So Dancing is Harder than I Thought it Would Be...

[seawolfxix]

I started longboarding about 2 weeks ago, and I try to put in about an hour of cruising after work every day. Today I decided to try cross-stepping, but I found out that it's pretty damn hard.

Are there some other fundamentals that I should be working on first? Any other words of advice?

I don't have any friends around here that longboard, so I'm trying to learn everything on my own.

[assumeivan]

learn how to footbrake, i think it's the most essential skill in longboarding, it'll help you stop and it'll definitely help your balance get better

try it on grass, on carpet, anything that keeps your board idle, once you got it down, take it to the streets

[Siilar]

Yeah definately learn to cross-step and footbreak. If you are having trouble cross-stepping remember to point your toes forward. It is so much harder to do a cross-step like a robot haha. Also get a little speed. It helps you keep your balance.

I feel both of those are good to learn first because of the whole balance thing. Then start learning speed checks and shovits I say. That's how I did it.

[Lee W]

Get used to doing it on grass or carpet so you know how to transition your weight. Learn to push with both feet. Also try to take a push and glide on one foot only for 5-10 seconds before taking a second push. Ride switch often. Learn to do body varials all 4 ways so that going from regular to switch (or switch to regular) is second nature in either direction (frontside or backside).

Learn to footbrake.

[Hmann]

i just learned how to cross step facing backwards on my board its soo fun

[mbrown8118]

Cross stepping is harder than it looks. Just keep at it. One thing I noticed helps me is maintaining good posture, as in keep your head, shoulders, hips, and feet all in line and centered. I was leaning forward/slouching the first couple times I tried it and kept having to hop off the board. I'm no expert, but I've gotten ok at it since. In addition to footbraking, learning to push mongo helped my balance. If it does nothing for your balance, at least you'll be able to push with your other foot.

[mjz091]

practice alot and make sure your kepping constant carves throughout
its all about style so make it natural and like everyone said learn stationary first

here is a nice video that explains it

YouTube - Cross Stepping

cross stepping opens so many doors once mastered

[StingrayHH]

My Advice: Cross step on a gentle hill/slope at a faster pace than youre 100% comfortable with, cuz you're momentum will help keep you centered on the board (or something), and cuz if ya fall, you'll be like "ow, i should do it right next time " and you probably will and you'll be the talk of the town, being able to walk around on your fancy big skateboard 8)

Worked for me! Good Luck 8)

Adam Videos= Sooooooo much help, watch it like 12 times

[Slops57]

Adam Videos= Sooooooo much help, watch it like 12 times

definatly. ive watched them all like 50 times.

"so you come around the corner and see some logs obstructing the road..."

[Teh_Zak723]

Once you have achieved some very fluid cross-stepping, TRY to learn the Walk the Plank. It is very awkward at first, and hard to do at speed until you really dial it in. But after a ton of practice at walking the plank, you will develop good fundamentals and really learn to explore your board.

[southshorelocal]

definatly. ive watched them all like 50 times.

Yea I have them all on my ipod so i can refresh my technique during class.

[Siilar]

Once you have achieved some very fluid cross-stepping, TRY to learn the Walk the Plank. It is very awkward at first, and hard to do at speed until you really dial it in. But after a ton of practice at walking the plank, you will develop good fundamentals and really learn to explore your board.

Yup, Walk the Plank is a great move to learn. I still haven't mastered it on my Dervish. It's difficult to make it look fluid, but very possible. Just mess around with it and you will start getting better in no time.

As far as cross-stepping on a mellow hill, I suggest getting the technique down on flatland first, then moving on to that. Falling is always fun, but frustrating for a beginner.

Good luck, and don't forget to wear a helmet!

[AngryGumball]

I'm still learning how to cross step, having tough times. I can kinda sorta do 1 round of stepping while rolling slowly when I'm lucky, but my main thing is doing the second step. (The first being bringing my rear foot to the front, the second one bringing my front foot that's now in the rear back up.) I tend to shoot the board forward, though I'm centering my weight over the foot that is moving. However, I do find it easier to do it while moving as the board has a forward momentum.

Balance-wise,I do know how to footbrake pretty well, do it downhill, as well as what I call (and us roller coaster fanatics frown upon) 'trim brakes' which is doing short foot brakes to maintain a certain speed. I can also now finally body varial on both a longer and shorter (C29) deck...I just can't return to regular stance...infact, I can't ride switch too well.

Back to cross stepping, watched the Adam video many times to see the motion, how do I do this without shooting out? Does a flat board work best for stepping? (Maybe my Krown?) Would cross stepping work in the Kahuna Hydro I'm planning on buying? Lastly, my goal is to walk the Flexdex C29.

[fl rider]

i learned how to cross step on my S9 bomb hills and i personally think the concave made it much easier. but as for actually learning it, just keep practicing. it took me a week or 2 to get it down pretty well

[AnjewDang]

learn to pedal with your other foot
once both feet can balance well, then you can do boardwalking tricks pretty easily

[Impostor]

practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice

and then go practice. the cool part is that practice = skateboarding and skateboarding = awesomeness.

[crazy_boarder_dude]

practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice

and then go practice. the cool part is that practice = skateboarding and skateboarding = awesomeness.

Practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice...

Sooner or later youll get it without even realizing how easy it is... but only because of practicing!

[a_speck_of_dust]

one itme i was crossw stepping and my board flew out from under my feet and i fell on my face

[RastamanD]

hey have you guys ever drifted while cross stepping? i did scared me shitless but i finished it....is that a trick?

[Teh_Zak723]

hey have you guys ever drifted while cross stepping? i did scared me shitless but i finished it....is that a trick?

Hah, happened to me under stress of hard carving a few times. After you get used to it and stop pooping yourself every time it happens, it starts to feel cool.