Stopping your skateboard

How to Footbreak

The easiest way of breaking on your skateboard is to take off your back foot and drag it along the ground. It does take some practice and you definately should spend some time diverting your energy on to it now before the time comes when you will need to use it, so that you can actually stop when you need to

1) To begin with take your front foot and turn your toes so they completely face the nose end of the board. You should also turn your chest in a forward direction as well.

2) You can now start to transfer all of your weight onto your front foot as you swing out your back leg and lower it onto the ground. Remember that it is very important to always keep your back leg as straight as possible, as you lower it to the ground. Another point to remember, is to keep all your weight centered soley on your front foot and on all circumstances do not lean back or forward as this will have negative effects.

3) When you lower your back leg to the ground, keep it straight and first of all apply a light pressure towards the ground firmly with the bottom of your shoe and then carry on to again apply more pressure if you want to slow down at a faster rate. It is important to remember do it fluidly and in a relaxed manner.

4) You shouldn't expect to get used to this the first time round, as it does take a lot of consistent practice to learn how to footbrake effectively and efficiently.

5) One of the most common mistakes is that when you begin to apply your back foot pressure, in order to brake it will want to skip off ground. This results when you are applying far too much weight on your back foot. You have to always remember that all of your weight is coming from your front leg, and all you are doing is just dragging your back foot on the ground to slow down.

6) A common 1st mistake is that when you apply your back foot to brake it will want to skip off the ground. This is because you are applying too much weight on your back foot. Remember all your weight is basically on your front leg, and you are just dragging your back foot on the ground to slow down.

In addition to the above steps, one tip is to not go too fast and then think that you will try foot braking because you will most definately fall off. Instead you must start learning how to footbrake at a comfortable reduced speed, where you would not normally need to brake at, but then begin to work your way up to more increased speeds.


How to Heel Drag

Heel dragging takes a fair bit of practice but it is a common method to stop with skaters who have been skateboarding for quite a while. To do this you need to start by placing the heel of your back foot so that it is sticking off of the back of the board. You now need to lean backwards so that the front end of your skateboard comes right up into the air. Now step down onto your heel, but always make sure that the upper front half of your foot remains on the board.

Your heel will now drage a small distance and then you should evantually come to a stop. This will take a lot of time and practice and mayt involve you falling on your back quite a few times. It may also launch the board out in front of you while you learn.


Power sliding

These are really quite advanced maneuvers and take a lot of practice to get right. These are mentioned as a lot of beginner skaters desire to use this method as it does look very cool to do. But before you can even think about performing a powerslide you have got to master those kickturns yet, so more on powersildes another time.

How to bail

If the above methods of stopping do not succeed then quite simply jump off of your skateboard. If you keep your knees bent whilst you are riding, then this should not be to hard. If you are to jump forwards, your skateboard will usually stop at relatively the same spot. But also remember that buying a new skateboard is far cheaper and easier than having to get a broken arm or perhaps a new face, simply put it that way.