Interested in learning how to longboard? Start here!
Over the past few months I’ve been getting anywhere from 30-50+ message requests per day on my Instagram from people wanting to learn how to longboard and I LOVE answering them. Although, I quickly noticed I spent hours answering the same questions and sending the same links to different people over and over. This quick guide is here to answer some of the most common questions that I’ve been receiving about longboarding in significantly more detail than I can through direct message.
Click through the 6 most frequently asked questions that slid into my DMs the past few weeks. Number 6 will shock you 🥵
Please don’t hesitate to write a comment below, DM me on Instagram, or shoot me an email if you ever have any specific questions. I’m always game to help out! <3
1 - “What longboard should I buy?”
This is by far the most asked longboarding question and depends a lot on what type of riding interests you most and your budget. When choosing your first longboard, there are 4 main categories: cruise, dance/freestyle, free ride, and downhill.
30+ different longboards at the Woodwings longboard camp.
Types of Longboards
Cruisers
Cruiser boards are typically cheaper and smaller than boards in the other categories making them accessible and easy to bring with you. They’re made for riders that want something simple and affordable to get from point A to B.
Dance and Freestyle boards
Boards for longboard dancing and freestyle are big, stable, and are the best type of longboard for tricks. They often have a bit of flex to cushion the ride. I almost always recommend these types of boards to new riders because they’re simply the most enjoyable to ride. The bigger platform feels much more comfortable to ride than cruisers and the possibility for tricks is endless. If you want something to vibe around on and learn some tricks, dance and freestyle boards are the move.
Freeride boards
Longboard freeriding was my favorite discipline over the past 10 years. It combines elements from downhill longboarding, longboard sliding, and longboard dancing in a unique and diverse style. Freeride boards are often mid-sized and have tails. These types of long boards are the most versatile of any category and make a great longboard for tricks of all styles.
Downhill boards
Downhill can be a lot of fun but is definitely the most dangerous style of longboarding. High speeds on open roads is probably not a good idea, and your parents probably won’t approve of it, but yolo. These boards are very stiff and very stable to help give you confidence when going fast, but don’t feel great at slow speeds and tricks can be pretty limited.
More info about different types of boards, trucks, wheels, bearings
Learn more about all the different parts of a longboard from Stoked Ride Shop. They really really went all out on these guides!
2 - “How do I start longboarding and what should I learn first?”
This video from Hans Wouters is the best place to start longboarding. He talks about the basics of pushing, position, and general longboard terminology. Besides this video, Hans has an entire YouTube playlist of videos for beginners specifically entitled “Learn How To Longboard”.
Good Foot Position = stability
The number one thing I recommend people start out with is proper foot position. Unlike a bicycle, longboards and skateboards don’t have specific places for your feet, hands, etc. This makes it difficult to know how to properly position yourself for maximum comfort and stability. Your basic riding position should be with your feet balanced on the center line of the board with your heels and toes touching each rail. In general, you should ride with your feet pointed forward slightly to make sure you’re steering from the front.
An example of good foot position for regular riders (left foot forward).
One common problem I see is that people ride with their back foot too far off the toe-side and their front foot too far off the heel-side edge. This creates a huge imbalance in weight distribution and will make it much more difficult to get comfortable with any speed or tricks.
Think you can’t progress if you’re the only one that longboards in your area? Click here to check out my buddy Matvey Klimov’s story on how he went from skating alone in a small town to becoming a sponsored longboarder.
3 - “What are the first longboarding tricks for beginners?”
10 Beginner Longboarding Tricks List
I made a list of the first 10 longboard tricks for beginners that you should learn. I recommend trying them in this order because the skills you gain from the first tricks will likely help with the later ones. Although, feel free to experiment and give all of them a try before getting stuck on one for too long.
Amp Skate
Recently, I released a new longboarding website called Amp Skate with the intention of making learning longboard tricks easy and intuitive. With Amp, you’re able to filter by difficulty, skating style, and other attributes, as well as search for specific tricks directly.
4 - “How do I not hurt myself while longboarding?”
The biggest advice I can give to new riders is to wear as much safety gear as you can get your hands on. Helmet, knee pads, slide gloves/wrist guards, etc. Sure you might look a little goofy, but protective gear gives you the added confidence to try new things and progress faster without the fear of getting injured.
Here is a video from longboard dancing Guru and Docksession founder, Lotfi Lamaali, on getting started with safety and learning how to fall.
5 - “How do you slow down or stop a longboard?”
It’s important to never go faster than you can comfortably stop. In the beginning, jumping off your board definitely counts as a way to stop! You might feel fine riding at 30mph, but you never know when some car is going to pull out of a driveway or run through a stop sign. It happens more often than you think – trust me!
There are 3 main ways you can learn to slow down on your longboard: foot braking, carving, and sliding.
Watch this video from Spencer Smith of DB Longboards to learn the basics of getting started with all 3 ways to stop and slow down on your longboard.
6 - “Is there a place I can go to learn longboarding?”
Yes! Camp Woodwings in France is the ultimate place to learn how to longboard. Last year I worked as the head instructor for 5 weeks coaching riders, ages 14-46, from all over the world. It was an amazing experience. They offer 4 different week-long longboard camps throughout the summer. Some sessions are more focused on the basics, others on downhill and racing. Whatever type of longboarding you’re most interested in, you’re sure to level up your skills, make new friends, and leave with unforgettable memories.
Below is a video from Gregoire of Échappées Urbaines from last year.
Still have questions? Private longboard lessons may be for you!
I offer private longboard lessons for all skill levels in person and remotely via Zoom. Click below for more info and to schedule a session.