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How to stand on a skateboard; is a common question for beginners. “He who climbs a ladder must begin at the bottom”; is a famous quote from Haikyuu!!. This means that whenever you want to start, you have to start from the bottom.
The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary. For skateboarding, you have to start from the very basics of understanding. So that you do not give up thinking it is too hard.
By the end of this article, I am pretty sure that you will figure out that skateboarding wasn’t as complicated and hard as you thought it was! Once you learn that, you’ll realize that “Skating is infinite!” so you can get up your game in skating and skate along with your friends. Now that you have got an objective of the importance of learning the basics, let’s jump right into your journey to skateboarding!
How to Stand on a Skateboard for Beginners
If you’re new to skateboarding, before starting to move the skateboard it is necessary to know how to stand over it.
Build focus:
Focus is the key element when you are skateboarding. Before skateboarding, try to build your focus, it is easier said than done. Because when you are a beginner there are so many things you worry about like your footing, how you should stand, your direction, etc.
Breathe! Calm yourself down and don’t panic, take a look at the task on hand one thing at a time.
Relax your body. The best way to focus is to listen to your favorite music. It helps relax your mind and this way you will be able to focus on the task at hand.
Stance:
Choose a skateboard stance to stand over the skateboard.
These are some of the basic stances:
- Goofy stance
- Regular stance
- Fakie stance
Regular Stance:
It is the stance in which we put our left foot up the front for balancing on the board and our right foot down to push the board. Right handed people usually use this stance because they like to push the skateboard with their dominant foot.
Goofy Stance:
The stance in which we put our right foot up the front and left foot for pushing is a goofy stance
Fakie Stance:
In this stance, the skateboarder rides backward with their feet in a regular stance and the tail of the board facing in the forward direction.
You can find which one suits you best by checking out which one is your dominant foot. You can check that by observing on which foot you place your weight. However, it depends upon which foot you are comfortable with placing your balance over
Understanding Your Skateboard:
Develop a good understanding of your skateboard. Figure out which skateboard will be best for you. I recommend using a longboard or a cruiser as a beginner. Choose a skateboard with soft wheels for a smooth ride
You can check out which skateboard to use in one of our other articles
Placing of Feet:
Stand with both your feet shoulder width apart. This will help you balance over the skateboard much better by using your base support.
Front Foot:
Put your front foot on the front of the truck. You can check if you have placed the foot in the right place by checking the bolts on the skateboard deck.
Bending of Feet:
Bend your feet to an angle of 45 degrees. Make sure not to twist your knees.
Back Foot:
Place the back foot on the back truck.
Distribution of Weight:
Distribute your weight on both legs. After that slightly bend your knees.
The Direction of the Head:
Turn your head in the direction of movement. By doing so It’s easier to maintain balance and move forward because we can know we are going.
Air Balance:
Use your hands to maintain balance. Like an airplane needs its wings to balance and fly high, you will also need to use your hands to balance, and then the sky is the limit.
Risk Factors While Standing on a Skateboard:
Beware that your life is very precious. You don’t want to neglect the safety measures that will save your life. There is a high risk of falling from the skateboard. It can cause some serious injury. So it is necessary to take safety measures before you start to move on your skateboard
Choosing Shoes:
Wear shoes that are not too loose on your feet or else you might lose balance. For a beginner, it is necessary to use skate shoes made especially for skateboarding.
Safety Gear:
Wear a safety helmet so that it protects you from injuries to the head. Put on knee and elbow pads and wrist guards. It is super important to take this safety measure.
Grip Tape:
Grip tape is a gritty sand papery layer applied on your skateboard’s deck so that your shoes can grip the board. It helps to maintain your balance and prevents you from falling
Surface:
Start with riding the skateboard on a smooth surface or flat ground first. It will prevent any bumps or other obstacles that may come in the way. For a beginner, it is hard to maintain balance while looking out for obstacles in the way.
Holding the Skateboard:
Hold your skateboard in a way that does not cause damage to you or the skateboard. Hold the skateboard horizontally under your arm. With your arm centered between the trucks and your fingers curved at the bottom edge of the deck.
Balancing:
After you have learned the basic precautions to take and how to stand on a skateboard the next step is to get those wheels rolling. For that, you will have to start by balancing yourself on a moving skateboard because it is a completely new story once the stake board starts moving.
Pushing the Skateboard:
Push the skateboard carefully. Make sure to not do this hastily or you may fall face first on the ground.
Footing:
Cautiously place your dominant foot firmly on top of the board. Practice the placement of your footing without moving the skateboard first as long as you are not entirely comfortable and ready for it.
Pushing:
Swoop a push off to lift your leg and put it back on the board. Don’t get too fast in the beginning.
Position:
Slowly move into a riding position by shifting your foot sideways. Place your pushing foot on the back of the skateboard.
Practice:
Practice placements of your foot in a manner that you feel comfortable.
Hand Movements:
Try balancing by using hand movements, tilting your head and body, and leaning on your ankles and knees as practiced in How To Stand On A Skateboard.
Weight:
Deposit your weight on the balls of your feet so that it is easier to shift your posture and move the skateboard. It absorbs any shock from your lower leg muscles.
Things to Avoid:
Tricks:
Avoid playing tricks at the start. Don’t rush and do one thing at a time until you have completely mastered how to normally move on a skateboard. After that, you can enjoy playing tricks and showing off to your friends.
Inclined Edges:
Avoid getting onto the inclined edges that are the nose and tail of the skateboard.
Leaning:
Prevent yourself from leaning in too much when stepping on the skateboard. It might make you lose balance and trip from the skateboard.
Avoid swaying
How Do I Get Over My Fear of Falling on a Skateboard?
If you’re trying to get hang of skateboarding ,it is almost impossible to avoid falls.
But should I give up skating?
Nah,
That’s not what a sportsman does.
Instead you should keep the following tips in mind while trying to master the craft
Don’t Forget to Wear Safety Gears
To help you build up your confidence and to reduce the fear of falling, always wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. It will help you reduce your anxiety and make you feel safer.
Start Slow and Safe
For beginners it is better to start skateboarding on a smooth surface, it will help you to focus on balance and basic movements without the fear of falling.
Learn how to push, stop, and balance before trying any expert tricks.
Learn with a Positive Mindset
Enjoy small victories, learn from every fall, and analyze what’s going wrong and what you can do better to prevent it next time.
Visualize yourself skating smoothly, it will help to build your confidence and make you mentally strong enough to overcome your fear.
Don’t Take It Hard
Skating with friends is also a brilliant way to overcome your fears. Skateboarding with your pals makes it not only enjoyable but also pushes you to make things better and more fun.
Practice more to build up your confidence, and set achievable goals like riding for a certain distance or mastering a specific trick. It will boost your confidence and will motivate you to do better.
Learn How to Fall Safely
Well, it seems a little bit ironic but trust me you can’t avoid falling but what you can do is learn how to fall safely.
Practice falling in a controlled environment like on grass or a gym mat to get used to the sensation and learn how to roll or slide to reduce the impact.
Conclusion:
To stand on a skateboard you need to clear your mind and put effort into it. You can try one of the stances I.e regular or goofy.
Practice proper posture and foot placements. Put your weight at the center of your body. By maintaining a squatting position and standing on the balls of your feet to absorb any shock waves.
Practice on a soft surface first and learn to use hand movements.
After you complete this tutorial you will be able to stand on the skates and be ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Stand on a Skateboard:
How do you stand on a skateboard without falling?
Perch on the balls of your feet this way it is easier to get control of your body while moving and shifting. Put the skateboard on a hard carpet so that it can’t move from its place easily. In this way, you can practice foot placements. This will help you learn how to stand on a skateboard without falling.
How to stand on a skateboard as a left handed?
As a left handed, it is better to stand using a Goofy stance. It depends on your preference.
How do you stand on a skateboard if you are right handed?
Use a Regular stance if you are right handed. Though it depends upon your preferences.
How to stop on a skateboard?
At the beginner level apply brakes by using Foot Braking. Turn your front foot forward and also turn your upper body and head forward. Transfer your weight on the front foot. When you are feeling steady on your front foot use the back foot to stop the skateboard. Try to touch the ground with your heels initially. Apply light force to the ground with your feet until you stop. Apply even pressure for a smooth stop.