How to Stop a Longboard? [Like a Pro] 

 September 25, 2020

By James Mason

how to stop a longboard

While longboarding, you are supposed to know how to stop a longboard. If you do not know how to brake and stop, you may end up losing your control and facing an accident.  Braking timely and efficiently will build confidence in you.

On top of that, without knowing the braking and stopping methods, you cannot say that you are a pro in longboarding.

In this article, we are going to show you how to stop a longboard with foot braking and one more method as well.

Let’s Begin!

Related Guides:

Foot Braking

In foot braking, you will use the sole of your foot to slow down and stop on a longboard. It is one of the most common approaches known by most of the long-boarders. Maybe you can do it naturally, but if you know some longboarding trick and tips about exactly how to do foot braking, you can able to get rid of the mistakes and skip the injuries.

How To Do Foot Braking

If you want to apply foot braking to stop on your longboard, the most important thing you need to know is how to keep yourself balanced on one leg. It is because, when you will go for foot braking, you need to shift the full body weight on one leg. Usually, the front leg is supposed to play that role of balancing. Here are the steps for foot braking:

  • Bend your front knee to help to lower your back foot near the ground.
  • Drag your back foot to the ground. It should be very mild, not sudden, but slow and steady.
  • Let your shoe create friction with the pitch. By this, you will start to lose the speed slowly.
  • Now that your front leg which is leading the longboard is carrying most of your weight, you have to shift some weight on the other foot to create some pressure on it. It will help to create friction with the ground and enable friction.
  • When it slows down completely, get off from your longboard to the ground.

 

Things To Remember When Applying Foot Braking

You have to keep in mind certain things for safe braking and stopping on a longboard with a foot braking method. Firstly, you have to keep a careful eye on the amount of pressure that you apply by your back foot. If you put much pressure on it when your longboard is in full swing, you may get thrown forward.

And secondly, use the sole of your shoe in a way as if you are brushing the ground with you're the sole. Fix your center of gravity and touch the ground a little bit behind than this gravity. It will help you keep the balance.

Slide Stopping: An Alternative Way To Stop On A Longboard

The slide stop is the hardest, ultimate, and the riskiest way to stop on a longboard. There are many kinds of slides that professional long-boarders use frequently. If you are going to use the Coleman Slide, it will be comparatively easier for you. Here’s what you need to do for Coleman Slide:

  • First of all, bend on your board and carve into your toe-side a little.
  • Keep your heels at the heel-side edge.
  • Position your back knee towards the front leg and the weight on it.
  • Slap the frontside around by making it down a bit and rotate your shoulder. Ultimately, your shoulder should be on the direction of your slide.
  • And this will slow down and at last stop the longboard.

Final Words on Stopping a Longboard

We hope that these two techniques, Foot Braking and Coleman Slide will help you to master how to stop a longboard easily. If you are at a beginner level, these two are good to know for the time being.

However, if you are going to learn advanced longboarding, you have to know more techniques as well. Keep your eyes on our blog to get regular interesting and helpful tips on longboarding/skateboarding.

If you want a review of any longboard brands, then don't hesitate to inform us. Also, if you have any questions about longboarding, just drop a comment below.

About the author

James Mason here. Surfing, skateboarding, and longboarding enthusiast currently living in Rio, Brazil. Started boarding since I was old enough to wear a helmet, except I often didn't. Think that explains a lot :)