How to Turn on a Skateboard for Beginners

Imagine you’re cruising down the street, wind brushing your face and you see a turn coming up. How do you steer your skateboard without wiping out? It’s pretty simple. Bend your knees, lean your whole body where you want to go and press into your toes or your heels. That’s how you guide your board. It feels a lot like surfing, only on concrete.

Turning on a skateboard is all about shifting your weight and adjusting your feet. It’s a skill you can master with a little practice. This guide will show you exactly how to turn on a skateboard smoothly and confidently. We’ll cover everything from basic techniques for beginners to advanced tips for professionals. Get ready to transform your ride and carve with ease!

What is Turning on a Skateboard?

Turning on a skateboard is simply guiding your board to change direction. You use your whole body for this. Your movements, your foot placement, it all works together. It’s not just about looking cool. Turning is crucial for everything you do on a board. You need it for cruising down the street. You need it to dodge that rogue pebble. And yeah, you even need it to set yourself up for those gnarly tricks later on. It’s the very first step to really feeling connected to your board.

There are different ways to turn, and each one has its vibe and purpose. Knowing them helps you choose the right turn for the right moment.

Carving Turns: The Flow State

Carving turns are super smooth. Think of it like a snowboarder gliding down a mountain. You lean into the turn. You shift your weight from your heels to your toes. It feels incredibly natural. These turns are all about flow. They look graceful, especially on a longboard. When you’re just cruising, a good carve feels like flying. It’s a fundamental movement that connects you with the board and the pavement. Mastering carving gives you that feeling of effortless motion.

Kick Turns: Quick and Agile

Now, sometimes you need to turn on a dime. That’s where kick turns come in. These are sharper, more abrupt turns. You lift your front wheels right off the ground. You do this by pushing down on your tail. Then you pivot on your back wheels. It’s perfect for tight spots. Think about navigating a crowded sidewalk or making a sharp turn in a skate park bowl. Kick turns give you that quick agility. They are essential for navigating obstacles and setting up for grinds or slides. Don’t be afraid to commit to that pivot.

Sliding Turns: Advanced Control

Okay, so sliding turns are a bit more advanced. This is where you intentionally make your wheels lose traction. You slide sideways. It’s a way to change direction fast. It also helps you scrub off speed. There are different kinds, like power slides and revert slides. Power slides are when you kick out your tail to slide perpendicular to your direction of travel. Reverts are similar, but you land facing the opposite direction. These take practice. They require a good feel for your board and a bit of commitment.

But man, when you nail a slide, it feels incredible. It’s a true sign of board control and opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You’ll be able to control your speed and direction in ways that seem impossible at first.

How Do You Turn a Skateboard: 3 Simple Steps

To turn on a skateboard, you have to shift your weight in the direction you want to go. It all starts with your body. Your lean is your steering wheel. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of actually doing the turn. It all boils down to your weight distribution and some subtle foot movements. It’s not rocket science, but it takes a bit of feel.

Step 1: Starting with the Fundamentals

The most crucial thing? Your weight shifts. Seriously, this is gold. To turn, you lean your entire body in the direction you want to go. Want to head left? Lean left. Want to go right? Lean right. Think of it like this: your body is the steering wheel. Remember learning to ride a bike? You instinctively leaned to turn. It’s the same concept here. My first time nailing a smooth carve, I felt like I was telepathically linked to my board. Just a slight lean, and the board would follow. It was a game-changer for me.

Step 2: Foot Placement

While leaning is the boss, your feet are the co-pilots. They play a super important supporting role. For a heel-side turn, which means you’re turning towards your heels, you’ll press down gently with your heels. If you’re going for a toe-side turn, turning towards your toes, you’ll press down with your toes. Your front foot pretty much stays put, acting as a stable pivot point. Your back foot is where you get all that fine-tuned steering input. It’s subtle, but effective.

Step 3: Understanding Turn Radius

The amount you lean directly impacts how sharp your turn is. We call this the turn radius. A small, gentle lean will give you a wide, sweeping curve. If you want to cut a super sharp corner, you gotta lean more aggressively. It’s a direct correlation: more lean equals a tighter turn. It’s like drawing on the pavement with your board. You control the curve.

Imagine you’re just cruising along, feeling the wind. To start a turn, don’t just think about your feet. Think about your whole body. Gently shift your weight. Feel your ankles and knees working together with your hips. It’s a complete body movement, not just your feet wiggling. Experiment with how much you learn. You’ll quickly find that sweet spot for different types of turns. It’s all about feeling the board beneath you and trusting your body’s instincts. Practice this in a smooth, open space, and you’ll get the hang of it quicker than you think.

How to Turn on a Longboard Skateboard

Lean your weight toward the side you want to travel and the longboard will arc smoothly in that direction. Turning on a longboard has a different feel compared to a regular skateboard. While the basic idea of shifting your weight remains the same, the experience is unique. It’s like comparing a smooth, open road cruiser to a nimble, city sports car.

Turning Techniques: Carve or Kick?

How do you turn differently on each?. When you’re on a longboard, it’s all about deep leans and major body weight shifts. The flex of that deck is your best friend. It helps absorb and then return energy, making your carvings feel incredibly smooth and responsive. You’ll often find yourself in a continuous “S” motion, just smoothly shifting your weight from one side to the other. It does feel like you’re surfing, but on concrete. You’re riding the flow. The board becomes an extension of your body.

Now, on a regular skateboard, you’ll blend in more subtle foot adjustments. And yeah, you’ll be using those kick turns a lot more for sharper changes in direction. Because the deck is stiffer and less forgiving, you need precise foot placement. Understanding how responsive your trucks are is also super important. For example, if I’m trying to weave through some cones in a tight space, I’m going to be kicked turning that street board. I’m not going to try to carve it. It’s all about picking the right tool for the job. You’ll feel the difference pretty quickly once you try both.

Can You Turn on a Longboard Like a Regular Skateboard?

Not really, especially for tighter maneuvers. While both are skateboards and share the fundamental principle of using your body to steer, the way you get them to turn is pretty distinct. It’s like comparing driving a sports car to maneuvering a large, comfortable touring vehicle.

Lean vs. Kickturn: Different Tools for Different Jobs

On a longboard, your turning is almost entirely about leaning and carving. These boards, with their longer wheelbase and often softer trucks, are built for those smooth, flowing turns. You rely heavily on deep body weight shifts. It’s about letting the board flex and respond to your entire body’s input. It’s a very fluid, almost dance-like motion. I remember the first time I really got into longboarding after years on a street deck. I kept trying to kickturn to change direction fast, and it felt super awkward. It just wasn’t built for it.

With a regular skateboard, you’ll often use kickturns for any quick, sharp changes in direction. This involves lifting those front wheels right off the ground and pivoting on your back wheels. It’s a quick, agile maneuver. Can you technically do a rudimentary kickturn on a longboard? Yeah, maybe if you’re strong and the board is light. But it’s going to be far less efficient, way more difficult, and honestly, pretty clunky due to the longboard’s length and weight. Longboards just aren’t designed for those quick pivots or for the kind of street tricks that demand rapid direction changes.

So, while the core idea of shifting your weight to change direction is universal, the specific method and the overall feel of turning are genuinely distinct between the two. Longboards are masters of graceful, sweeping carves. Regular skateboards are the champs of quick, agile maneuvers. Knowing this difference helps you appreciate each board for what it does best and allows you to pick the right board for the kind of riding you want to do.

Basic Turning Tips For Beginners

Learning how to turn on a skateboard can feel a bit wobbly at first, and that’s normal. Everyone goes through it. But trust me, with these basic tips and a little bit of grit, you’ll be cruising confidently and carving like a pro in no time. We all started somewhere!

Don’t Rush It: Start Small

Here’s the first golden rule: don’t overdo it. Seriously. When you’re just starting, try to make small, gradual turns. You want to get comfortable with the feeling. Trying to whip out a sharp 90-degree turn right off the bat is a recipe for an unplanned meeting with the pavement. Believe me, I’ve seen it a hundred times, and I’ve done it myself. Think of it as gently guiding the board, not forcing it. Focus on wide, sweeping turns first. Get that smooth, arcing motion down. It builds your confidence and teaches you how the board responds to your subtle movements.

Bend Those Knees: Your Built-In Suspension

This is probably the most repeated advice in skateboarding, and for good reason: keep your knees bent! This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a fundamental truth. Bent knees act like natural shock absorbers. They lower your center of gravity, which is crucial for staying balanced and having control, especially when you’re in the middle of a turn. It allows you to shift your weight so much more fluidly. You can react way quicker if the board decides to do something unexpected. Seriously, it’s the difference between flowing with the board and getting bucked off.

Master Your Balance: The Foundation Of Everything

Before you even start thinking about making a turn, you need to get comfortable just standing and rolling on your board. This might sound boring, but practice your balance. Work on shifting your weight from side to side without falling or feeling unstable. This foundational balance is everything. It will make a world of difference when you start to actually incorporate turns. A great exercise is to just stand on your board, even stationary, and gently rock your weight back and forth. Feel how your board responds to those subtle shifts. Get to know your board like it’s an extension of your feet.

Remember, consistency is key here. You don’t need to spend hours every day. Even just a few minutes of practice, consistently, will build that muscle memory and confidence faster than you think. Every little bit adds up. You’ll be surprised how quickly those wobbly turns turn into smooth, confident carves. Just keep at it!

Common Mistakes When Turning On A Skateboard

Learning how to turn on a skateboard involves a lot of trial and error. It’s part of the journey. But hey, if you know the common traps, you can fix them way faster and get that turning smooth. Let’s dig into some of the usual suspects that can throw your turns off.

Tensing Up: Loosen Up, Buttercup!

This is a classic beginner’s mistake: you tense up. I get it. You’re new, maybe a little scared of falling. But when your body is stiff, your muscles are fighting against the natural flow of blood. It makes it super hard to balance and impossible to initiate those smooth turns. Think of it like this: your body needs to be a spring, ready to absorb bumps and shift weight effortlessly. Relax your knees, your ankles, and your hips. Just let that tension go.

I remember my early days, gripping the board with my feet, rigid as a board myself. Then an older skater just told me, “Dude, relax! Let the board do its thing.” It clicked. That simple advice transformed my riding.

Not Shifting Weight Enough: Commit To The Lean

We’ve talked about it a lot, and I’ll say it again: weight shift is the absolute key to turning. If you’re just trying to steer with your feet or twisting your upper body without leaning, you’re not going to get anywhere. The board will feel unresponsive. You’ll struggle to make any sharp turns. You need to commit. Lean your entire body into the turn. Feel that weight shift from one side of your feet to the other. Imagine you’re trying to push the side of your shoe into the pavement. That’s the feeling.

Why Can’t I Turn My Skateboard Properly?

So, you’re trying these tips, but still asking yourself, “Why can’t I turn my skateboard properly?” Don’t worry, it’s a common question. Beyond the basic mistakes, there are a few other culprits that might be holding you back. Pinpointing these can change your game.

Truck Tightness: Your Steering Sensitivity

Your skateboard’s trucks are basically your steering mechanism. They’re super crucial.

Too Tight: If your trucks are cranked down too tightly, your board is going to feel like a stiff plank. You’ll have to put in a ridiculous amount of effort just to get even a slight curve. It feels like wrestling a brick. If this sounds like you, try loosening the kingpin nut. That’s the big nut in the center of the truck. Give it a quarter or half turn at a time. Go for a roll, see how it feels, and adjust.

Too Loose: On the flip side, if your trucks are too loose, your board will feel super wobbly. It’s like trying to walk on jelly. This makes it hard to control your turns, especially when you pick up speed. You might also run into “wheel bite,” where your wheels rub against the deck during sharp turns. That’s not fun. If your board feels too squirrely, tighten that kingpin nut slightly until you find a good balance between responsiveness and stability. It’s a personal preference, so play around with it.

Bushings: The Heart of Your Turn

Those little rubber or urethane cushions inside your trucks? Those are your bushings, and they play a massive role in how your board turns. They determine how much your trucks can pivot.

Hard Bushings: If you have hard bushings, you’ll get less flex. This means turning becomes more challenging. You’ll need more force to lean into a turn. Heavier riders sometimes prefer these for more stability at higher speeds. They’re built for speed, not for tight turns.

Soft Bushings: Softer bushings allow for easier and deeper turns with less effort. These are awesome for lighter riders or anyone who loves that smooth, carvy feel. If you’re struggling to turn, swapping to softer bushings could be your magic bullet. It’s a relatively cheap upgrade that can make a huge difference.

Foot Position: Your Control Center

Believe it or not, where your feet are on the board can totally mess with your turning.

Feet Too Close Together: If your feet are jammed up close to each other, you simply won’t have enough leverage to effectively lean and control the board. You’ll feel stuck.

Feet Too Far Apart: While having a wider stance can give you some stability, too wide can actually limit your ability to shift your weight dynamically for turns. You become less agile.

Feet Not Centered: Make sure your feet are generally centered over the trucks. For kick turns, your back foot will be on the tail, but for carving, aim for centered. This gives you the best leverage for steering. It ensures that your weight translates directly to the trucks.

Lack Of Practice And Confidence: The Real Secret Sauce

Honestly, sometimes the biggest reason you can’t turn properly is simply a lack of practice and confidence. Turning is a feel-based skill. You can read all the tips in the world, but until you spend time on the board, feeling it out, it won’t click.

Hesitation: If you’re hesitant to commit your weight to a turn, your board won’t respond like you want it to. You need to trust the board and yourself. Just go for it.

Insufficient Speed: This is a sneaky one. Sometimes, trying to turn at extremely slow speeds can actually be harder. You don’t have enough momentum to help the board lean into the turn. Get a comfortable, gentle roll going before you try to turn. Just a little speed helps the trucks engage.

Not Looking Where You Want to Go: This is a huge one, and it applies to pretty much everything in life, not just skateboarding. Your body tends to follow your gaze. If you’re looking down at your feet, you’re less likely to commit to the turn. Look ahead to where you want to go. Seriously, your body will naturally follow your eyes. It’s a powerful mental trick.

By systematically checking off these points, you can usually figure out exactly why you’re struggling. Make those small adjustments, keep practicing, and pretty soon, you’ll be carving and turning like it’s second nature. Stick with it, and have fun out there!

Final Thoughts

Look, mastering turning on a skateboard, whether it’s a longboard or a street deck, really boils down to three key ingredients: balance, confidence, and plain old practice. This isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about how you feel on your board.

Understanding the fundamental basics, like shifting your weight, and then applying the right techniques for your specific board, will make your rides so much smoother. You’ll feel more controlled, and honestly, infinitely more enjoyable. It’s the foundational skill that unlocks everything else in skateboarding. Seriously, everything.

My journey with skateboarding started with just pushing straight. Then I learned to turn. That little shift, that simple lean, suddenly opened up a whole new world. The city became my playground. Hills became roller coasters. It’s a progression, and turning is the first big step on that endless, awesome path. So get out there, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the ride. Every turn you nail is a step closer to becoming one with your board. You got this.

FAQs about Turning On A Skateboard

We’ve covered a lot about how to turn on a skateboard, but you might still have a few questions rolling around in your head. Here are some of the most common ones we hear!