Skateboarding 101: Learn The Basics - Stance, Pushing and Stopping

Blair AlleyJuly 26, 2023 1 min read

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This one's for all you beginners. Find out what stance you are, learn the proper way to push (not Mongo!), and more from seasoned pro Amelia Brodka. Let's get started!

Step 1: Finding Your Stance

Before you hop on the skateboard, you need to determine your stance. Follow these steps to find out if you're regular or goofy.

Stand on the board in the direction you want to go. If you're right foot is forward, you're goofy footed. If your left foot is forward, you're regular footed.
Get comfortable with your back foot on the tail and your front foot over but slightly below the front truck.

Step 2: Pushing Correctly

Now that you've found your stance, it's time to learn the proper technique for pushing.

Back foot positioning: Your back foot should rest on the tail of the skateboard, slightly outside of the board, near the edge.
Front foot placement: Place your front foot on the skateboard, angled at 45 degrees, with your toes pointing towards the nose (front) of the skateboard.
Push with your back foot: With your front foot firmly in position, use your back foot to push off the ground. Watch Nik Stain video parts for insane pushing!
Turning while pushing: You can use your front foot to turn and guide the board as you push. Get used to the feeling of the looseness of your trucks.

Step 3: Stopping Techniques

Learn how to stop on a dime to avoid bailing. Amelia introduces two primary methods of stopping:

Jumping off: If you gotta bail in a hurry, you can always just jump!
Dragging the tail: Apply pressure on the back foot. Lift the front wheels off the ground and drag the tail on the pavement. If you try this while you're going fast, it might get a little squirrelly. Put on a Tail Devil and watch the sparks fly!
Heel dragging: This is probably the most stable option here. You can drag the heel of your shoe instead of the tail. You'll have more control on slowing down here at the cost of wearing down the sole of your shoe.