Sometimes, cars, bikes, or any vehicle may not be the ones you need for relaxing rides. They might be a hassle to bring or could be costly in a few instances. With these, let’s narrow down your choices with a skateboard. Using a skateboard commuting somewhere is easy and manageable.
But before anything else, let me teach you how to cruise on a skateboard first. That way, you’ll know the best practices in the execution of this kind of skateboard ride. Take note of the fundamental processes below.
- Proper stance
- Turning
- Braking
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
Cruising, unlike any other trick, is a skill common to all skateboarders. It’s easy to perform, but it also requires the perfect piece of equipment to make your experience a good one. Here are some things you need for this tutorial.
A skateboard deck for cruising
You tend to stand longer on your board when cruising, which is why you need a quality deck to hold your weight. Whether you’re a teen, an adult, or someone who weighs higher than average, the safest deck to pick should have 7-8 layers of quality materials. These components can be maple, bamboo, fiberglass, or a combination of these.
For the width, choose a range of around 7″ to 9″. These deck sizes offer the most comfortable stance to any rider. And for the length, you can have one as small as 23″ to 31″ for better maneuverability.
A set of quality wheels
Now, to make sure you’re using the appropriate skateboard for cruising around town, let’s start with the wheel selection.
The trusted wheel hardness for cruising should go around 78a to 87a. Rollers at this range have a perfect grip to make them roll over cracks and bumps on the road. So, whether riding downhill or on any rough surface, you can be sure about your stability.
Another wheel aspect we need to consider is the diameter. And to know the perfect diameter to choose, you have to match it with your deck width.
If your skateboard deck is around 40″, select a wheel diameter ranging from 70mm-75mm. For deck widths at 34″-42″, sizes 68 mm-72 mm are ideal. Lastly, the smallest wheel range you can pick should go around a 60mm-67mm diameter.
Safety equipment
- A helmet to protect your head in case of a bad fall.
- Second, your arms act as defensive body parts in case you fall on your skateboard. So, it’s best to prepare a pair of elbow supports to reduce the impact on your arms’ joints.
- Most of your movements are dependent on your knees, which means you will have to guard them using knee pads or supports.
Steps for Skateboard Cruising
Perhaps you now have an idea of how to commute on a skateboard. This skill is not fancy nor too hard to master, unlike complicated cruiser boards tricks. But to ensure your progress, consider the following steps below.
Step 1: Proper footing
The beauty of cruising lies in your balance on the board. And to achieve this, you will need to practice your foot positioning. So, start by choosing which foot to place in front. Take note that you need to use your most dominant foot forward to control your skateboard better.
Place your front foot on the board with your shoe’s tip pointed to the inner front truck bolts. Your front foot should be parallel to the length of the deck. Then, follow with your back foot with your heel pointed on the inner bolts of the rear trucks. It need not be perpendicular to the board’s length, only slightly angled outwards.
Step 2: Balancing
After achieving the correct footing on the deck, you’ll have to train your body to adapt to it and gain balance. In a stationary position, perform the foot position you did in the previous step.
Use your body to balance on the board. You can open your arms or bend your knees to obtain your core. From there, begin to minimize your movements until you no longer have to rely on moving your knees and any body part for balance on the deck.
Step 3: Pushing
This step is where you incorporate your movements, positioning, and balance.
Let’s start by placing your front foot the same way you did in the first step. Your back foot, this time, will have to do most mechanical work as you’re about to perform a walking motion. But unlike walking, pushing on a skateboard requires enough force to gain some speed.
So, start with a walking motion from your back foot. When doing it, your front should also be pushing your board forward. Do these steps simultaneously until you gain some speed. By then, you’re ready to put your back foot on the board.
Step 4: Turning
There will be times when you want to get ahead of a skateboarder in front of you or skip a road obstacle. To do this, you will have to practice leaning on the skateboard.
For illustration, let’s say you use your right as your front foot. If you want to turn right, you have to lean with your shoulders to your right. Try shifting your shoulders on the opposite side if you plan to go left.
Take note that in these instances, you still have to gauge your balance. That way, leaning won’t cause you to fall on your skateboard. Plus, adjusting your footing when turning may also help as long as your skateboard is moving.
Step 5: Braking
There are plenty of options to stop on a skateboard. But for the benefit of beginners and those who can’t figure out how to stop a skateboard, let’s settle with the Foot Brake.
To do this, start by leaning forward and transferring your weight to your dominant foot. From there, put your back foot down, heel first. You need not apply immediate pressure on your back heel as it may cause an accident.
Slowly put it down as you transfer your weight to it. Apply pressure depending on how fast you want to stop your skateboard.
Pro Tips
- For safety purposes, remain vigilant on the road. You may not see what’s behind you, so try to be sensitive at all times.
- Practice road rules and regulations. These will help you cruise without causing other riders any issues.
- Practice shifting your weight and training your muscles. That way, leaning and all movement you do when cruising will be easy to execute.
Conclusion
There are so many ways to make your day more fun, like riding a skateboard. All you need is to have appropriate tools and pieces of equipment. From there, you’ll get to enjoy scenic views and windy hours of the day.
Knowing how to cruise on a skateboard is like paving your way to classic and challenging road trips. Always remember the things I have shared with you, and you’ll experience the best rides of your life.
Prepare for your next adventures. Did you like this article? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section.
Hi, I am Charles Harris. I opened this site to write as much as I can about my biggest passion – skateboarding!
I started as a clumsy yet passionate rookie 10 years ago to now a still passionate yet much better skateboarder! But I have to tell you, the whole journey has always been fun and rewarding, indeed not without hardship.