A longboard is a type of skateboard that is typically longer than the average skateboard. The length of these boards can vary anywhere from 36 inches to over 120 inches, which makes them way more stable and easier to control.
The most common reason people opt for longboards is that they are cheaper, lighter, and more durable than their shorter counterparts. A few other benefits of owning this type of board include being able to do tricks like flips or ollies on it, slides, jumps, or turns.
Unlike traditional skateboards, you don’t have to worry about bending your legs in order for your feet to reach the ground when riding one due to its increased length! Read on to find out what tricks you can do on a longboard.
Can You Ollie on a Longboard?
The most popular trick in the entire skateboarding world is ollying, or popping up into the air with the help of your feet. This may look difficult to do in person but it can be achieved using an ollie board if you are able to lean forward.
Trick tip: Ollies are super easy to do on a longboard since your feet are already at the right height when you’re standing up! If you haven’t mastered the pop yet, all you have to do is push down with one or both of your feet and then raise your board up in a quick motion while leaning forward.
Can You do Handrails on a Longboard?
Another trick that is absolutely made for longboards are handrails, or sliding sideways across the rail or ledge of an obstacle with your skateboard using only one foot! In order to learn how to do this amazing feat, you have to practice sliding with your front foot while maintaining balance on the board, and then do it without using that same foot.
Trick tip: Place one of your feet in front of the other but lower than normal; angle your body slightly toward the ground, and push the nose (front) of your board downward over an obstacle.
Next, push down with one foot while also leaning back onto the tail (back) of your board. Once you are sliding along the rail for a bit, use your front foot to push the side of your board in order to maintain momentum.
You can then begin shifting your weight forward over the obstacle by bringing your other leg toward the nose of the board. This will be your way of maintaining balance and control over the rail.
Can You do Handstands on a Longboard?
If sliding along objects is something that you enjoy doing, then this trick is definitely for you! Handstands are perfect if you want to show off your tricks to people who don’t even skateboard. You can do a regular handstand on the ground or you can even do it on your board if you know how!
Trick tip: To accomplish this feat, simply place your palms flat on the ground with a bit of a wider stance than usual; push yourself up from the ground as if you’re going to jump but keep your weight over the board, and then lift one leg up in order to balance yourself properly for this trick.
Can You Spin on a Longboard?
Spinning is another great way to show off your tricks as well as impress anyone near you whether they skateboard or not! It may look difficult at first but spinning, which entails rotating 360 degrees along an axis, can be done with a little practice.
Trick tip: Balance yourself either on the board or on your knees; bend your knees and lean forward slightly, and then jump up while pushing off of your toes in order to lift the nose (front) of your board up.
Once you’re at least two feet above ground, start rotating by shifting your weight from one part of the underside of your board to the other. Once you feel like you’re ready, start spinning fast enough so that when you land back onto it, it will be flat against the ground!
Can You do Handstands on a Longboard?
A handstand is another amazing trick if you want to show off your skills in front of a crowd. You can even balance yourself on the nose (front) of your board while doing it! It may look difficult but you’ll get used to it with a small amount of practice.
Trick tip: To start, place your palms flat on the ground with a wider stance than usual; push yourself up from the ground as if you’re going to jump but keep your weight over the board; and then lift one leg up in order to balance yourself properly for this trick.
Can You do Backflips on a Longboard?
Backflips, which entail rotating backwards 360 degrees along an axis, are also pretty easy to learn once you know how. All you have to do is run, place your hands on the ground and do a push-up type of motion, and jump up while pushing off with your hands to make the board flip. It’s that simple!
Trick tip: To start this trick, run towards an object; place both hands flat on the ground; and then lower yourself down by doing a push-up motion until you are fully bent at the waist.
Next, push yourself back up to an upright position before jumping so that your weight is over your ankles when you leave the top part of your body.
From there, simply perform an ollie in order to get airborne so you can rotate backwards! Once you have done that, just land onto your board while it’s facing towards the ground in order for it to be able to roll forward after you land.
Can You do Longboard Slides on a Rail?
You’re probably wondering if sliding along an object is possible with your traditional skateboard or longboard, right?
Well, the answer is “yes!” It may look complicated but sliding tricks can actually be learned pretty quickly by newbies who are interested in doing them since they only require basic knowledge of how to control where the nose (front) of your board goes while you slide along an obstacle.
Trick tip: To start this trick, place one foot near the front wheels and the other one behind so that they are perpendicular to each other; push down on the board with one foot so it starts gliding forward slowly; and then use your back foot to push down on the tail of the board in order to get it moving faster.
Sliding tricks may require a little bit more effort, but they are definitely worth learning once you see how awesome they look in action!
Conclusion
While some longboard tricks may seem complicated at first, they are actually very doable with minimal practice. All you have to do is have a little knowledge about how to control where your board goes when you’re on it in order to master the art of doing cool tricks like spinning and sliding!