New to sliding?

[Tobes]

Ok, there are just too many posts about repeated questions so I hope to bring this thread to the board and answer any question someone new to sliding might have.

Where to start

What board, wheels, trucks, bearings, should I get for sliding?
Ok before you read what I say about this, there is a ton of more in depth information found here.

Board
Basically its personal preference, ANY board can be used for sliding but some people prefer boards like the Earthwing Slider for trick sliding while others prefer the Gravity Brad Edwards 40" because of its size. If you are of larger size, perhaps you should look into a longer board for a larger stance and more room to get down low, if your of smaller size it would make sense that a small board would be easier to control for you. Nothing is set in stone though, it really is all personal preference. The first step before you ask any questions should be to look at boards and decide which ones you may like. There is a vendor's and manufactures list that can be found here.
Vendors & Manufacturers Contact List

Check the list, find a store, look at some boards and then search the forums for opinions and more details on those particular boards. If you can't find anything THEN you should post about it.

Wheels
What wheel do I want?
Any wheel can slide, it is just easier on to unlock with a harder duro wheel. While different wheels are easier to unlock and some lock back in easier, it is possible to slide on 73a and with some wheels it is actually pretty easy. Do a search, chances are the wheel you have a question about has been talked about. Yet again, go check out an online store and find ones that interest you and search the forums for different wheel suggestions, like I said chances are the wheel has been discussed. If not make a post about it. And just so you know, the wheel that is best for sliding is the one you like the most, its all personal preference.

Trucks
Not discussed as much as decks and wheels, trucks are obviously an important part of a complete board. But yet again it boils down to personal preference. Some people prefer loose trucks and some prefer tight or in between. Take the advice above and find some that interested you and do a search.

Bearings
Spacers are a great purchase for the extra 5 bucks they will greatly increase the life of your bearings and they will also decrease the chance for flatspotting and promote more even wear on your wheels.
Thanks to eazylax and Crappysurfer2 for this contribution.
Other then spacers finding the correct bearings is as simple as using the advice given above.

Gear

Ok so its not all about the board when it comes to sliding, gloves and padding is important too. But where can you get gloves and is padding really necessary?

Gloves
One of the most used tools in most sliding, so you want to get some good gloves? Well you can buy them from a store, using the advice above I'm sure you can find a discussion or two on a particular manufactures gloves. OR you can make your own, there are a billion and one discussions on this so I will only give you a link to one or two ways. If you want to know more do a search on it!
http://www.chrischaput.com/gloves/ - Found in the sliding links thread.

Pads & Helmet
Seriously one of the best investments I made for learning how to trick slide. You will get torn up, ripped up, rubbed up, rashed up, bruised up, beaten up and perhaps blown up so get some pads and you will be amazed at how much they help. Search the forum for more info, most pads have been discussed and you will be able to find plenty of info. And don't forget, PROTECT YOUR NOGGIN! You only get one brain, don't paint the pavement red with it.

What slides should I learn?


Start off with the simple ones, coleman(this should be your first slide as it is a great one to use to make emergancy stops or to slow down), heelslides, toeslides things of that nature. Do what you feel comfortable doing. The more speed you get the easier it is to slide, but yet again do what you feel comfortable doing. Examples of these slides can be found all over the board but a great place to start looking is here. In perticular I suggest looking at the Faltown Slide School, a great place to learn the basic and more advance slides.

I highly suggest looking at the faltown skate skool link in the thread mentioned above, and basically any other link in that thread because they all provide good information.

If your having trouble with a particular slide or perhaps getting that last 90 degrees on your surrender 360 then do a search there is a lot of advice that is already out there. Usually there is also a thread already up there talking about technique and similar things.


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I tried to cover most of the basics, looking for links to add to certain sections like gloves, good online resources for equipment, and anything that reduce the amount of searching a newbie would have to do. Tips and suggestions on how to improve this would be much appreciated, I just am trying to get everything organized into one post.

Thanks!

[Alex (FTS)]

Good work

Possibly the most comprehensive slide site there is:

http://www.faltownskateboards.com/fa...slideskool.asp

[Maxtreme307]

thank you. hopefully this will stop alot of unnessicary questions.

[xrayvzn]

Here is a link to an article on How to Coleman Slide as taught to me by Cliff Coleman:

http://www.silverfishlongboarding.co...de-900-16.html

[Tobes]

Thank you Alex and Xrayvzn, anyone that can contribute to this thread to improve it for the new fish please do!

Thanks for stickying it mod!

[eazylax]

the only thing i can add to it is get bearing spacers... for the extra 5 bucks they will greatly increase the life of ur bearings

[Crappysurfer]

About spacers, they will also decrease the chance for flatspotting and promote more even wear on your wheels

[Steve D.]

i stand enlightened about the importance of spacers

[FreeRiderxx101]

hello im new can any one give me tips how to slide

[pyrate]

everything you need to know is at the top of this page.
watch the linked videos or suggested pages for examples then its just practice practice practice.

[soccersonoma10]

does it make a difference im already know how to slide ok but i just got a landyachtz drop carve deck that has the thin front and tail will that make any difference in technique?

[I.C.K]

kinda new around here...
good post.. helped alot

[ct_racer]

Pads seem pretty importaint...now. I just went out for the first time to try to slide. Needless to say, I'm pretty well thrashed. My board got pretty beat too, looks like I'm gunna need a nosegaurd to go with those pads.

[AgentOrange]

ive been teaching my self how to slide and ive been effing it up real bad but this site helped alot. i had to make my own gloves too was kinda fun tho, but kneepads defenatly get kneepads

[Tobes]

haha, skin on the knees is nice.

[AGENT WD-40]

If you buy knee pads get a quality set. Something that will stay tight on the bottom straps so they dont slip when you fall to your knees. Once the pad gets ripped on the sides or bottom, it greatly increases the chance of them slipping. There is nothing worse than thinking you can rely on your knee pads during a fall and skinning your knee off (Happened to me last week )

Modify your knee pads as well. Melt a thin sheet of cutting board or other plastic on the sides to prevent them from ripping during knee slides. Even if you dont use your pads to do different trick slides, the pads will still last much longer. Protecs or Bullets ($10-25) are the cheapest option and will last a few sessions with no modification. If you modify them, they can last a few months possibly. The new NBS 187 Slider knee pads are a bit more pricey ($100+) but need no modification and will last through the abuse that sliding has. A durable canvas like material covers the sides and bottom to ensure that they will not rip during contact. These pads can last years if they arent purposely abused. Pictures and detailed descriptions will be up soon. Get in contact with Malakai Kingston if you are interested in a set.

[Crappysurfer]

the fun thing about sliding is learning, i would spend my days learning slides i had never seen anyone do, i never knew there was anyone that was good, then i started to see videos of new stuff, different styles, and then it was a catalyst for my growth

[SurfoneDude]

Sorry about brining the old thrread back but does the wheel size matter or just the durometer?

[Crappysurfer]

i dont even know what durometer is

[doctor worm]

you want wheels 55-65mm 95a+