How To Turn on a Skateboard Step By Step guides

Do you love skateboarding? Are you looking for the best guidelines to turn on a skateboard? Skateboarding is an art, an action sport, and a recreational activity that involves different tricks. Skateboarding is not as easy as other sports.

It takes some time and patience to master this skill. When you start learning skateboarding, you want to learn everything at once. But learning step by step will help you learn fast. Learn one step and practice that before jumping on the next step. 

First of all, you have to learn the basics of skateboarding. In case you are a beginner, and you don’t know how to be stable on the skateboard, then you should practice that first.  If you have mastered the stance and pushing skills, then you may forward to turning the skateboard. Turning skateboard helps you master the skateboarding. 

Here is the guideline through which you can learn how to turn on a skateboard: 

Leaning 

The very first step for leaning into the turn is push off. You have to place your foot on your skateboard and push off with your back foot. You need to give yourself 3-4 pushes to move with good speed. Now, its time to set your back foot on the skateboard. 

• Try to strap up a proper helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards to safe yourself from injuries. 

   The positioning of the feet

position on your feet plays an important role in the leaning. Keep your feet lined up straight  Place your front foot above the bolts which attach trucks of your skateboard with the deck. Try to slide back your back foot forward. To ensure a stable position, you should your back foot should be in the same position over rear trucks. It will provide you with balance as well while turning the skateboard. 

Lean your weight in your desired direction

The next step is leaning your weight to the required direction you want to turn your skateboard. You need to decide whether you want to turn right or left. You only have to lean your weight according to your desired direction, fined automatic mechanics of your skateboard will manage the rest. If you ride skateboard regularly, then you can initiate with a slight left turn. Lean your weight over the heels. It helps to put more pressure on the rear edge of your skateboard’s deck. If you want to turn right, then lean your weight over the toes.

Maintain your balance

Your weight will be over the wheels on one side of your skateboard while tilting the deck. It causes them to turn in the direction you are leaning. It results in the smooth as well as gradual turn. Slightly bend your knees and lower the centre of gravity while steering. If you think you are falling off to one side of the skateboard, it means you are leaning hard. You need to reposition your weight to maintain the balance.

Adjustment of your skateboard  

If you feel difficulty in leaning, it means trucks of your skateboard are too tight. To take little tension out of the nut, you may use socket wrench or crescent. It secures as well as tightens the trucks of your skateboard. It enhances the range of trucks and ease of motion. Loosening the trucks helps in easy leaning, but it decreases the stability of your skateboard.

Use of tail to turn

Push off your skateboard and start riding. Establish a little bit speed before turning the board. Stay positioned and be ready to lean your weight accordingly. If you are not riding your skateboard at a fast speed, then you will not turn it properly.

For kick-turn, you need to position your feet as in leaning method. Keep your back foot on the tail to perform kick-turn. Slide your back foot until you are in the centre of the tail. Now, you can turn your board by lifting its front-end.

With the help of controlled and slow motion, push down on the tail of your board with the back foot. Distribute your weight between both feet evenly. Now, you have to redirect the nose to turn the skateboard. Use the winding action of your shoulders as well as hips for swinging the nose. You can guide the front end of your board with the help of your lead foot. You can perform sharper with the help of this technique.

After turning the board, now you need to shift your weight to the lead foot in order to set front wheels back to the ground. Try to touch down front wheels nice to avoid any injury.

Frequently asked questions 

How to turn on a skateboard? 

First, you have to practice pushing and stance. Now, for turning your board, you have to follow some steps such as, pushing and getting the desired speed, positioning your feet, raising the nose of your skateboard, redirecting your feet in your desired direction, and landing the front wheels of the board to the ground. If you follow all these steps, it will result in a successful turn. 

How to Ride a Skateboard?

Riding skateboard is not as easy as other sports. You need to practice some skill for smooth riding. First of all, you have to figure out which foot you need to put on the skateboard. Next step is maintaining the balance, and you should do slow walking. Your one foot should be on  tail of the board while the other on the head of your skateboard. If you have mastered the balance skill, then you can turn your skateboard. Practice all the skill for safe riding as well as for enjoying skateboarding. 

How to Skateboard?

Learning skateboarding is not as difficult as you think. The first step in learning is the selection of an appropriate skateboard. Then choose appropriate footwear and also use the helmet, knee pads and elbow pads for a safe ride. You need to find a good place for skating. If you are a beginner, then practising on grass or any carpet will be the best choice for you. Take start from slight pushing and increase speed gradually.  Master the basics of skateboarding, then move to more complex skills and practice them. Also, watch any experienced skater learn new tricks. 

How to Push on a Skateboard?

Pushing the board is one of basic as well as an important  steps  in  learning skateboarding. You need to place your foot near the front bolts at 30 degrees. Then, twist your front knee that helps reaching your back leg to the ground easily. Balance the weight and push the board by the help of your back foot. These steps help you in balancing. After practising this skill, you may move to the next skill to master skateboarding.

Where to Learn How to Skate

Before going to the skatepark, you should practice skating in the smooth and less used sidewalks. Skateparks may be crowded, and they are not ideal places to learn skateboarding. Empty streets and parking lots are best to learn skateboarding. If the sidewalks have cracks, then you should find a smoother place for skating. 

How to Throw Down a Skateboard

One of the important skill in skateboarding is learning how to throw your skateboard. After mastering this skill, you can start from a definite speed rather than starting from a dead stop. 

Steps you need to follow are mentioned below.

Hold the nose of your skateboard with the arm. If you are goofy, then hold it with your right hand. If you are regular skater, then you may hold it in your left hand.

Now, you have to take a step forward with your leading foot. You need to extend your arm that is holding the skateboard. Let it hang in front of the right leg.

In the next step, lower the skateboard. Then drop it under your feet and start riding. Try to maintain your balance so that you don’t need to readjust your feet. It may be difficult for you at first.  But once you practice, it will be your second nature.

How to Ride an Electric Skateboard – Step by Step – Beginners Guide

Riding the electric skateboard may be difficult for some time. But It can be easy for you if you’ll practice more. It is not as much different from common skateboards. The only difference is of the motor, and it is controlled by the remote. 

Here are simple steps by which you can ride an electric skateboard easily

1. Wear proper safety equipments to avoid injuries.
2. Take some time to find your stance as well as balance.
3. Lean your weigh on your front foot
4. Learn smooth  take-off and how to stop the skateboard
5. Use auto cruise to maintain your speed 
6. The last but most important step is practice and more practice. 

How to Stop on a Skateboard

Dragging your foot is a first and significant step to stop the skateboard. Like pushing, you need to balance your weight in stopping your board. Lean your all weight on your front foot as well as bring your back foot to the ground. Smoothly, Drag the sole of your back shoe on the ground and keep your all weight on the front foot. After touching the ground, you can add more pressure to stop the board easily. Once you reach your desired speed or you have stopped the skateboard.

How To Fix A Skateboard That Turns By Itself

If your board turns itself, it stays in only one position then you need to fix it. There are many reasons for this situation such as faulty bushings, loose trucks and loose screws etc. you can check the condition of bushing by rotating them and trying to ride the skateboard again to feel the difference. If the bushings are cracked and old as well, then you need to replace them for smooth riding. 

How To Loosen Skateboard Trucks & Make Them Turn Correctly

Trucks are the metal mechanisms that allow your skateboard to turn. You can lose these trucks by turning the kingpin nut anti-clockwise with the help of a ⅜” wrench or any skate tool. If there are some nuts that are screwed with hand, then you need to replace them to turn correctly. If you change the bushings, it will also make your trucks turn properly. 

Conclusion

For beginners, even, pushing a skateboard can be a difficult task. Before you start practicing the turns, make sure that you are well trained with primary skateboard skills like maintaining stance and pushing.

For beginners turning a skateboard can be challenging;  as a matter of fact, but training regularly with dedication and hard work can bring improvements in a short time. If you want to learn, turning a skateboard fast, then it is advisable to practice for 30-45 minutes daily. Stay steadfast with your training, and you will eventually learn it.