Guide to Skateboard Cruising: 7 Tips for Better Cruising

Cruising is a skate style where riders ride for long periods of time without stopping or doing tricks. Skaters can cruise for a long commute or simply take a relaxing ride through the neighborhood. Longboards and cruisers are ideal boards for this skate style that typically occurs on the street and other bumpier terrains. These boards have a wide deck and wheelbase, allowing skaters to travel faster, longer, and with more control than normal skateboards.

A cruiser board is the best type of skateboard to use for cruising short distances. Longer than a standard skateboard but shorter than a longboard, cruiser boards are easily maneuverable mid-length boards designed for cruising streets. Longboards are an excellent choice for a long, comfortable ride. They have larger and wider wheels than a cruiser board, making them more stable for traveling over longer distances and unstable terrains.

Cruising can be a great activity for beginners or casual skateboarders. Check out the following tips before setting off on your next long ride:

1. 1. Choose the right board. Cruiser boards have wider decks than conventional skateboards, usually measuring above eight and a quarter inches. Cruiser boards also come equipped with larger wheels, making them a great choice for fast, short-distance cruising. Along with bigger wheel size and better stability, cruisers also have softer wheels that can easily handle rough surfaces. Cruiser skateboard decks are also available in smaller sizes (called mini cruisers) that are easy to carry around.
2. 2. Pick a stance. Skateboarders can choose to cruise with a regular stance or a goofy stance. Skateboarders should choose a stance that makes them feel the most comfortable while skateboarding.
3. 3. Wear your safety gear. The right gear can keep you safe and help prevent injury. Wear a helmet, the right shoes, wrist guards, and knee pads to protect your body from impact.
4. 4. Learn to brake. For safety purposes, learning how to come to a complete stop on your skateboard is one of the first techniques you should master. Proper foot braking and sliding are important, as they can help you slow down from higher speeds, protecting you from serious injuries.
5. 5. Master the turn. Depending on your stance, shifting your body weight toward your toes or backward toward your heels will determine whether you turn left or right. Turning requires balance and coordination, which you’ll need to help yourself navigate sidewalks, uneven terrain, or obstacles.
6. 6. Practice. You’ll want to practice riding in a safe and familiar area before you ride out on the city streets. Practice basic moves like your push stance, where you balance on one leg while using the other to pick up speed. Practice rolling over cracks, pebbles, and other obstacles. You should also practice falling, as knowing how to fall correctly can help protect you from serious injury.
7. 7. Be courteous. Follow the rules of the road in your area. Anticipate unexpected behavior from moving vehicles or cyclists, and give pedestrians the right of way on sidewalks. Abide by the traffic signs in your city or town, and always ride as safely as possible.

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