The elusive cross step

[rinkai]

I'm having trouble cross stepping while moving. The board shoots forward or backward whenever I try to take a step. Thanks in advance.
-Dave

[mattspiff]

when i first started learning how to cross-step, this is what i'd do-

sooo you're riding. i'm calling foot A your front foot and foot B your back foot, since cross-stepping involves switching feet around, it's easier to understand..
-i'd start with my back foot (call this foot B) as far back on the board as possible, perpendicular to it.
-my front foot (call this foot A), i'd have at about a 45 degree angle with my toes at about the center of the board. at this point i'd start carving slightly heelside
-i cross foot B over, put it on the board about 3/4 up from the back. i'm still carving heelside a little bit when i do this. when i cross over foot B, it's about parallel with foot A.
-i cross foot A under and place it at the very front of my board, and i try and get it perpendicular to the board. this is when i start carving toeside, slightly. at this immediate point, foot B is still at about a 45 degree angle
-since i'm on the front half of the board, i take a step back with foot B to center myself

the entire time, i'll have my hands outstretched - try and find your center of gravity and use your hands to balance yourself out. when you start off on the back of your board, lean forward a little. once you're towards the front of your board, lean back a little. it takes practice, and it's just getting the feel for it more than anything else

i have a dervish flex 2, it's 41.5 inches long i think...
i'm 135 pounds, 5'9", size 10.5 shoe...
technique probably differs from person to person based on these things, especially shoe size and the length of your board. but that's what worked for me! i'm trying to get myself to cross-step switch, it feels weird but i'm going through this same process

let me know if anything i said was unclear, i hope this helped!

[Camel]

Go check out the video from loaded on cross-stepping. That is how I learned. Do the motions over and over while the deck is on the lawn. That will help with muscle memory and foot placement.

Public Media - Trick Tips - Cross Stepping - Loaded Boards, Inc.

[mattspiff]

actually, i learned using that same video. good advice, watch it!

[killerzombie163]

Practice on the grass first. The video is pretty much spot on to how to do a cross step. thats how i learned it. There shouldn't be a real need to rush through the cross stepping. The slower it is = more style,flow, and better control. After the grass, move on to a wide street or parking lot so you aren't afraid of carving too hard and hitting something.

[Terrence]

the adam squared video is definitely the way to go, just watch it till you memorize everything about it "dont be an eager beaver" remember to carve when you do it and practice practice practice!!

[tradewinds]

i had the same problem till i started loosin up my knees. bend those knees!!

[Bookworm]

you're going too slow. there's physics behind this. you and you board moving as one have a certain center of gravity, like people in a canoe. If you move forward the board moves back, so as to compensate for the shift in mass distribution, the same way a canoe moves backwards if you shift weight forwards. If you're going too slow you can override the forward momentum of the board. The faster you are going the less the shift in momentum will affect the board.

[rinkai]

Thanks guys. I don't know if this matters but I have a vanguard flex 3 38 inches. Last night I just finished a dancer I was building its 65 inches and weighs about 30 lbs. Its easier to cross step that. I think its a weight thing.

Also, I was watching the Adam and Adam video. Does the carving help with the momentum problem?

[killerzombie163]

Thanks guys. I don't know if this matters but I have a vanguard flex 3 38 inches. Last night I just finished a dancer I was building its 65 inches and weighs about 30 lbs. Its easier to cross step that. I think its a weight thing.

Also, I was watching the Adam and Adam video. Does the carving help with the momentum problem?

it is probably easier to do cross stepping on the longer board because of foot space.

Carving just makes you somewhat more stable in a way because you will be going solid towards a direction.

as long as you are not rushing through and pushing the board backwards with your foot, it won't shoot away from you.

[Reefer]

This is all helpful, thanks. I've been having this same exact problem.

I be watchin' the sh!t outta that video.

[rinkai]

This morning I went out and tried cross stepping going pretty fast and doing the heel side toe side stepping, and the same thing still happened . I was going faster than they were in the adam and adam video. I'm inclined to think this is still a weight thing. I am 240 lbs. Can anyone confirm that I can't do this until I drop some lbs? Or am I being a puss?
-Dave

[N. "Bowl" Pedrosa]

you're being a puss.. just practice dude, it took me over 2 weeks to nail it, and one day I did it for the first time and then it didn't look that hard anymore, it's important the shoulder positioning too. carving REALLY makes the difference.

I think if you place your front foot a little off the edge when you bring it backwards for the crossing, I mean, with your heels going a bit out of the board, it opens more space for you to swing the back foot forwards, and also gives you a pretty stable carve.

enjoy it while you do, it's important, and balance your weight with your arms, you may look like a retarded at first, but after a while you'll be able to do it with your hands and legs tied, well the legs I'm not that sure.

hope it helps, dont freak out

[Viebster]

Practice Practice Practice!
It'll take some time, don't get frustrated.

[killerzombie163]

never hurts to lose some pounds =D. But really, just practice and don't worry.

Practice more on the grass to get the feel of how your board will be reacting. At first, even I was taken by surprise at how my board would feel putting most of my weight to one side (legs crossed). After a few days practicing in my room (carpet), I took it out for a test run.

When i did not get a certain part or feel there is something wrong, I went to the grass or dirt and watched the trick tip vid on my ipod (I downloaded alot of trick tip vids). See what i did wrong then do the cross stepping while i'm on the grass/dirt. Then i would take it on to the pavement and do it there.

Its just mainly repetition.

[C-NoTe]

This morning I went out and tried cross stepping going pretty fast and doing the heel side toe side stepping, and the same thing still happened . I was going faster than they were in the adam and adam video. I'm inclined to think this is still a weight thing. I am 240 lbs. Can anyone confirm that I can't do this until I drop some lbs? Or am I being a puss?
-Dave

Weight shouldn't matter but I can see a flex 3 vanny being very stable or easy to ride at 240 lbs

[Yoshimi]

I also second practicing in the grass. A lot of this trick is just muscle memory and knowing where to place your feet.

When you're practicing at first go at a comfortable speed. It's easier to do this trick while you're moving IMO.