Yes, you can do tricks on a longboard—but the tricks that make sense depend on the deck. A compact cruiser with a kicktail is suitable for manuals, pivots and small curb skills; a long dancing deck gives you room for cross-steps; a freestyle deck is built for shove-its and board flips; and a freeride setup is designed for controlled slides. One board will not be ideal for every category.
If you are new, learn to push, turn and footbrake before adding tricks. This guide explains the main trick families, which setups suit them and how to progress without treating advanced slides or aerial tricks as beginner basics.
Longboard trick categories at a glance
| Trick style | Typical skills | Best-suited setup | Beginner fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruiser skills | Manuals, tic-tacs, pivots, kick turns, curb drops | Compact top-mount with a usable kicktail | Good after basic control |
| Dancing | Cross-step, Peter Pan, lookback, pirouette | Long, relatively flat platform with comfortable flex | Good at low speed |
| Freestyle | Shove-its, no-comply variations, tiger claws, flips | Symmetrical or twin-kick freestyle deck | Intermediate |
| Freeride slides | Hands-down slides, stand-up slides, speed checks | Stable freeride board, slide wheels and proper protection | Advanced instruction recommended |
| Downhill technique | Tucking, pre-drifts, line choice | Stiff, stable downhill setup | Not a beginner trick category |
1. Tricks on a compact kicktail cruiser
A kicktail lets you lift the front wheels and redirect the board. This makes a cruiser useful for practical, low-speed skills rather than large freestyle sequences. Start on smooth, flat ground with plenty of space.
- Manual: balance briefly on the rear wheels while keeping your shoulders centered over the board.
- Tic-tac: lift the front wheels slightly and move the nose from side to side to reposition or generate a little momentum.
- Kick turn: use a small tail press to rotate the board deliberately at low speed.
- Hippie jump: jump while allowing the board to keep rolling beneath an obstacle; practise the motion without an obstacle first.
For detailed drills, common mistakes and a seven-skill sequence, use our beginner cruiser tricks tutorial.
2. Dancing tricks
Longboard dancing combines footwork with a board that continues rolling. A longer wheelbase and generous standing platform give you room to move your feet. Mild flex can feel comfortable, but the deck should still support your weight predictably.
- Cross-step: walk toward the nose with controlled crossing steps, then return to your riding stance.
- Peter Pan: alternate crossed steps while carving gently from side to side.
- Lookback: rotate your upper body and feet into a brief backward-facing position before unwinding.
- Ghostride: step off beside the moving board and step back on; it requires excellent speed judgment and an empty practice area.
Practise foot placement while stationary first, then at walking speed. Dancing is not safer simply because it is performed slowly: an unexpected wheel stop can still cause a forward fall.
3. Freestyle tricks
Freestyle involves manipulating the board as well as moving your body. Symmetrical decks with functional kicks at both ends make it easier to approach tricks from either direction. Smaller, harder wheels may reduce weight and resist wheelbite, but they also roll less comfortably over rough pavement.
Typical freestyle skills include shove-its, no-comply variations, tiger claws and old-school flips. These place more impact on the deck and trucks than ordinary cruising. Inspect the deck for cracks, the truck hardware for movement and the wheels for damage before every session.
4. Freeride slides are a separate discipline
A slide intentionally breaks wheel traction so the board moves sideways. It can be used to manage speed, but learning it involves more speed and consequence than manuals or dancing steps. Slides should not replace a reliable footbrake for a beginner.
Freeride riders commonly use predictable slide wheels, a stable board and slide gloves for hands-down techniques. Wheel behavior depends on urethane formula, contact patch, lip shape, surface finish, rider weight and pavement—not only wheel hardness. Learn on a closed, gentle slope with a clear runout and experienced supervision.
Can any longboard do every trick?
No. You can adapt basic balance skills to many boards, but geometry creates real limits. A drop-through commuter is stable and easy to push, yet its low platform and lack of a useful kicktail make freestyle awkward. A flexible dancer provides footwork space but is not designed for high-speed downhill. A small cruiser is nimble but leaves little room for long dance sequences.
| Board feature | Helps with | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Single kicktail | Manuals, pivots, kick turns | Less symmetry for switch freestyle |
| Twin kicks | Freestyle in both directions | Usually less efficient for distance pushing |
| Long standing platform | Dancing and footwork | More board to carry and rotate |
| Low drop-through platform | Pushing and commuting stability | Reduced leverage for tail tricks |
| Stiff deck | Predictability at speed | Less forgiving feel for casual carving |
A safer progression for beginners
- Control first: establish a consistent stance, push without looking at your feet and learn to ride and footbrake on flat ground.
- Low-speed balance: practise carving, riding switch briefly and stepping around the deck without obstacles.
- Board-specific basics: choose manuals and pivots for a kicktail cruiser, or cross-steps for a dancing deck.
- Add rotation carefully: move to shove-its, no-comply skills or pirouettes only after you can step off safely in either direction.
- Treat slides and speed separately: use suitable protective equipment, a controlled location and experienced coaching.
Protective gear and practice area
Wear a certified, correctly fitted helmet. Knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards reduce the consequences of repeated low-speed falls; slide gloves are essential when practising hands-down slides. Shoes should stay secure and provide consistent board feel.
- Use smooth, dry pavement away from traffic, pedestrians and driveways.
- Check for stones, cracks, wet patches and wheelbite before starting.
- Keep the first attempts at walking speed and learn how to step off.
- Stop when fatigue makes foot placement or braking inconsistent.
How to choose your first trick direction
Choose the style that matches the board you already own and the riding you enjoy. If you use a compact cruiser for transport, start with manuals and kick turns. If you prefer flowing footwork, consider a dancing deck. If you want technical board manipulation, a purpose-built freestyle deck will make progression more realistic. Do not buy a downhill setup merely because it looks stable if your goal is low-speed tricks.
Editorial and experience note: this guide separates established longboard disciplines by their common equipment and movement requirements. It is informed by Juan Campuzano’s longboarding experience since 2010 and work with international longboard brands. It is an educational progression guide, not a claim that every named trick or current product was independently laboratory tested. Equipment condition, rider ability and local terrain can change the risk substantially.
