How to
skateboard
The short answer
Learn it in this order: find your stance, stand on a board that can’t roll, push, turn by leaning, stop, and fall safely. Put your front foot over the front bolts, push with your back foot, and stay on smooth flat ground until you can roll, turn and stop without thinking about it. Only then start your first trick.
Day one
The steps, in order
- 01
Find your stance
Regular means your left foot goes in front, goofy means your right foot does. Neither is better; ride the one that feels natural.
Not sure? Stand with your feet together and have someone give you a light push from behind: the foot you step forward with to catch yourself is usually your front foot.
Take the goofy or regular test if you still can’t tell.
- 02
Get a board that fits
A complete skateboard (deck, trucks and wheels already put together) is the easiest way to start. Deck width goes by shoe size: wider feet want a wider deck.
Look up your width in the skateboard size calculator.
- 03
Stand on it before you roll
Put the board on grass or carpet so it can’t roll away. Stand sideways with both feet across the board, over the bolts, knees bent and weight in the middle.
Rock gently from your heels to your toes. That lean is how you’ll steer, so get used to it before you move.
- 04
Push
On smooth flat ground, put your front foot over the front bolts, pointing mostly forward. Push off the ground with your back foot in a few smooth steps beside the board, not behind it.
Once you’re rolling, put your back foot on the tail and turn your front foot sideways across the board. Pushing with your front foot instead is called mongo. It works, but it makes most tricks harder to set up.
- 05
Turn by leaning
Lean on your toes to turn one way and on your heels to turn the other, with your knees bent and your shoulders turning first. Slow, wide carves first.
For a sharp turn at low speed, lift the front wheels and pivot on the back ones. That’s a kickturn, and it’s the first move on ramps too.
Learn the frontside kickturn and backside kickturn.
- 06
Learn to stop, four ways
Foot brake: take your back foot off and drag the flat sole lightly on the ground beside the board until you stop. This is the one to learn first.
Run it out: at low speed, step off with your front foot and run a few steps while the board rolls on.
Tail drag: step down on the tail so it scrapes the ground. It works, but it wears the tail away.
Carve to a stop: turn back and forth, or turn up a slope, until the speed is gone. Powerslides come later.
- 07
Fall the right way
Everybody falls. If a fall is coming, step off and run it out. If you go down, bend your knees, tuck, and roll onto your side or shoulder instead of catching yourself on straight arms.
Wear a helmet. Wrist guards and knee pads help most in the first weeks, when falls are least predictable.
- 08
Then your first trick
Once you can push, turn and stop without thinking about it, pick a first trick. The manual and the kickturn need no pop; the ollie is the one almost every other trick builds on.
Start with how to ollie, how to manual, or the full list of 64 tricks, easiest first.
Your first week
A first-week plan
- Day 1: find your stance, stand and balance on grass, then push and roll on smooth flat ground.
- Days 2–3: push, carve wide turns, and practice the foot brake until it’s automatic.
- Days 4–5: kickturns, tighter carves, and running it out at low speed.
- Days 6–7: your first trick, like an ollie on the spot or a manual, on grass or carpet first.
FAQ
Beginner
questions
Is it hard to learn how to skateboard?
Riding isn’t: pushing, turning and stopping usually come in your first few sessions on smooth flat ground. Tricks are harder. Most people need several weeks of regular practice for an ollie, and a few weeks to a few months for a kickflip after that.
How long does it take to learn to skateboard?
It depends on how often you skate. Expect a few sessions to push, turn and stop comfortably, then several weeks of regular practice for your first ollie. Skating a little most days beats one long session a week.
Which foot do you push with on a skateboard?
Your back foot. Your front foot stays on the board over the front bolts while your back foot pushes, then steps onto the tail. Pushing with your front foot is called mongo.
How do you stop on a skateboard?
Drag the flat sole of your back foot lightly on the ground beside the board until you stop. You can also step off and run it out at low speed, scrape the tail, or carve until the speed is gone.
Is 30 too old to start skateboarding?
No. Adults learn the same steps in the same order. Falls hurt more and take longer to heal, so wear a helmet and pads, warm up, and stay on flat ground until pushing, turning and stopping are automatic.
Should I learn on grass or on concrete?
Both. Grass or carpet stops the board from rolling, so it’s the place to learn your stance and your first trick. Pushing, turning and stopping need smooth concrete or asphalt.
