Soft Wheel Pendulums

**Zigzags** · 08-19-2009 12:16 AM

Before anything else and to avoid some flaming, I'd like to point out that I did in fact use the search function but sadly to no avail. Although I realize that there are quite a few threads about pendulums, nothing I've read so far seems to apply specifically to myself, so I think this would probably warrant me starting a new help thread.

So, my problem is that I can't seem to perform a coleman (heelside) pendulum slide and I am extremely keen to learn how to mainly for downhill speed control applications.

At the moment, whenever I try to pendulum, all that happens is my board slides to a complete 180 and then rolls away with me riding switch and with the board still having some amounts of downhill momentum/speed. This is where I need help - I have no idea what to do to bring it back.

At the very least, I know there is definitely something that I'm not doing because some of the people I skate with can perform a pendulum at the same speed I'm attempting to do this at.

If it helps at all, I'm trying to learn this slide using 78a round lipped S9 race formulas with 50 degree randals that are fairly loose topmounted. Additionally, I slide with my back hand up in the air and not grabbing rail (because for some strange reason, it feels somewhat sketchy for me to do so).

Any help or tips at all would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

**Cann0n** · 08-19-2009 12:21 AM

What?

You are trying to do a no handed pendy?

What slide are you having trouble with again?

Hands in the air?

Those are soft wheels... Go faster.

**rips4stoke** · 08-19-2009 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Zigzags

Before anything else and to avoid some flaming, I'd like to point out that I did in fact use the search function but sadly to no avail. Although I realize that there are quite a few threads about pendulums, nothing I've read so far seems to apply specifically to myself, so I think this would probably warrant me starting a new help thread.

So, my problem is that I can't seem to perform a coleman (heelside) pendulum slide and I am extremely keen to learn how to mainly for downhill speed control applications.

At the moment, whenever I try to pendulum, all that happens is my board slides to a complete 180 and then rolls away with me riding switch and with the board still having some amounts of downhill momentum/speed. This is where I need help - I have no idea what to do to bring it back.

At the very least, I know there is definitely something that I'm not doing because some of the people I skate with can perform a pendulum at the same speed I'm attempting to do this at.

If it helps at all, I'm trying to learn this slide using 78a round lipped S9 race formulas with 50 degree randals that are fairly loose topmounted. Additionally, I slide with my back hand up in the air and not grabbing rail (because for some strange reason, it feels somewhat sketchy for me to do so).

Any help or tips at all would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

ummmm, don't think of it so technically and go out there and slide, try faster or try it on a rainy day so you'll be able to get the pendulum back easier, just be careful not to wreck your bearings. you could also try toesides, i know if i'm bombing and i need to burn off speed quick i'm actually more partial to doing toesides depending on the direction of the line you're taking.

btw you some of your post is confusing about the whole grabbing rail deal, on a coleman you should not grab rail at all, or at least not stinkbug, if you're going to do it grab nose/tail/heelside rail, lately i've been loving tweaking out my colemans with a stalefish grab, that prob wouldn't help you in DHing tho.

**Zigzags** · 08-19-2009 12:32 AM

Haha, my apologies. That was a bad error on my part. Edited the first post.

To answer "What slide are you having trouble with again?", So, my problem is that I can't seem to perform a coleman (heelside) pendulum slide.

Guess you guys are probably right. Next time I go out, I'll certainly push my comfort levels when it comes to sliding at speed. Thanks for the help

.

**killdozer** · 08-19-2009 12:34 AM

**FlamingLongboarder** · 08-19-2009 12:35 AM

When you're bringing the board back to normal, try to rotate your shoulders in the direction you're going and use your back foot to bring it back.

Also make sure to get your back knee down into a 'drop-knee' position.

**jmasta** · 08-19-2009 12:38 AM

on softies, sometimes I feel it's easier to NOT do a full 180*.... more like 90* to 150*-ish. that way you don't have to break traction twice. sometimes you'll kill a lot of your speed on the initial 180, and it makes it harder to pendy it back. speed is your friend

work on snapping your whole body back. don't just weakly flail your arm. rotate your shoulders... your body and your board will follow

also, it would be worthwhile to learn switch t/s 180's. they're super easy and can help you out of sketch situations

**FlamingLongboarder** · 08-19-2009 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by jmasta

also, it would be worthwhile to learn switch t/s 180's. they're super easy and can help you out of sketch situations

Word.

10"the other safety slide" s

**East.Coast.Shred** · 08-25-2009 03:50 PM

not the hijack the thread or anything but I'm having the same exact problem. I was wondering if being able to do switch h/s slides would be an extra help. I have a mental block with being able to do them just by themselves so I was wondering if forcing myself to learn them would be any help?

**Blix** · 08-25-2009 04:06 PM

new to DH

Lots of good tips in that thread.

**Bookworm** · 08-25-2009 06:43 PM

you just keep trying. once you're comfortable with your hands on the ground and the board out sideways the rest will follow shortly. You CAN'T pendy below a certain speed (varies depending on road/wheels/temperature/position of venus in relation to saturn/etc) and just need to keep pushing to higher speeds until you get there. What's the worst that'll happen, you slide to a stop?

oh wait, you already know how to do that.

**Shavarsh** · 09-01-2009 03:13 PM

I don't mean to thread jack, but I also slide a full 180 on my Coleman, when I just want to slide to a stop, how do I change this?

**killdozer** · 09-01-2009 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Shavarsh

I don't mean to thread jack, but I also slide a full 180 on my Coleman, when I just want to slide to a stop, how do I change this?

Try and keep your shoulders pointed downhill instead of at the curb behind you. You are rotating too much.

**Shavarsh** · 09-02-2009 06:42 PM

thanks I shall try that8)

**Mac Daddy** · 09-02-2009 06:49 PM

My advice would to be just throw on some pads and try more speed and more commitment. It's hard to explain the motion so just watch some video and try to pick up some technique if you can then go for it.