So, you’ve got your first longboard and are eager to learn the basics of downhill skating? Great! This guide will focus on mastering the tuck, a fundamental skill for any downhill rider. The tuck position helps reduce air resistance, allowing you to achieve greater speeds. Let’s dive into the essential elements of a proper tuck.
The Fundamentals of Tucking
The tuck, at its core, is a position designed to minimize your profile and reduce drag. Here’s a breakdown of the basic tuck:
- Stance: Begin by standing on your board with your feet about shoulder-width apart. This provides a stable base.
- Knee Placement: Rest your back knee against the calf of your front leg. This brings your body lower and begins the process of compacting your form.
- Chest Position: Lower your chest towards your front thigh, aiming to get as close as comfortably possible. The closer you are, the more aerodynamic you become.
- Hold: Maintain this position as long as you can, focusing on balance and stability.
It’s recommended to practice the steps above, take pictures, and notes of your current form. This will give you a baseline and help you troubleshoot any issues using the guide below.
Remember that tucking is a personal experience. It’s about finding what’s comfortable and efficient for your body. Don’t simply mimic pro riders, as their form may not work for your unique build. Focus on finding your optimal tuck, then improve through targeted stretches and exercises.
Fine-Tuning Your Tuck
Foot Placement: Finding the Right Stance
Proper foot placement is key to maintaining balance and stability in the tuck.
- Toes Alignment: Position your toes so they are roughly in line with each other. This will help you keep your balance and reduce the strain on your thighs. It’s generally the most comfortable position to start with.
Toes aligned for a longboard tuck
Front Foot Angle: Adjusting for Comfort
The angle of your front foot can significantly impact your comfort and control.
- Starting Angle: Begin with your front foot at a 45-degree angle. This is a common starting point and often feels natural.
- Adjust as Needed: If the 45-degree angle feels awkward, gradually reduce it until your foot is more straight. Use the center line of your board as an axis to pivot, ensuring you have a balanced heel and toe exposure. Experiment to find what is most comfortable for you.
Back Foot Placement: Prioritizing Balance
Your back foot’s position should complement your front foot to ensure a balanced stance.
- Alignment: Ideally, your back foot should be in line with your front toes. This provides maximum stability.
- Adjustments: If you find it more comfortable, you can bring your back foot closer to the edge of the board. However, remember that keeping your toes in line is the best place to start. As you gain experience, you might return to this position for optimal stability.
Back Knee Placement: Finding the Sweet Spot
The position of your back knee impacts how easily you can lower your chest.
- Comfort is Key: Start by placing your back knee where it feels most comfortable on your calf.
- Experimentation: Some riders place their knee higher, others lower. As you gain more flexibility, you may find you can position it lower, making it easier to get your chest closer to your thigh.
- Aerodynamics vs. Comfort: While placing your knee higher may be the most aerodynamic position, it may sacrifice your ability to lower your chest. Comfort is most important, especially at first. An unstable position will disrupt airflow and slow you down more than a slightly higher position.
Weight Distribution: The Key to Stability
Distributing your weight correctly is crucial for a stable and controlled tuck.
- Initial Distribution: As a beginner, start with a 60/40 or 70/30 weight distribution, with the majority of your weight on your front foot. This offers more stability and control while you’re learning.
- Progressing: As your skills improve, you can gradually shift more of your weight forward to increase speed. A common weight distribution for experienced riders is 80/20.
- Adapting to Conditions: Remember that weight distribution varies based on road conditions, turns, and if you’re sliding. You may need to shift more weight to your back foot during rougher rides or when initiating a slide. Don’t be rigid with weight distribution, adapt to your situation.
Troubleshooting Your Tuck
How to Improve Your Tuck
Consistent practice is key for improving your tuck.
- Stretching: Focus on stretches that target your hips and lower body. Stretches that loosen your thighs are beneficial.
- Exercises: Incorporate exercises such as box squats, wall squats, and pistol squats. These strengthen the muscles you use when tucking.
- Tuck Holds: Practice holding the tuck position for extended periods (e.g. 3 minutes on, 1 minute off). Gradually increase the duration to build endurance.
Chest Won’t Lower?
If you can’t get your chest close to your thigh, here are a few fixes:
- Lower Knee Placement: Simply place your back knee lower on your calf. This is a quick and easy fix to help lower your chest.
- Stretching: Focus on stretches that improve your flexibility. A hip flexor stretch is particularly effective.
Feeling Unstable?
Instability can stem from a variety of factors. Here are some things to address.
- Foot Alignment: Ensure your feet are aligned. Having your back foot out of line with your front foot can make you unstable.
- Back Foot Position: If your back foot is too close to the rear truck, it can cause instability. Try moving it slightly forward on the board. If you want to keep your foot where it is, try tightening your back trucks, get harder bushings, dewedge your setup, or get a baseplate with a lower angle. These changes can increase stability.
- Weight Distribution: You might have too much weight on your back foot. Lean more into your front foot to increase stability.
- Gear Issues: Check your gear for any issues. Worn-out bushings, loose trucks, or an inappropriate board setup can all contribute to instability. Do your research to get the best gear for your needs.
Experiencing Discomfort?
Discomfort can be a sign that you need to make some adjustments.
- Foot Spacing: While shoulder-width apart is a common starting position, some riders find more comfort with a wider or narrower stance. Experiment to find what’s right for you.
- Knee and Leg Adjustments: Experiment by moving your knee and legs to find a position that feels most natural and comfortable.
Exploring Different Tuck Styles
Tucking is not a one-size-fits-all technique. Here’s a look at how different pro riders approach the tuck:
Carlos Guto Negao Paixao
Carlos is known for his straight-line speed and compact tuck. His flexible body allows him to compress into a very aerodynamic position.
Dane Hanna
Dane is a top racer with a very effective tuck. He’s known for his ability to maintain speed in a straight line.
Nick Broms & Chase Hiller
Nick has a compact tuck that involves bending his back significantly. Chase is also a fast rider. Notice how Nick raises his head, due to his long neck, which allows him to see.
Tim Del & Max Capps
Tim’s unique “Tim Del tuck” is quite unconventional, yet he’s incredibly fast. Max Capps is also known for speed. They’ve both achieved speeds over 90mph.
Thiago Lessa
Thiago is known for having one of the best tucks in the sport, which helped him win the world championship in 2018. He maintains a compact shape, minimizing air resistance with his great flexibility.
Thiago Lessa longboard tuck
Emily Pross
Emily is a fast rider who doesn’t perfectly mirror other tucks, proving that comfort and what works best for you is important.
Pearse D’Arcy
Pearse has an excellent tuck with his back knee low on his calf, allowing him to close the chest-thigh gap. His helmet with its large chin also increases aerodynamics.
Final Thoughts
Becoming skilled at downhill skating requires time, practice, and patience. Tucking might feel awkward or uncomfortable at first, but the results will be well worth it. Remember to focus on what works for your body and continuously adapt and improve your technique.
If you found this guide helpful, let us know on social media! Your feedback helps us create more content that benefits riders like you.
Explore these other helpful articles:
- Skateboarding basics: How to balance on your skateboard and push
- The guide to safe downhill skating
- How to setup your trucks for downhill
- Best wheels for learning to slide
- How to pick your first skateboard for downhill skating
