The push-up slide, also known as a glove-down slide or two-handed Tony, is a fundamental technique for longboarders looking to control their speed and expand their riding skills. This guide will walk you through the steps, offering troubleshooting tips and advice to help you master this essential slide. It’s a foundational skill that will not only boost your confidence but also act as a stepping stone to more advanced techniques.
Why Learn the Push-Up Slide?
While foot braking is a common stopping method, it’s not always reliable at higher speeds (20mph+), nor is it the most effective way to slow down quickly. The push-up slide offers a safe and effective alternative for speed control, especially when learning new slide techniques. It also acts as a comfortable fallback when you’re feeling nervous about trying new maneuvers at higher speeds.
Even though it’s not strictly necessary if you’re comfortable with foot braking, the push-up slide is the easiest slide to learn, making it a great starting point for beginners. It’s also an excellent way to understand how to break traction, which is key to all sliding techniques. In summary, the push-up slide offers valuable skills and should be part of any longboarder’s repertoire.
Essential Gear for Push-Up Slides
Safety is paramount. Before attempting a push-up slide, ensure you have the following gear:
- Certified helmet: Essential for head protection.
- Slide gloves: Protect your hands and allow you to slide smoothly.
- Longboard: A stable board that you’re comfortable riding.
Additionally, consider using the following for extra protection:
- Knee pads: To cushion falls and protect your knees.
- Hip pads: To help prevent bruising from falls.
- Elbow pads: Added protection for your elbows.
longboard safety gear
Step-by-Step Guide to Push-Up Slides
1. Foot Positioning
Your front foot should be near or over the front truck, while your back foot should be near or over the back truck. Both feet should be at least shoulder-width apart. This setup allows you to have maximum control of the board to initiate the slide. Keep your feet near the rails for better leverage.
foot positioning on comet orbiter
foot positioning for sliding longboarding
2. Off-Board Practice
Before getting on the board, practice the body positions. Get a feel for where your hands will be and what the movement will be like.
- Initial Hand Placement: Position your hands over your knees and slightly ahead, shoulder-width apart.
- Push-Up Position: Practice the push-up stance, with your hands directly under your shoulders, as if doing a push-up with your board under your feet.
longboard push-up slide initial position
3. Warm-Up Ride
Get on your board and cruise around, practicing some carving to warm up and get comfortable on your board.
4. Gain Some Speed
Find a gentle hill or push into a flat surface to get a bit of speed. You will need to be going faster than a jogging pace to initiate the slide effectively.
5. The Setup Carve
Begin by carving towards your heels, with your arms outstretched and palms facing outwards. Then, transition to a toeside carve, forming a half-S shape. This “setup carve” is vital for breaking traction. The slide will begin as you reach the top of the S.
downhill skateboarding set up carve
6. Glove Down
Bend your knees and place your pucked hands on the ground. Your trailing hand (right for regular stance, left for goofy) will likely touch first. At this point, you will be bent over with your palms on the ground, but not fully outstretched. Shift 30-50% of your weight onto your hands, with hands not too close to the board.
longboard setup carve
step – 6 how to push up slide
setup carve longboarding
- Note: Be mindful of how much weight you place on your pucks, as they might cause you to slide away from the board initially. Practice the motion to get the rotation and momentum to help break the wheels’ traction.
7. Kick the Board Out
From this bent position, kick the board out. Start by pushing with your back foot while keeping your front foot firm. Once you feel the wheels break traction, extend both feet into the push-up position. Make sure to dig into the rail with both feet.
longboarding push-up slide
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Note: Keeping your front foot firm is critical. If it does not remain firm, the front wheels could grip, or the back could over-rotate.
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Initially, this will feel awkward. With practice, it will become one fluid motion.
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Ensure you have 60-80% of your weight on your hands. If you don’t have sufficient weight on your hands, it will be difficult to kick the board out.
8. Maintain the Slide
Keep pressure on your toes. The board should continue sliding, and you will gradually slow down to a stop. The main goal is to stop safely, and if you can achieve this reliably, you have successfully performed the push-up slide.
9. Getting Back on Board (Optional)
Once you have mastered the slide, you can try to get back on the board while sliding. Release pressure from your back foot (keep the front foot firm) and let the board rotate back underneath you. Twist your hips to absorb the hookup force as the board rotates. You may not get back straight, so be prepared to regain control of the board.
- This is a more advanced technique and can be skipped until you are more comfortable.
10. 180 Slide (Optional)
Some people use the momentum of the slide to do a 180, switching stance and direction as the board rotates 180 degrees. This will require you to use your momentum to help push your upper body off the ground. It will take some practice, but it can be a useful skill.
Tips for Success
- Be Aggressive: Don’t be timid. Commit to the movement. It’s better to go for it with gear on to learn what works.
- Flexibility: Stretch before your ride to improve your mobility.
- Toe Pressure: Dig into the rail using the pressure of your toes for better leverage when pushing out the board. Place your back foot on the rail for added force.
- Practice Setup Carve: Use chalk to draw the half-S shape on the ground to practice the setup carve.
how to push up slide – setup carve outline
- Wide Open Space: Practice in a wide area with plenty of space.
- Slide Wheels: Use wheels designed for sliding.
- Hand Position: Keep your hands ahead of your knees and away from the board to have better weight distribution.
Troubleshooting
- Board Keeps Going Straight: You might not be keeping your front foot firmly planted or breaking traction initially. Try more aggressive hand placement and push-out, adding more weight to the hands or trying a more exaggerated setup carve.
- Falling Off the Board: Do not throw yourself off the board. Maintain contact with the board, do not just fall off. Make sure you are carving, bending your knees and getting your hands to the ground gently.
- Not Enough Upper Body Strength: Strengthen your upper body muscles.
- Not Bending Your Knees: Always bend your knees, it’s essential for the slide.
- Not Pushing Hard Enough: Be more aggressive in pushing the board out with your feet.
- Feet Slipping: Use coarse grip tape on your board to improve foot grip.
After Mastering the Push-Up Slide
Once you’ve mastered the push-up slide, try transitioning to a one-handed toeside slide. While in the slide, lift your front hand and look down the hill. Practice this and eventually try to start the one-handed slide without both hands touching the ground. This technique is another step towards advanced riding.
This guide is part of a larger downhill skill progression. Be sure to explore other tutorials for even more riding techniques.
Your Thoughts?
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