The Coleman slide is a fundamental skill for longboarding, essential for controlling speed and building a foundation for other heelside slides. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to mastering the Coleman slide, also known as the shutdown or heelside pendulum slide.
This guide builds upon previous skills, so ensure you’re comfortable with basic longboard maneuvers.
Prerequisites
Before attempting the Coleman slide, you should be proficient in:
- Turning on your longboard
- Carving
- Slowing down using foot braking or a push-up/shutdown slide
- Setting up a carve (precarve) for a slide
If you’re unsure about any of these, review our previous guides to ensure you have a solid foundation.
Understanding the Coleman Slide
The Coleman slide, named after Cliff Coleman, is a hands-down slide where you swing your body roughly 180 degrees and back. It’s crucial for speed control and sets the stage for more advanced heelside slides.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Coleman Slide
Let’s break down the process into manageable steps.
Step 0.1: Foot Positioning
Your front foot should be near the front truck, angled between 45 and 90 degrees, depending on your comfort. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart.
Proper foot positioning for a Coleman slide
Your back foot can be in front of, on top of, or even in the middle of the board, depending on your stance. Avoid placing it behind the back truck unless absolutely necessary.
Step 0.2: Body Positioning
Let’s start with practicing the correct body position on the ground before transferring to the board.
On the Ground
Practice squatting in the “box position.” This is where you are essentially squatting on the board with one knee near the other. Most of your weight should be on your front foot to avoid hurting your back knee.
Box position for Coleman slide, from front
You can lean your back knee over for better weight distribution, or keep it facing straight up. Your hand should be placed slightly ahead of your front heel, with minimal weight on it.
Side view of the box position for a Coleman slide
Push off your front foot when standing up to maintain weight distribution.
Key Tips:
- Keep 60-70% of your weight on your front foot and 30-40% on your back foot.
- Maintain your back foot flat on the board.
- Put only 10-20% of your weight on your hand.
On the Board
Balancing in the box position on the board will feel more challenging initially, but with practice, it will become more comfortable when moving.
Addressing Flexibility
If you struggle with these positions, you may have flexibility challenges. A good test is the full bodyweight squat with heels flat on the ground.
Deep squat test, heels flat
If you have difficulty getting low, a mobility routine is recommended. Warming up before attempting the Coleman will improve your flexibility.
You’re ready to proceed if you can get into the box position reasonably comfortably both on and off the board.
Step 1: Gaining Enough Speed
You need a moderate amount of speed for the Coleman slide, which can effectively reduce your speed. Practice on a hill and make sure you are going fast enough. If you are already familiar with foot braking or a push-up slide, you will be comfortable going fast.
Step 2: Setup Carve
Initiate a setup carve. As you reach the peak of the carve, begin bending into the box position and place your hand on the ground.
Setting up the carve for a Coleman slide
Refer to our guide on how to set up carve for more information on this crucial maneuver. Without it, your slide will be inconsistent and difficult to control.
You should be in the box position at the end of this step, with most of your weight on your front foot.
Box position at the beginning of the slide
Step 3: Initiating the Slide
As you continue the setup carve, and your hand is on the ground, begin to turn your shoulders almost 180 degrees in a sudden but firm manner. This will cause the board to rotate heelside.
Shoulder and body rotation initiation for a Coleman slide
The movement of your shoulders is key, as it influences the direction of your hips, legs, and ultimately the board. Your goal is to swing to the point where the board loses traction without forcing it into the slide.
The board breaking traction and initiating the slide
You should end up swinging 180 degrees, like the image below.
Full rotation of the Coleman slide
Troubleshooting
If the board is not sliding, rotate your shoulders more aggressively. Even swinging your arm out hard can help initiate the board’s movement.
While an aggressive arm swing will work, it’s better to dial it back and initiate the swing mainly using your shoulders for a more controlled slide.
Key Points for the Slide:
- Use your shoulder movement to initiate the slide.
- Keep your front leg stiff with most of your weight on it.
- Ensure your back foot is firm and planted.
- Avoid putting too much weight on your back foot.
- Look straight down the hill.
- Aim for a shallow angle of about 135 degrees of rotation.
The Coleman slide is a turn initiated by the swing of your shoulders and arms, rather than pushing the board out with your feet, which can result in an inconsistent and uncontrollable slide.
Step 3.1: Arm Position
As you rotate 180 degrees, move your free arm into the position shown below.
Correct arm position during the slide
If you swung your arm out hard in the troubleshooting step, your arm should already be in this position. If not, swing your arm over at about the same rate as your board swings around.
Step 3.2: Grabbing Rail (Optional)
Grabbing rail involves using your free hand to hold the board, providing more leverage for turning and increased stability. It also forces more weight on your front leg.
The correct way is to grab over your back foot, as shown here.
Grabbing rail over the back foot
Avoid grabbing between your legs as it puts too much weight on the back foot and limits control. This is also known as stinkbug.
Incorrect "stinkbug" grabbing rail technique
Grabbing rail is not essential. It can compensate for bad form, poor weight placement, and place too much pressure on the back knee. If you have poor lower body flexibility, focus on stretching and improving your mobility instead.
If you can grab rail with good form (weight on front leg, no knee pain), it is okay. To grab rail, grab the board earlier in the setup carve. As you crouch down, grab the rail or grab the rail after you crouch.
Step 4: The Swing Back
To swing back, throw your shoulders and arm out the other way, using the momentum of the swing to bring the board back.
Swinging back alone will get you on board but not with the smoothest control, we will improve that next. If you have trouble rotating, swing your shoulders back harder.
Tips:
- Ensure your feet are planted when swinging back to prevent slipping.
- Maintain enough speed to keep a continuous break in traction.
Step 4.1: Refining the Swing Back
To regain traction smoothly, rotate your shoulders hard and lean into the top of your front foot simultaneously. Think of bringing your shoulder through the top of your knee. This forces more weight onto your front foot and brings your hand closer to the board for a smoother transition back to riding straight.
Step 4.2: Keeping Your Legs Planted (Optional)
As you swing back, keep your back leg tucked or bent to maintain weight on your front foot. This promotes a smoother hook-up and makes standing up easier.
Step 4.3: Refining the Swings (Optional)
Experiment with your arm and shoulder swing to find the sweet spot for maximum control. Try swinging your shoulders in and only using your arms when you want to hook up from the slide. Also experiment with pushing with your front foot on the swing back to control the slide.
Step 5: Celebrations
Once you consistently complete the swing back, you’ve successfully learned the Coleman slide. You may have some inconsistencies to work on, but you can now use this technique for downhill riding.
Common Issues
- Flexibility: Address flexibility limitations by incorporating stretching into your routine.
- Speed: Ensure you’re going fast enough; the Coleman slide reduces speed significantly.
- Wheels: Use proper sliding wheels.
- Positioning: Maintain correct body, weight, and foot positioning.
Additional Tips
- Be aggressive and confident.
- Swing your arms aggressively.
- Look in the direction you want to go.
- Use a big setup carve.
- Go relatively fast.
- Consider practicing in the rain.
- Use a board built for sliding.
- Keep most of your weight planted on your front leg.
- Don’t go fully 180 degrees; aim for 135 degrees for a smoother hookup.
Advanced Pendulum Slides
Advanced riders control pendulum slides primarily through their hips, weight placement, and foot pressure, rather than large arm movements, for more controlled slides in tighter spaces.
While there are varied styles of slides, this approach with hips and feet is generally used by more advanced riders.
Conclusion
The Coleman slide is a cornerstone of longboarding. With practice and attention to these steps, you’ll be sliding with confidence.
This guide is part of the downhill skill progression guide. Check out the guide if you want to learn about which skills you need to learn for downhill skateboarding.
We hope this guide has been useful! Good luck, and have fun sliding!
