Blog #10: How to longboard

Similar to a skateboard, longboards are designed for smooth easy coasting or downhill slaloms at breakneck speeds. An experienced skater has precise balance on the board, familiarity with the board through practice, and more importantly courage. First things first you must learn if you are more comfortable riding with a "Standard," left foot in front, or "Goofy," right foot in front, stance. Once you have established your preferred stance, find a flat and smooth area to practice your balance, personally I love the feel of riding on a tennis court. The key to balancing on your board is to always keep your bellybutton over the board and keep your knees bent. Focus on these two tips until you are comfortable riding, maintaining speed and turning. As fun as it is to ride in circles on a tennis court, most longboarders love the smooth snowboarding feel of slaloming downhill roads as fast as they can, which is where courage is key. Going downhill requires nothing more than courage and practice, the only technique required to control your speed is winding back and forth making sharper cuts and curves to create drag against the pavement. After all, if you lose control you'll learn as quickly as I did that your face makes a great brake-pad when it comes time to stop!