loaded dervish dancing ?

**Gravity Cat** · 10-04-2009 11:53 AM

Well, I have had my loaded dervish for a while now and until now I have just been going down hills and just cruising. I want to start doing tricks, sliding looks a little too advanced for me to start out right now. I figured dancing is the easiest to learn (is it? if not tell me other tricks I can do with my dervish) I have watched videos of people dancing on the dervish but when I try it it always seems tht I'm "turning" the board to far one way as if the trucks are too loose.

I weigh 120 pounds and my board is flex 2 if that helps. Do you think the problem is that my trucks are too loose?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

**Blix** · 10-04-2009 11:56 AM

Nah, it's not the trucks, it's you. Just keep the trucks loose and keep working on it.
Check out the Loaded Challenges for inspiration: Challenges - Loaded Boards, Inc.

**Gravity Cat** · 10-04-2009 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Blix

Nah, it's not the trucks, it's you. Just keep the trucks loose and keep working on it.
Check out the Loaded Challenges for inspiration: Challenges - Loaded Boards, Inc.

thanks for the reply, yea I had a feeling it was me because I tightened them before and it didn't help much, I'm going to go practice

**rosewood thief** · 10-04-2009 12:07 PM

learn to slide. safety first!

**Dancer** · 10-04-2009 12:09 PM

I wouldn't call dancing the easiest aspect of the sport...

**Tagsrover** · 10-04-2009 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dancer

I wouldn't call dancing the easiest aspect of the sport...

lulz

10lulz

**Spaz1987** · 10-05-2009 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Gravity Cat

thanks for the reply, yea I had a feeling it was me because I tightened them before and it didn't help much, I'm going to go practice

grass is your friend.. also your living room carpet if its rainy out. learn the tricks to get the mucle memory down 1st before taking it to the pavement.

**Gravity Cat** · 10-05-2009 08:31 PM

Well I learned that grass is my friend the hard way haha, the other day after I said I was going to go practice, well I did go practice.....I can cross step....sometimes, I did it three times in a row, then I cross stepped on more time and I put my left foot to far in front of my other foot and it got caught on the front wheel.......ending in my flipping forward and messing up my knee.....good thing I still can skateboard though as it's not that bad

**Heartichoke** · 10-11-2009 01:26 PM

Dancing junk is fun, but definitly work on some sliding too. At least learn the Coleman slide. Its fun, looks gnarly, and will open you up to all kinds of magical new hill possibilities! And yes, safety first.

**tybhugeye** · 10-11-2009 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Gravity Cat

Well, I have had my loaded dervish for a while now and until now I have just been going down hills and just cruising. I want to start doing tricks, sliding looks a little too advanced for me to start out right now. I figured dancing is the easiest to learn (is it? if not tell me other tricks I can do with my dervish) I have watched videos of people dancing on the dervish but when I try it it always seems tht I'm "turning" the board to far one way as if the trucks are too loose.

I weigh 120 pounds and my board is flex 2 if that helps. Do you think the problem is that my trucks are too loose?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Try stepping les on the edge of your board, but afterwards learn on the outer edge cause its more official.8)

**Gnar Gnar Binks** · 10-17-2009 11:45 PM

i just FINALLY got my cross-stepping down. i had the same problem as you. my issue is when i would point my feet forward i'd have them way too far on the edge. really only your heel should be kinda on the edge of the board, any more and you'll be riding right towards the curb.

**BAsports18** · 10-24-2009 04:05 PM

When I first started cross stepping i set daily goals for myself. For example 1 day I told myself I would do at least 25 smooth cross steps and then maybe 50 the next day and then keep increasing until its second nature. Once you can cross step well other dance variations come quite easily.

**waaaagh** · 10-25-2009 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by BAsports18

When I first started cross stepping i set daily goals for myself. For example 1 day I told myself I would do at least 25 smooth cross steps and then maybe 50 the next day and then keep increasing until its second nature. Once you can cross step well other dance variations come quite easily.

couldn't agree more. cross stepping opens so much stuff up. once u get that confidence and balance down from cross stepping, u can go from peter pan steps to walking the plank to any other forms of variations on a longboard. also, derv's are sick for shuvs and stuff so when u get better, ur gonna want to take advantage of that.
as far as sliding goes, i've found that just learning some basic 180 powerslides can be really fun for dancing. just set up with a huge carve, and right at the apex of ur carve or whatever u want to call it, push ur back foot out forward for a heelside slide and the back end will slide right around. it takes a lot of practice and ur definitely gonna want to look up some vids or whatever, because chances are ur gonna learn a lot more from a structured video than me just sitting here spewing out advice

then once u get that down, u can do pressure spins or whatever forms of dancing goodness fits ur wants.
hope this helps some!

**Spaz1987** · 10-25-2009 11:49 PM

learn to push with your opposite foot. helps a TON with dancing... and its super nice to be able to push the other way and have a fresh leg while giving the other a break.

**themccannman** · 10-26-2009 09:48 AM

The biggest thing thats helped me with my dancing the most is keeping your feet pointed straight forward so its more like walking instead stepping (if you get what i mean). Also the bigger you make your toeside carve before your step the smoother your crossover will be. Also the closer to the center of the board you keep your feet the better your turns will be, if you stand to close to the edge you wont be able to control your turns.

**troyboy1900** · 10-27-2009 09:05 PM

Ya, I agree with what everyone said pretty much. I have been riding for almost a year now and once you get cross-stepping down, everything else kinda follows naturally...oh and for sliding, I'm definitely gettin those 180 standup slides down, but the best way to learn is to gradually take tighter and tighter carves going down hills and throwing all your weight into the carve and pull the back end of the board around with you as you pull your body, so let your shoulders and body "lead" your board, and lean back a bit, but that'll come natural

**themccannman** · 11-03-2009 10:16 AM

Biggest thing to help you with any trick is just making sure it's smooth, dont be stiff and robotic just let it flow.

**Spaz1987** · 11-03-2009 01:06 PM

dont step on your wheels...

**mattyno** · 11-03-2009 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Spaz1987

dont step on your wheels...

that was the hardest thing for me to get used when I first got a dervish... oh.. in line with that, make sure your shoes are tied good and no laces dangling...

**Spaz1987** · 11-03-2009 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by mattyno

that was the hardest thing for me to get used when I first got a dervish... oh.. in line with that, make sure your shoes are tied good and no laces dangling...

slip on's eliminate the laces problem

and IMO they're the best style of shoe to dance in

less shoe = more space

barefoot cross steps are amazing. try it out if you haven't