Downhill boarding for newbies

Jun 24
06:48

2011

Romano Groenewoud

Romano Groenewoud

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Introduction

One of the coolest longboards disciplines is the downhill discipline. This entails racing down a hill with great speeds. This is not only great fun,Downhill boarding for newbies Articles but it generates an incredible adrenaline rush too. You can also participate in contests to see which longboarder is the fastest. However unlike regular cruising on the board, downhill is a relatively hard discipline to learn.  You must not be afraid for slopes and high speeds.  The purpose if this article therefore is to give you some general guidelines to perform better.

Step 1: Board Selection

Selecting the right equipment is key in the longboard discipline. You will need a specialized longboard for downhill races; a simple cruising board will not suffice. The best choice is a speedboard; they have a firmer construction and are designed for high speeds.  These boards are also a bit more resembling a surfboard on wheels.

Step 2: Protect yourself

Downhill boarders are always very keen on safety. You will need good safety measures for this discipline. Especially as newbie you will fall a lot. Therefore always protect your knees and elbows with pads and furthermore wear a helmet. Finally purchase some specialized longboard gloves, normal ones will not do.

Step 3: Launching

One of the most important things to do prior a downhill race is checking the hill for obstacles and possible traffic. Then kick off like you would do with a normal skateboard.  Don’t go too fast yet, until you developed the correct stance.

Step 4: Stance

Stance is the most crucial aspect of begin able to keep your balance and avoid falling. Put one foot in front of the other, about two feet apart on the longboard. The best is if both feet are pointing forwards. In this way you will reduce the chance of crashing.

Step 5: Learn to slide

The last thing you must master is the ability of sliding.  You cannot simply jump off the board anymore ate speeds of 40 km/hour.

More Information

If you want to know more about this exciting sport and discipline you can read the following articles:

Longboard stores and longboard wheels

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