How to Carve on a Longboard: 5 Steps for Beginners
Carving is an essential technique any longboarder must get the hang of to unlock their full riding potential. Take these five steps to building a solid foundation for mastering the technique.
Carving on a longboard is a great way to enjoy riding. Not only does it help by practicing turning, it can also aid in the ability to shed some speed when riding down a hill! Carving is a basic technique but it is crucial you pick it up and become comfortable with it to improve as a longboarder.
This guide will walk you through the steps to get started and understand how you can get out there and start carving on your board today!
It’s best to start this guide after you have the basic knowledge of how to ride a board going straight. Check out our other guides if you need to!
Step 1: Make Sure Your Longboard Is Set
You can carve on any longboard or skateboard, but using a longboard is an ideal setup for carving because of the range of motion of the trucks and the grip of the typically larger wheels.
Make sure your board is in working condition by checking that;
- the wheels are secured properly
- the wheels spin freely
- the trucks are set to a medium tightness
- the deck is not cracked or broken
Step 2: Learn The Difference Between Toeside & Heelside
Toeside: Where your toes will be located on your board
Heelside: Where your heels will be located on your board
Step 3: Take An Active Stance
When you ride your board it’s essential to have an active stance if you plan to carve. Having an active stance means bending both of your knees.
Bending both of your knees allows you to flexibly feel the longboard and adjust your position and shift your weight more accurately when you begin to carve.
If you do not do this, carving will not feel very natural and it may actually be more difficult to learn.
Step 4: Start With Turning
Before you can start carving, it’s good to know how to simply turn your longboard to either side. Remember to keep an active stance while you practice this!
Your board steers by leaning and shifting your weight - the harder you lean, the harder the longboard will turn. Practice turning left or right and get comfortable with just focusing on turning in one direction.
You may notice that turning one way might be easier than the other, this is normal for beginners. It’s good to get comfortable turning both ways before you really get started with putting them together.
Step 5: Start Carving!
Carving is just turning left and right in a fluid fashion with some pressure behind your feet. Start off slowly on a flat surface - not a hill - and simply turn your longboard left to right or right to left.
To initiate a turn you will be applying pressure to your toeside for one turn and heelside for the next or vice versa. Preference is big here, if you prefer to initiate on your heelside or toeside first, this is up to you.
It’s quite normal to be more comfortable turning one way over the other, but in order to really carve you’ll need to get a hang of both.
A Quick Recap
Carving can take some time to learn, but it’s one of the best ways to feel the longboard and the road.
Skateboarding got its start from surfing the pavement and surfers wanted to create what they felt on a wave to something on the ground. Find a big open road, parking lot, or other smooth flat surface and skate!
Take small and gradual steps to challenge yourself only when you feel ready to advance but don't be scared to push your boundaries to improve.
Tips To Keep In Mind When Learning To Carve
Don't Skimp On Safety
Safety equipment like knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, wrist guards, and most importantly - a helmet - are always a good idea. Not only will it keep you safe, it'll also make you more confident in your ability to progress faster.
Use Your Arms
Remember to keep an active stance and don’t be afraid to use your arms out by your sides to help with balance. As you get more comfortable, you can start to use your arms less.
Gradually Increase Carving Power
Carve harder and deeper with more power behind your feet once you feel comfortable. Beware the board can lose traction if you carve too hard or if the road is wet.
Get Used To A Run
Check your surroundings: If you decide to navigate a hill, it’s best to start towards the bottom and work your way up. Carving can only cut down so much speed so don’t go down a hill you can’t stop on.
Be Happy!
Keep a positive attitude! Skateboarding is all about fun. If you aren’t getting the hang of carving, go back to riding in a straight line or focus on turning in one direction. Some learn faster than others, but mastering carving is possible for everyone in due time.
Don't Ride Your Trucks Too Loose Or Tight
The tightness of your trucks has a direct impact on your carving ability.
If they're too tight, carving will take too much power to the point where it is counterproductive for a beginner.
If they're too loose, they'll be unforgiving for a beginner to ride and you'll struggle with stability.
The solution is simple. Ride your trucks at medium tightness to begin with. This gives you the best foundation for learning how to carve. You can explore different truck setups to see what you like best as you get comfortable.
