Technical sliding thread

[proff Mark]

This is already a great resource, for those who want to know more after discovering sliding. It also attracts sliders who have been riding competitively for a long time. It would be great if there was a permanent home for the discussion of technique. This would be good for newcomers too, as they could see sliding can be more than merely slowing down or stopping.
For an exemplar see the technique discussion in the speedboarding forum.
What do you think?
For me there has been a process of natural progression. Starting on the slowest of slopes, scared and not knowing what to do. Then came casual riding around which led to bombing hills. This gave confidence to start racing that brought home the value of sliding. Once I started sliding there was no going back, I started to take notice of sliding, especially Gravity's Flow and the remarkable Sergio Yuppie. The whole Brazilian slide scene opened up skateboarding to me. By learning together we can push the boundaries of speed, tech and style.
Slide and Die, Mark.

[Anton Milioti]

technique for new sliders now a days usually is a combination of styles from all over the world. people can learn so much just by watching some video footy and trying to mimic the style or slide, i know thats how i do it.

to get my slides i start them off at slower speeds or down slower hills. keep trying em and trying em until i can nail them at faster speeds. i also feel that a good and clean looking style is way more important than an endless bag of tricks. i can;t do as many slides as most people, but i try to throw them down fast and smooth.

i have been trying the pig in the blanket lately mark, and i must say, i have ate it a lot of times trying it

also does anyone else think that this "freeride" craze is getting people to stop tech sliding?

[gavmck]

Tech sliding is the nuts! The South East UK slide scene is burgoning with the crews uniting last week at Greenwich Park in London for a big fat jam sesh! Interesting to see everyones different styles, they've all got their own way of doing it...

So on the topic of discussing technique. I've been trying to get toeside 360s consistently. Watched your slide school vid Mark, very helpful! My main issue seems to be ending the slide and getting back up when riding with a bit more speed. I can do them slowly ok (just!), but when I go fast I seem to end up stretched all away from the board and just can't pull myself up. Seems like way too much effort, most slides seem to be more technique than power but this one feels like I have to force it or do a little 180 coleman at the end.

Any tips you tech boyos?

[kjc6]

i also feel that a good and clean looking style is way more important than an endless bag of tricks. i can;t do as many slides as most people, but i try to throw them down fast and smooth.

also does anyone else think that this "freeride" craze is getting people to stop tech sliding?

Basic moves cleanly executed at speed are always more impressive than technical slides done at a snail's pace, IMO.

And yeah, the popularity of "freeriding" really exploded quickly, and it's been getting much more attention than technical sliding. Personally, I welcome the decreased attention that tech sliding gets. It just means that every new video with increased style and innovative moves is just that much more enjoyable to see.

toeside 360s ...
My main issue seems to be ending the slide and getting back up when riding with a bit more speed. I can do them slowly ok (just!), but when I go fast I seem to end up stretched all away from the board and just can't pull myself up. Seems like way too much effort, most slides seem to be more technique than power but this one feels like I have to force it or do a little 180 coleman at the end.

Well, the end motion of a t/s 360 is really similar to the end motion of a full 180 coleman pendy. If you are getting too far away from your board, it is likely that you are extending your legs too much in the first half of the 360 (two handed toeside rotation). It's not like a t/s pendy where you might want to get your butt way down low and your board far away from you. I like to think of hand-down 360s as more confined to a "bubble" of space. Your body and board stay much tighter together.

Try keeping your knees bent more on the first half so that when you lift your back hand and begin the second half of the slide, your deck is closer to your body. Then, keep your knees bent and dropped close to the deck, just like in a coleman. Swing your back hand across your body like a rudder and look where you want to go (in the direction of the rotation).

[gavmck]

Cheers dude, I'll try and keep that in mind! I do have a tendancy to extend too much on slides, I just love that low drawn out style!

[BrickCityBombers]

the key is to organize sliding games, I want to try bowling, I have seen limbo, too

[Ian]

Woo tech sliding! Just ordered a drifter and i can't wait to start sliding those hard wheels again. Feeride took over for me for a while but now i'm going back to what got me into longboarding.

[willabong]

Seems like way too much effort, most slides seem to be more technique than power but this one feels like I have to force it

You make a good point here bud, and it kinda answers itself, in that you shouldn't feel like you're forcing anything.
When the technique is right, the move works effortlessly. (well almost, the effort should be employed more with holding form than executing the movement).
Kyle's advice is solid, and check Mark's vid for where he keeps his centre of gravity, not too far away from the board. Keep it tight!
Then it's only a small step bringing the body up over the deck, and not putting the hands down at all!

Nice one.
W

[MJKam11]

(just spreading the word to those of you who may have not seen)

I made a tech sliding group on Vimeo, so if you have vids on Vimeo and you want to post them up, feel free. Longboard Tech Sliding videos on Vimeo

[willabong]

The Vimeo thing is great, we'll be sure to put something up there!

I also want to bring to the attention of those who haven't already seen it: the list.

This is what we are working through in our sessions.
Excellent gauge of where your own sliding is at; strengths and holes, and it's comprehensive, in a logical order of progression, easy to mega. (and there's lots more to go on the end yet)

Don't be shy, where are you on the list? haha.

SLIDE AND DIE!!!

[Sneakerholic]

[MJKam11]

The 540's are all about how you kick out your legs (for me). Just like a pressure spin only opposite. You look back, and when the board gets to around 80 degree's (behind you) you kick your front leg straight out and you curl your back leg in to generate rotation. Hope that helps. (i'm trying to get 2 consecutive rotations myself).

[Sneakerholic]

With heelside pressure spins I don't have any problem, but doing it opposite seems a bit strange to me, I just have to practice more. Thanks for your help.

[willabong]

in particular with the standing 360's.

Right here goes. And this advice should follow for 3's in both directions. I hope.

Crouch and wind arms in opposite direction to desired spin.
Weight should be evenly balanced over both trucks, but body should lean back, uphill. Imagine how snowboarders cork their spins, thats kinda what we're going for, so you lean uphill for the duration of the spin. That gives you purchase on whichever end of the board you want to push and provides resistance to the friction of the slide.
Arms whip round in spin direction, uncrouch to unweight the wheels, and the lower half of your body will follow. Don't stand up too tall.
Keep head and torso upright, try to look directly out and downhill as much as possible.

To get the feel, you can also practice two phases as 180s. Then wind up momentum to carry you through seamlessly.

I'll try to find a vid clip to follow up.

Good luck, hope this helps. Rad to hear you're stoked on sliding.

SLIDE AND DIE!!!

[Sneakerholic]

Thanks for the advice Will. I don't have any problem linking two 180's, but I still can't do it in a fluid movement, I'll go and try to practice as you said today. A video would be great, I already asked Mark if he could put one on his slideschool. Hope you and Mark can be here in Portugal in October for some sick slide sessions.

[Petary791]

Regarding: Tech Sliding vs. Slopestyle

Apples and orange if you ask me. I love them both equally. You're not gonna go out and throw down a flatspin 360 on Strikers, and at the same time a slow steezed out 180 feels really nice on soft wheels. Our last sesh I brought my FSM and Drifter and had a blast on both. It's funny doing speedchecks on one and then the other.

[willabong]

Sweet! Yeah we're amped about heading over to Portugal, we want to slide with everyone!

The slideschool update is gonna have to wait until after Danger Bay but then we'll be right on it..

Here's Piet with some neat 360s in both directions.

Cheers.
W

[Sneakerholic]

Thanks for the video Will. We hope to learn a lot with you guys here. Good luck for Danger Bay.

[kjc6]

Here's Piet with some neat 360s in both directions.

Cheers.
W

Damn, I can't believe how slow you guys can make those rotations! If I don't whip it around at 500 rpm I get spooked, haha.

[Jesse Tighe]

piets hs 360's are explosive.