How To Slow Down On A Skateboard (Explained)
The easiest way to slow down on a skateboard is to drag your back foot. However, there are quite a few ways that you can learn how to slow down on a skateboard.
Here are the four easiest ways for you to learn how to slow down on your skateboard:
- Gently allow your back foot to drag across the ground.
- Push down onto the tail of the board with your back foot.
- Ride into a hill.
- Powerslide.
Each of these ways to stop and slow down requires different skills but I’m sure you’ll be able to master each one at a time. Take time to learn how to do this extremely well, stopping and slowing down will come handier than any trick.
1. Foot Drag (Foot Braking)
The foot drag is probably the easiest way for beginners to learn how to slow down on their skateboard.
When you’re going downhill or just catching too much speed, simply drag the toe or heel of your back foot behind the board. To be completely honest, this is not the best way to learn how to stop or slow down.
Foot braking will cause you to burn holes in your shoes much faster. That being said, it’s an easy thing to learn for beginners. In my opinion, you should only do the foot drag when you’re learning to skateboard or in situations that you absolutely need to.
2. Tail Drag
Dragging the tail of your board is an efficient way to slow down but it has its cons as well. You will definitely rub off the graphic on the tail of your board and you may experience some light chipping if you do this enough.
To tail drag, move your back foot onto the edge of the tail and apply just enough weight that it drags against the road. The more weight and pressure that you apply, the faster you’ll come to a stop.
This is a particularly good way to slow down when riding down a hill.
Another way to perform the tail drag is to push down on your tail while doing a small twist, placing a little weight on one side of the skateboard instead of the middle. The front of the board will rise up and spin in the direction of your choosing and you’ll end up stopping with your shoulders squared up.
3. Ride Into A Hill
Okay, let’s be honest. This is not an efficient or practical way to stop or slow down all the time but you should take the opportunity when you get it.
This will be the most comfortable way to slow down for beginners but getting out of your comfort zone will make you a better skateboarder.
That being said, it’s as simple as directing your board to ride uphill. As you lose momentum, your skateboard will lose speed, stop, and then start riding backward back down the hill. That is unless you stop it.
4. Powerslide
Most experienced skateboarders believe that a powerslide is the best way to slow down the board. But if you don’t have the technique to slow down your board while boarding at high speed, it’s time to do something about it. </p>
If you can comfortably follow all of the above methods to slow down on a skateboard, then it should be time to learn how to slow and stop with a powerslide.
To powerslide, you’re going to want to bend your knees, get low and try performing the spinning tail drag motion but without dragging the tail. Your front foot should be on the front of the skateboard. Get your back foot onto the tail of the board, bend your knees, and then turn hard. You’ll complete the turn by jerking your torso.
The ideal powerslide is to end in a 90-degree position with all four wheels rubbing against the floor. If you need to keep practicing, I suggest doing so in an open parking lot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Can You Brake On A Skateboard?
Push down firmly on the tail to raise up the front of the board, lowering some of your weight and bending your front leg. You may also use your shoulders and front foot to turn back while rotating the board away from you. Your weight against the tail will bring you to a halt.
How Do I Stop Going Downhill On A Skateboard?
Downhill skateboarders must master foot braking, which is a very useful maneuver. Foot braking is when you softly touch your back foot to the ground to create friction with the pavement and help you come to a stop gradually. When going downhill, the controlled slide is the most efficient method of managing your speed.
What Should I Do If I Can’t Stop Or Slow Down?
If you can’t stop or slow down on your skateboard then it’s time to bail. You should never be too afraid to jump off of the board. You might get a few cuts and scrapes if you fall or you could break the skateboard this way. But it’s much safer than some of the alternatives.
Conclusion
Once you have learned these skills, they will each become more natural in the way that you slow down and stop while skateboarding. As an experienced skater or beginner, you should know how to slow down your skateboard to avoid falls and serious injuries.
Once again, this is more important than any trick that you can learn. Master at least three of these ways to slow down before moving on to tricks. There are more ways to slow down on a skateboard, but one of them requires some knowledge of how to skateboard.
The three techniques you can use to slow down your skateboard are foot brakes, powerslide, and carving. However, most of the conditions for the most efficient method of slowing down are gloves in which the hands play the main role.
