Your first trick to downhill skateboarding success is learning how to scrub through turns. Scrubs can help you maintain speed as you enter a turn and make adjustments in mid-corner. Turn less when you are entering a turn and more when you are exiting. As you learn to scrub, you will eventually get faster and better control of your speed. Here are six more tips to keep you safe and on the track.
Footstops
Downhill skaters use footstops to help them stop as they roll down the mountain. Footstops are mounted above the front truck and prevent your front foot from jumping forward. Various brands make footstops for downhill skating. A good footstop is the Riptide PSD. Test out different types to see which one suits you best. Here are some pros and cons of using different footstops:
The most basic footstop is a bushing and washer attached to an extra-long screw. The most advanced footstop is custom-made and made of metal or plastic with adjustable mounting holes. Regardless of its complexity, footstops are a useful tool for downhill skating. They can be found at Motion Boardshop or on other online skate shops. Despite their usefulness, footstops are not for everyday use.
Boards
Before you hit the steep hills and turn into a downhill pro, practice speed control on mellow hills first. It is easy to burn out your speed in the initial drift, but if you go too fast, you may blow a line and end up on landscaping or on a mailbox. Practice making small changes in your speed, especially in corners. Also, you should pay attention to your board’s direction.
o Make sure you warm up first. While downhill skating, remember that it is cold outside. Skating on a chilly day is dangerous, awkward, and a surefire recipe for disaster. Besides, skating is a sketchy sport already. Don’t take the chance of getting injured. Instead, follow these 6 tips for downhill skating. If you follow these tips, you’ll soon find yourself enjoying downhill skating!
Trucks
While downhill longboarders and skateboarders typically use RKP or Traditional Kingpin trucks, other types of downhill trucks are available, too. RKP trucks tend to hold more traction and are easier to control at speed. Traditional Kingpin trucks are more suitable for bowl skating, tricks, and lower ride heights. Other types of trucks include seismic trucks and Other Planet CAM trucks. Electric skateboard trucks can be divided into Precision and Cast types. Cast trucks are the most common and are gravity cast aluminum with a non-removable axle.
The baseplate is a rectangular metal piece that screws into the truck. The angle of the baseplate is crucial in determining the stability and turn of a longboard. Lower angles result in a more stable setup at high speeds, but they are less responsive to rider movement or road humps. Generally, the best downhill trucks are between forty and 45 degrees. This will allow you to maintain good leverage over the wheels and secure the passenger as you carve downhill.
Speed control
Downhill skating requires braking proficiency and speed control. It’s important to be relaxed during the skate, not just because it helps you stay calm during bumps. Being relaxed allows your body’s reflexes to respond more quickly. If you’re not relaxed, you might experience an accident. Relaxation is also a good thing in any other sport, too, such as snowboarding. It’s important to keep your head cool, especially during unexpected bumps, and it will also increase your confidence.
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To avoid collisions, you should always keep your speed under control while downhill skating. It’s best to skate at off-peak times when less traffic is traveling, so you can avoid car traffic. Another tip for maintaining control when downhill skating is to keep an eye out for other skaters and pedestrians, and to keep them safe. Make sure you know where the intersections, stop lights, and pedestrian crossings are.
Gear
While it is possible to get away with skateboarding without proper gear, you should definitely wear a helmet. Even if you are just a beginner, you should know that this activity comes with certain risks. Whether you are just learning how to downhill skateboard or are already a pro, it is important to buy the essentials to protect yourself in case of an accident. Thankfully, there are several different types of gear for downhill skateboarding.
Sliding gloves are an important piece of downhill skateboarding gear. These gloves help protect your hands while providing traction in slides. Sliding is a crucial part of freeride, fast cruising, and downhill longboarding. The best slide gloves provide wrist support and prevent tearing of the hands. A pair of these gloves is essential for every downhill skater, but even those who are not into extreme sports should consider them.
