Longboard Cruising Tips for Starters 

 September 25, 2020

By James Mason

Longboard cruising tips & tricks

For your kind information cruising is a particular style of skateboarding and quite different from longboarding as well. But when you say longboard cruising it implies to cruising techniques on longboards.

Well, there is no doubt that skating is fun, but what about some crazy moves on your board through the palm trees? Fascinating! Isn't it?

Though longboarding and skating are becoming a traditional sport and common among sports enthusiasts, then, why not mastering some longboard cruising tips and tricks?

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What is Longboard Cruising?

As I said earlier that some of us have the misconception about longboard cruising that it is some different sort of sport or something exactly opposite from skateboarding and longboarding.

Cruising stands for some fluid and smooth riding on the longboard. It's basically a form of riding. Now, it can be applied both on skateboard or longboard.

However, there's a thing called cruiser, which is another sort of board, and they are longer than the skateboards. So, brush away your confusion here.

When I say longboard cruising, it doesn't illustrate a distinct sort of activity like downhill, freestyle, carving or freeriding. It is more like a fusion sport.

Is Riding a Cruiser Easier than a Skateboard?

Well, I have mentioned before that cruisier is also a kind of board that can be misleading to all of us. Mostly, there's not really any significant difference between longboards and cruisers.

But, skateboards, on the other hand, are vastly different from cruisers. Apparently, cruisers are thinner and taller than the skateboards. Now, the question may arise, which one is easier?
Honestly, gliding through your skateboard is dramatically easier to adapt, as it does not require much skill and agility.

Also, you can have strong control over it. Moreover, with the proper guideline, you can grasp everything you need to know about skateboarding. In fact, some native skaters still prefer skateboarding over cruisers. Because with some modification, you can alter your skateboard into a cruiser.

Besides, cruisers are very tricky to ride. You will need enough time to master the skills of riding it. Generally, a cruiser requires more flexibility, control and balance than the skateboards.

But, if you are a fast learner or already know how to ride a skateboard, then riding on a cruiser will be easier for you.

Longboard Cruising Tips

longboard cruising tips

While longboarding, you can apply some of your cruising tricks to bring most out of the sport. Though I have 10 exclusive longboard cruising tips listed for you. Check them out!

1. Stick on to The Ideal Board for You

Well, it's not anyone's cup of tea to find out the best longboard for cruising at the beginning of longboarding.
You can face many mishaps and accidents throughout your longboard cruising. But eventually, you will find out the right longboard for you.

For this, you need to map your style, skills, stances, control, balance, elasticity, strength, weakness and fears. Once you figure out each of them properly, you will know which one is right for you.

2. Loose Up Your Trucks

The kingpins are screwed very tightly. Therefore when you try freestyle cruising, it might not move swiftly and smoothly. So, the second thing you gotta do is loosen up the longboard trucks.

3. Notice Which Foot You Are Pushing Forward

For instance, if one of your friends push you forward while you are skating, which foot is going forward?
If it's your right foot, then this is your dominant foot. On the other hand, you can also put your left foot at the front and right foot back.

Once you figure it out, it will be more comfortable to ride in any circumstances.

4. Don't Stick into One Bushing

Buy different and softer longboard bushings so that you can ride smoothly with more control and balance.

5. Work on Your Weakness and Fear

If you have started with the basics and having troubles, then don't even dare to opt for the next steps. Because basics are your fundamental for enhancing farther steps.

When you feel any fear or spot any weakness over any style of cruising, then you should work on it instead of giving up.

6. Wear Something Comfortable

Don't wear something baggy or too flashy while going out for cruising. Wear something comfortable and straightforward as well. Because it affects your psychological behavior.

7. Work on Speed-control

Try to rant over most of your time into speed controlling lessons.

8. Never Forget to Wear Protective Essentials

There's no downside of being extremely careful. Hence, always wear protective essentials such as elbow pads, flat-bottomed shoes, knee pads, etc. to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

9. Keep Improvising Your Styles

If you keep practicing different styles of cruising or improvise your style, eventually you'll become a pro in your genre and understand different cruising styles as well.

10. Start from Flat Streets

As safety comes first, you shouldn't wander in narrow streets just after starting cruising. It's better to always stick on flat roads.

Happy Cruising! These longboard cruising tips and tricks won't make you a pro overnight. You'll need adequate practice to beckon everyone around you. I hope you have a pleasant ride!

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 :)