In the world of recreation, cruising around the city with a skateboard is a very popular activity. No matter the age group you are in, you will find cruiser skateboarding fun and practical for running small errands.
But a lot of people seem to have the wrong idea about how to ride a cruiser skateboard safely and effectively. Well, all these will change as we will cover ins and outs of riding a Cruiser skateboard today.
If we summarize the process, riding a cruiser skateboard boils down to five things.
- Take-off
- Balance
- Maneuver
- Accelerate
- Brakes
As long as you have good control over the above points, you have nothing to fear. These are the basic mechanisms for skateboard riding regardless of the skateboard style. Every rider knows these. With a little bit of patience and practice, all these will become your muscle memory.
What Is A Cruiser Skateboard?
Before we jump right in, let us give you a proper understanding of what a cruiser Skateboard is. From the manufacturing standpoint, cruiser skateboards are pretty unique. Usually, they come in small form factors ranging from 22 inches to 32 inches in length.
The widths of these skateboards are also narrow around 7- 9.5 inches according to length. Though you see many shapes from different manufacturers, penny boards are the most popular. They are the smallest variations of the cruising skateboard. Their lightweight construction and nimble riding style welcome all spheres or riders, be that are professionals or beginners.
Read: Can You Do Tricks on a Cruiser Board?
Notable Features Of Cruiser Skateboard
Cruiser skateboards come with specific sets of features and they perform differently than other skateboards on the market. Apart from the different sizes, these boards are made up of plastic or wood material. Usually, the cruiser skateboards have 7-8 plies in the deck which can carry around 330 lbs.
One thing to note, longboard cruisers are not a high-performance skateboards. So, you can’t jump on a downhill track or show cool trick moves in Skate Parks comfortably. Cruiser skateboards are mainly intended for use on paved flat roads.
In short, here are the features you will enjoy with cruiser skateboards.
- They are easy to carry around
- Very agile and easy to maneuver
- Manageable deck sizes are available
- Beginners get used to them quickly
- Come with large wheels with lots of grips
- Perfect trucks, suitable for city travel
- Best for short rides and running errands
Hope this clears out why professionals often suggest cruisers for beginner skateboarders. And if you are looking for more diverse and high-performing skateboards, check out our reviews on top rated skateboards for all.
How To Ride A Cruiser Skateboard?
When it comes to riding a skateboard, there are a number of ways you can follow. But mastering the basics is very important as it will keep you safe and get the most out of your cruiser. This applies to every skateboard riding as well. So if you plan to switch up in the future, don’t worry.
Remember, cruisers have a low center of gravity. So it’s very normal for a cruiser to be agile. Furthermore, due to the soft grip on the wheel, they are only suitable for flat roads. You can still ride your cruiser skateboard over some cracks and holes, but don’t go off-road. Don’t forget your safety gear. Gloves, helmet, elbow pad, knee pad these are the essential safety gears for skateboarding.
Here are the steps you need to master for chill cruising around your neighborhood.
Proper Take-Off
This is the first step which includes the foot placement and initial launch maneuver. There are no absolute rules for this step. After you have a fair share of your experience this will hardly matter. But for beginners, this is very crucial.
First, make a rough guess, which one is your dominant foot. For most people, it’s the right foot. If your left foot is dominant, that’s also fine. If you are not sure, make your friend push you and see which foot comes up first to balance. That’s your dominant foot and it will be on the front of your skateboard.
Now, place your dominant foot vertically on the board. It should be right over the front truck. After this, try to push yourself with the other foot. It should slide nicely and easily. Do a bit of practice to familiarize yourself with the initial motion and footwork.
Keeping The Balance
After the initial launch, take your other foot and place it on the board perpendicularly. Then change your dominant foot placement the same as the other one. This should look like a “W” stance. Now for balance, keep your eyes forward and knees bent. You can widen your elbows for additional balance.
For beginners, it’s natural to break the balance. That’s why you need to practice the take-off repeatedly. Give a small push and coast with both feet on the board. Do this as long as you need to feel comfortable rolling at a slow speed.
Maneuver
While you are cruising at low speed try to turn the board for a small maneuver. The easy way to do that is by slightly tilting the back edges of the board. Gently press with your back foot to do a turn maneuver. If you press the right edge of the board, the board will turn to the right. Press the left edge to go left.
Accelerate
Assuming you have learned the above steps, let’s add some speed to your cruiser. This is relatively easy when you have good balancing going on with your dominant foot. Do not try to accelerate before you have mastered the balancing.
So to gain speed, you have to push yourself with the other foot as quickly as possible. Do the kicking 4-5 times or until you reach the desired speed. Remember; do not try to turn your board at high speed especially, if you are still new to skateboarding.
Brakes
There are many ways you can slow down your skateboard. You will see professionals using sliding, board tail, foot, and hands (with gloves) to slow down their skateboard. For the beginner, the foot brake is the perfect way to slow down your board.
The foot brake works by friction. While cruising, lower your back foot on the road and let it slide gently. Push it harder for an effective brake. Remember to lower your body and keep the braking foot close to the board.
Conclusion…
Hope this article helps you understand the basics of how to ride cruiser skateboards. Always wear safety gear and practice whenever you can. After a while, you will see the difference in your riding style and confidence. Happy cruising!
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