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Pushing and Stopping when Skateboarding

There are a number of different ways to push off but there is really only one correct one. This technique helps a skater to remain balanced and will help to increase the speed. One must have the lead foot on the bolts that are on the front of the board. The opposite foot needs to be extended in front of the body. Then in one motion thrust off with the foot that is on the ground in order to start the skateboard in motion. Then maintain the pushing foot as flat as possible to increase the force and technique. Keep the knees bent so that it can ensure the movement is stable and the body remains balanced.

Any skateboard can reach high speeds while going downhill run, therefore the art of slowing down the skateboard and stopping it is one technique that needs to be learned from the beginning. If one knows how to slow the board down then one can ensure he or she will maintain control of the board even when it reaches a high rate of speed. One should use the same foot that was used to push, to slow down.

If there is a problem and sense the need to slow down then removing the pushing foot off and shoe onto the ground helps in rapid stop. Leaning backwards and balancing out the riding stance and continuing to drag the heel on the ground brings the board to a complete stop. This works very well but one may find you will need to replace the shoes more often.

Shortboards

There is no specific type of short boards. Skateboards are broken into regular boards and long boards. The regular board is between 33 and 35 inches long and are used by the majority of skateboarders. They are used by those that are recreational skaters and professionals who compete in events around the world. The main use for them is the recreational skaters that either skate in parks or up and down the streets where skate parks are not available. The shorter of the skateboards is easier to maneuver and can be turned sharper and used to stop quicker.

The boards are used to perform jumps and to make many different tricks while in competition or while just playing at the local skate park. They are great for jumping over obstacles and making quick tricks that take superior strength and agility. Ramp skating is great with the shorter boards and makes for consistent maneuvers like riding on just two wheels and doing wheelies and spinning. These boards are everything the long boards are not. The shorter boards are easier for any trick other than going downhill or taking long tours on the board.

Freestyle skating was made for these shorter boards as well. Many of the basic tricks that riders first learn and then perfect are done on the shorter boards. This became very apparent in the 1980s when street skating became popular and wide-vert boards had short noses, large soft wheel and slide rails. Many skaters use shopping center parking lots on off hours to practice their techniques when a skate-park is closed or not available in their area.

Swing Boarding and Land Paddling

Swing boarding is done when a skateboard deck is taken and suspended from the pivot point above the rider thereby allowing the rider to then rise above the pivot point. The board then swings and creates a similar movement to a half pipe. This may have come from riders that were sitting around their back yards and swinging on their swing sets. The end results are like a rider swinging in a back and forth motion.

Land paddling is a technique that uses a stick and long pole while on a longboard. The stick is used to propel the board further and further without having to pump. This works out very well if one wants to take a long ride on a beach that has a paved area for bicycles or skateboards. The technique allows one to use the pole or stick much like the pilots of the boats that are all through the canals of Venice. This is great exercise for the shoulders, back and arms and allows for rest of the feet since there will be no need for pumping and with a long board the ride is smoother and much more stable.

There are a number of techniques that can be learned with skateboards and all of them should be learned with patience and lots of practice. The worst thing that can be done is to attempt techniques that are much more difficult that your experience level, which are certain to lead to injuries.

Long Boards

The longboard skateboard is a variation of the skateboard for surfers, and often times are referred to as snowboard or surfboard on wheels. The longboard is used to cruise, slalom race, downhill race and for transportation. The longboards are much different than the short boards and the stunts done on longboards are much different than the ones of short boards.

Longboards usually measure between 33 to 60 inches and there are a number of shapes like the flat nose, pintails, drop decks and drop through decks. Pintails for example allow for a surfy feel where the drop decks are to allow the rider to be closer to the ground and are better for downhill racing due to a lower center of gravity and less drag. The most versatile boards in the group are the mid length boards that are between 37 to 50 inches long. Their weight and bulk do not allow for a lot of stunts but help with momentum and make for a great way to race downhill. The design of a longboard calls for short carves and big turns that are similar to snowboarders and surfers.

The record for travelling the longest distance on a longboard was set in 2006 by David Cornthwaite who skated for over 3,638 miles across Australia from Perth to Brisbane. Touring on a long board is much easier than a shortboard since the momentum helps to maintain the forward motion for a longer stretch of time therefore there is less need for pushing off with your feet.

Kick Turn, Tick-Tack and Manual

The tick tack gives one the opportunity to change direction while the board it still rolling forward. Take the back foot and place it on the back inclined part of the skateboard. This part of the board is known as the tail. Then pushing down on the tail, lifting the front of the skateboard and its wheels off the ground will allow for changing direction. One can move the hips from one side to another and change the skateboards direction.

The kick turn is similar to the Tick tack in that is uses the same motion but this maneuver allows one to move the board a full 180 degrees. When one gets to the top of a skate ramp, pressure put on the tail raises the front of the board and swings it left or right and as one completes the 180 turn one can take the pressure off the back tail and lower the front of the skateboard to get all four wheels back on the ground.

The manual can be learned on a flat surface in order to get used to the balancing technique. Push down on the back of the board (tail) in order to bring life the wheels in front. Put the hands out to balance on the wheels in back. One needs to avoid touching the tail on the ground so it does not scrap in order to increase the overall length of the manual. If this is done on the front wheels of the skateboard it would be known as a nose manual.

Skateboarding Wheels and Safety Equipment

Skateboard wheels were originally made of steel and then subsequently were made of polyurethane. The poly wheels were so good performance wise and traction wise that in 1972 skateboarding started to revive again after six to eight years of plummeting in popularity. Companies started to invest in research and development and little by little better wheels were manufactured.

There are a number of different sizes of wheels for skateboards and when size is talked about it is with regard to the diameter size. The average skater will be happy with wheels that 52 mm but there are other skating activities that use wheels that are larger. Street skaters like to use wheel as large as 55mm while vert skaters like them between 60 and 65mm even though some like them a bit smaller. The cruisers like their wheels to be as large as 75 mm and are for speed and smoother rides.

Safety equipment is essential for every skater from novice to professional. The first piece of safety equipment every skater must have is a helmet. There are many helmets that are lightweight and made of the most technologically strong plastics making them the most durable and best helmets to have. Also needed for safety are elbow pads and knee pads. Theses pads are usually made of soft cushiony fabric on the inside and hard durable plastic on the outside to take the brunt of any fall. Gloves are also great to have since most people have the urge to put out their hands as they fall.