How To Turn On A Skateboard

When learning to skateboard, starting out can be a daunting task. However, once the ball gets rolling, it’s a wonderful hobby with multiple benefits. 

My son, who is now married, with his own young skaters, used to struggle while learning how to turn. It occurred to me that this was a new range of movements for him, so he might take time to learn. 

I had to help him relearn how to balance himself upright on the board. Going through the different motions before turning the board was a process I went through with him until he was able to do it himself in one smooth movement. 

Regardless, as a beginner skater, it can be scary to trust the board and guide it in the direction you want it to go. That is why I, Stacy Smith, decided to write this little piece to help anyone struggling with how to turn on a skateboard. 

With that being said, let’s get right into it!

Turning By Leaning

Before you are able to turn on a skateboard, you should at least know the basics. Being able to balance and ride on the board will help you feel more confident when turning—the more experience and familiarity that you have with your board, the better. 

Now that you are able to get going, the issue is turning in the direction you want to go. The most common method of doing this is by leaning the board in either direction until it starts to drift. This shift in weight is what causes the board to turn. 

First, check how tight your trucks are. Tighter trucks can make it difficult to turn, while a loose truck can make the board difficult to balance. 

Adjust your trucks until you can stand on the board and lean left or right without losing your balance. Next, find an open area where you can practice and ride in your normal stance. Once you push off and have some speed behind you, slowly shift your weight in the direction that you want to turn. 

For normal stance riders, this means lean right to go right and lean slightly backward on your heels to turn left. If you are riding using a “goofy stance” (or left foot forward), simply lean in the opposite direction to move the board along the correct path. 

While leaning, you should maintain your balance on the board. Don’t lean too far, or you will probably fall off. If your trucks are adequately adjusted, you should be able to feel the change in the direction almost immediately after leaning. 

In order to stop the turn, simply shift your weight back to the center of the board. Then, return to your normal stance to continue riding.

Turning By Kickturn

Another method used to turn that is more advanced than leaning is known as the kickturn. This is used when the turn needed has a sharper angle that a leaning turn can’t provide. A kickturn changes the board’s direction much more suddenly than a leaning turn; one could say it turns on a dime. 

To accomplish this maneuver, find a good, open practice area and ride in your normal stance, just like in the leaning turn. But a kickturn differs from a leaning turn in the foot placement. To prepare for a kickturn, begin by placing your back foot on the tail end of the board. 

After you have your feet placed, begin the kickturn maneuver by slowly putting more weight on the back foot to bring the tail of the board down. At this point, your board is riding along solely on the rear wheels while the nose of the board is in the air. 

Maintaining your sense of balance is critical in this position. Before you lose it, swing your body weight in the direction you want to turn. You can use your front foot and arms in combination to create this rotational movement. 

You can return to your normal weight distribution and stance after the board has swung in the direction you are trying to turn in. The front wheels of the board will fall back down, and you can continue riding.

Tips For Turning

While riding and turning the board, one thing to bear in mind is to always keep your knees bent. This helps maintain a low center of gravity while you are on the skateboard.

Another great trick is having your arms slightly away from your body to maintain balance. This also helps if you are trying to do a kickturn because the extra rotational force can help you swivel the board. 

Moving on, kickturns are ideal for when you need to suddenly change direction or don’t have the space for a leaning turn. It is a more complex move than simply shifting your weight, so take your time practicing the movements involved. 

I would advise that you control the amount of force you put into the swivel motion of the kickturn. Too much force could cause you to lose balance and have the board fly out from under you. Similarly, too little force can see your board not turning far enough to complete the turn.

Wrapping Up