the middle of the deck.
Start cross-stepping with your leading leg, place your back foot in front of and parallel to your front foot. Ensure you put your toe down first (followed by your heel). This allows you the flexibility to smoothly lift the foot that was previously on the board. (Repeat steps 2+3 if desired.) When your back leg is crossed in front, step your front foot back at an angle into your original stance. Adjust your back foot to a wide stance for stability.
Ghostride
A Ghostride is a trick where you jump off the board while in motion and jump back on again.
To start, move your front leg back to the center of the board. The back foot moves around the front leg and leaves the board. At this point, you must use your front leg to jump off the board and simultaneously push it forward so that it continues to move alongside you. Then, simply jump back onto the board.
Pivot
To perform this trick, you will need to load the nose of your board and use your shoulders and upper body to initiate the pivot.
You will notice that the amount of weight on the nose will determine how much your wheels drag across the surface. The more weight you apply to the nose, the less controlled but easier it will be to move the board. I refer to this as the “whipping” motion of the pivot.
To start, place your front foot on the nose, back foot in the middle. Then begin turning your body, shifting your weight to your front foot and lifting your rear wheels off the ground. At the end of the movement, transfer some weight to your new leading leg and ride off in switch.
Tiger Claw
The tiger claw is a trick where a rider jumps off the board, spins it with their hand to a 360° rotation in front of them, and then jumps back onto the board.
Initially, you need to move your front leg to the side, slightly turning your body to the frontside. While doing this, you need to pop your board with your back foot so it flies up, already rotating behind you. Catch the board under the trucks with your front hand, begin spinning the board with your entire hand, and finish by bringing it under you with a wrist motion. Conclude by jumping onto the board as soon as it lands on the ground.
Hippie jump
A hippie jump is a move where you leap over an obstacle while the board rolls underneath it, ideally landing back on the board on the opposite side of the obstacle.
Start by shifting your weight towards the back of your board as you near the obstacle; this will help you clear it and land securely back on your board. As you begin your jump, leap straight upwards. The timing may be challenging, but it will improve with practice. Aim to land centred in your usual stance. Fear may cause your body to naturally want to land with your feet off the sides of the board. You can overcome this fear by practising jumps on your board without any obstacles.
