What is Freeride Longboard?
Freeride longboarding has always been one of the most popular disciplines of longboarding. As the name says, it is Free Riding, which consists in letting yourself be free and do whatever you feel like doing on top of the boards.
Longboards are designed to move longer distances and to make it easier to roll around and to go faster. To understand precisely what you can do in freeriding, we must understand what you can do on a longboard. The typical evolution was going into hills and finding a way to control speed.
It means that the things are generally done in freeriding are tricks or maneuvers that will help you surpass all the obstacles you can find on a hill; these include slides, drifts, hippie jumps, and early grabs. We can say that freeride is the discipline that belongs between freestyle and downhill. Why? Because freestyle´s goals are to do tricks, which can include flips and downhill goals are to go as fast as possible.
Freeride is not as trick oriented as freestyle because it is mostly done in hills (and it is hard to do a flip going fast), and it is not as speed oriented as downhill; even if you can go fast, the goal is to enjoy the ride and show some style. For example: trying to do stand-up slides instead of pre-drifts.
@dylhep The car was drifting with me 🔥💀🤙🏽 #downhill #longboarding #freeride #skateboarding #1way #sk8 ♬ original sound - Dylan Hepworth
How to start longboard freeride?
It is easier to say that to start doing it, but starting longboarding freeride is more accessible than you think. After the Tiktok that we shared on top, you might probably guess this is crazy, these people are nuts, and it is impossible to do that. Don´t worry. Dylan is a professional skateboarder who has been doing it for years. But we all started in the same place, and we will show you that you can begin freeriding too!
You only need a few things to start freeriding in a longboard: a longboard, a hill, Sliding Gloves, and protective Gear. It is that easy.
- Longboard: for starting freeriding, you don´t need to buy a top-tier board; you can start with the one you already have. As long as it has wheels to slide, it will work! If you don´t have a board, check out this guide about buying the best board!
- Hill: A hill is significant since you need a peace of pavement with some inclination to learn the basic movements. You don´t try on a road with cars. Your local park or parking lot can work perfectly for you. Just ensure there is no traffic because it can be a huge risk being next to cars without being able to control the longboard.
- Sliding Gloves: We could add them to the protective gear section, but we want to ensure that you have these. Since you are learning to slide and go faster, you will most likely learn slides with your hand on the floor. To achieve this, you will need a set of sliding gloves since they have specific pucks that will help you learn the basics without burning your skin.
- Protective Gear: It is essential to be protected since you are learning a new skill that can be dangerous since it has some movements that are not natural when you are starting and can lead to many falls. You always have to wear a helmet to prevent yourself from getting a contusion, and you should also use knee and elbow pads to prevent yourself from getting burned by the pavement.
Longboard Freeride Tricks
There are a few tips that will help you improve your freeriding skills. We have brought you all of them and will help you learn more tricks!
Basics
First things first, let’s start with the basics. We won´t throw you down a hill without knowing how to stand on the board!
- Stands: the stand is where you put your feet on top of the longboard. If your board has concave, micro drop, drop, etc. You should put your feet where they feel more comfortable. But if you don´t have any of that, you must use your bolts as a guide. Try putting your feet between them, and don´t let them cross the bolts.
- Precarve: if you are going to start freeriding, it is crucial that you know how to carve since it´s required for learning to slide. Pre-carve is the carve you must do before any slide since it will help you make it easier.
- Weight: remember to put your weight on the front foot always. It is the opposite of regular skating, where you have to put your way on the back. You must put it on the front since it will help you control your slides.
- Weight while sliding: weight is significant in freeride. When trying to slide with a glove, remember to place your weight on your hands; this will take so much pressure from the board and make the wheels slide easier.
- Gloves usage: using your gloves are crucial for sliding since it is the most helpful tool. But remember, gloves are essential because they have a puck. Learn how to raise your fingers while sliding and try only to place the puck on the pavement
Beginers
Once you understand the basics it is time to start learning how to slide, here are the first tricks that you can learn to start freeriding on a longboard. Remember that to do your first slides you won´t need to go fast, you just need a bit of speed.
Hands Down
Push up slide: this slides is called that way because it seems like you are doing a push on your board. You have to lean on your toeside and put both hands on the ground. You and your toes have to face the ground. When both of your hands (the pucks) are touching the ground you can start sliding on a 180 angle, pushing a little with your back feet. Once you have perfected it, you can rise your front hand, this will help you learn the toeside slide in the future.
Heelside slide: for doing it, you have to lean to other side. This time, we recommend to just place one hand on the floor, you will have to place it on the your back side of your board. It is important that in this slide, you place your hands in front of the bolts of your front truck.
Here we have an example of how you should try to do it.
Coleman and pendulum Slide: these variants are helpful when you are going faster, you attempt to do the same slide, but since you have more speed and are sliding for longer when you end up the 180, you stay in the same position and try to come back to the original place where you started the slide. Coleman is for the heelside variant, and pendulum is for the push-up variant.
Stand Up
Stand-up slides are a bit more complicated than hand-downs, but the 180 are still considered beginner tricks. To be able to make them, you will have to do movements similar to the ones we taught you earlier, but you will have to guide it with your shoulders, this way, the rest of your body and your board will follow them.
Frontside 180 (also called heelside): you have to turn to your heelside, right if you are regular and left if you are goofy. Remember to pre carve, start the turn with your shoulders put the weight on your front feet and push with the back one( right if you are regular and left if you are goofy).
Toeside 180 (also called backside):We can call the opposite of the frontside, you lean to your toeside, right if you are regular and left if you are goofy, put the weight on your front foot, start turning with your shoulders and push with your back foot.
@tristanrespress Replying to @mykdmshxtbox how to stand up heelside 180° slide on a longboard 🛹 #longboard #longboarding #slide #trick #tip ♬ original sound - Tristan Respress
Advanced
Once you know the basics, it is time to go to the next level. Until now, the tricks you have learned are valid for learning in a park, a straight line, a parking lot, or easy spots. But if you want to start killing it at the corner sessions with your friends or even trying to attempt an entire run on a road, you will have to master drifts, pre-drifts, and powerslides both frontside and backside.
Hands Down
Pre drifts
These slides are very usefull to break speed before getting into a corner. The right way to do them is with the front wheels ahead of the back wheels. This way you can reduce your velocity without loosing control. It is really important to not make your board on a 90º angle with your direction, because this will make your wheels stop rolling during the slide, this will reduce the friction, make you loose control of the slide and also leave a flat spot on your wheel. Flatspots are the main thing that you have to avoid because they can make the wheel useless after they arrive.
Stand Up
Powerslides
They work the same way the pre-drifts work, but the only difference is that you do them without touching the road with your pucks.
Be careful to have a correct form while doing them because stand-up slides tend to spend your wheels faster; if you flat-spot a wheel, it will be much worse. The good thing about stand-ups is that if you have a wheel that leaves thane lines, you can see how you are skating.
Always attempt to leave four thane lines with the same intensity. If you see that you are putting more weight on one wheel or only leaving two thane leans, that means you are not putting the weight correctly. Try correcting it to make the perfect stand-up slide. Controlling your weight on top of the board will help you make better slides and prevent you from falling into risky situations.
Switch
Switch skating consists in skating on your bad stance. It means if you are regular and you normally skate with your left foot on front, skating on switch will be consider trying to skate with your right foot on front, it works the same way for goofies. To be able to ride on swicht, you have to set up your trucks simetrically, it means that if you have different size trucks, different busing set up or different rake set up, it will be very complicated to ride switch.
It is also normal that people when they attempt to do slides on switch, have different style and normally do not look as stylish, but the right way to do it is to attempt to do the slides exactly the same way you do them on your normal stances.
Here is a video of Dylan Hempworth doing slides over 100ft long on four stand up slides!
Downhill Freeride
This is the most skilled discipline of longboarding, mostly only professionals are able to do this. It consist in going downhill while freeriding. I know I know… worst explanation ever, let me try again. This discipline contains two disciplines, downhill, where riders try to go down a road the fastest way as possible, tucking, predrifting and trying to loose as few velovity as possible, but they are also freeriding, what means that they are trying to do stand up slides in every corner instead of using hands down pre drifts.
To be able to do this you will most likely need a downhill board, very important to have precission trucks, since some riders can go over 80 hm/h while doing stand ups and they need as much stability as posible and also a freeride wheel that has grip or downhill wheels that have been used and have lost the last grippy layer.
Here you have a video of patrick lombardi downhil freeriding and even doing on switch enjoy!
Gear/ Set Up
As we always say, having the right board for each discipline can make it easier to improve at it. Here you have the perfect guide to find the best freeride set up.
Board / Deck
Choosing a board is very personal; finding the perfect one will depend on each riding style. In this section, we will only talk about the boards that some of the best freeride riders around the world are using now. We know that there are great riders that outstand with different shapes of boards, but we will only write about the most common types of boards since they have proven to be the best overall freeride options. If you want to read about different options of boards, you can read this guide about every kind of longboard deck.
The perfect deck shape for Longboard Freeride
Watch hundreds of pros and skilled freeriders. The best shape for freeriding is the rocket shape board. Why do we choose them? Because they are the best option overall!
As you can see in the picture we have added, you will know that they are the more balanced option. At their right, you can see that flared brick and drop double kick cutaways tend to be shorter boards, making them an excellent choice for a 360 more style or freestyle. On the other hand, we have dropped boards and drop-through boards. They have the truck going through the board, which makes that setup lose a lot of maneuverability, which is not ideal for freeriding.
This is why we chose missile-style boards. It doesn´t matter if they have tails or not; they will only help to do tricks such as flips and ollies but won´t influence your freeride riding; as we mentioned earlier that the best thing to do for freeriding is keeping your feet between the bolts.
How much Money Should I spend on a board for freeride?
When it comes to buying a longboard for freeriding, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. The average price for a good freeride longboard is around 150 euros, and you can find decent options for as low as 100 euros.
Just remember that while price is important, quality matters too. Look for a board with a strong deck, good wheels, and reliable trucks. These features will make your ride smoother and give you better control.
So to sum it up, aim for a budget between 100 and 200 euros when buying a freeride longboard, and don’t forget to prioritize quality over price.
Wheels
Freeride longboard wheels are designed to provide a balance of grip and slideability, allowing skaters to perform controlled slides while still maintaining control during turns. These wheels typically have a medium to narrow contact patch and a rounded lip profile, which enables them to smoothly transition from grip to slide.
The durometer (hardness) of freeride wheels is typically between 78a and 85a, which is relatively soft compared to wheels designed for downhill racing. This softer durometer provides more grip, making it easier for skaters to maintain control during turns and slides.
In terms of size, freeride wheels typically range from 65mm to 75mm in diameter, with a width of 40mm to 50mm. These dimensions provide a good balance of speed, grip, and slideability for freeriding.
The core of a freeride wheel can vary in size and shape, but it is generally designed to provide stability and maintain the shape of the wheel during slides. A larger core can offer more stability, while a smaller core can make the wheel more responsive and easier to initiate slides with.
Best Durometer For a Wheel for Longboard Freeride
When it comes to choosing the best durometer for longboard wheels for freeride, it’s important to consider the type of terrain you’ll be riding on and your personal preferences for slideability and grip.
In general, most freeride skaters opt for wheels with a durometer between 78A and 86A. Softer wheels in the 78A to 82A range are typically preferred for freeriding on rougher or uneven terrain, as they provide a smoother ride and better shock absorption. They also tend to be more forgiving and easier to slide, making them a good choice for beginner to intermediate freeride skaters.
On the other hand, harder wheels in the 82A to 86A range are better suited for freeriding on smoother or faster terrain, as they provide more grip and better roll speed. They also tend to be more durable and longer-lasting, making them a good choice for advanced freeride skaters who prioritize speed and longevity.
Shape of a wheel for freeride
The shape of a longboard wheel plays a crucial role in determining how it performs during freeriding. When it comes to freeriding, you want a wheel that strikes a good balance between grip and slideability, allowing you to perform smooth and controlled slides while maintaining grip during turns.
One important shape factor to consider is the lip profile of the wheel. The lip is the outer edge of the wheel that makes contact with the ground. For freeriding, you’ll want a wheel with a rounded lip profile, as this will allow for smoother and more predictable slides. Sharp-lipped wheels, on the other hand, can be more unpredictable and difficult to control during slides.
Another shape factor to consider is the contact patch, which is the area of the wheel that makes contact with the ground. A wider contact patch will provide more grip, while a narrower contact patch will provide less grip and more slideability. For freeriding, you’ll want a wheel with a medium to narrow contact patch, as this will give you enough grip to maintain control during turns, while still allowing for smooth slides.
Finally, the shape of the wheel’s core can also affect its performance during freeriding. A larger core can provide more stability and help the wheel maintain its shape during slides, while a smaller core can make the wheel more responsive and easier to initiate slides with. However, the core shape is not as important as the lip profile and contact patch when it comes to freeriding.
How much Money Should I spend on wheels for freeride?
Generally speaking, a budget of between 50 and 70 euros is reasonable for a decent set of freeride wheels. However, keep in mind that cheaper options may not last as long, especially if you do a lot of long stand-up slides. On the other hand, more expensive options may be geared towards high-speed downhill freeride and may not be suitable for all-around freeriding.
Trucks
Longboard trucks are an essential component of any longboard setup, and this is especially true when it comes to freeriding. Freeride longboarding involves performing controlled slides and tricks, and the right trucks can make all the difference in terms of stability, responsiveness, and control.
Longboard trucks for freeride are designed to provide a balance of stability and turnability, allowing skaters to maintain control during slides and turns while still being able to initiate slides with ease. These trucks typically have a higher degree of turn than trucks designed for downhill racing, as this enables skaters to make quick, precise turns during freeriding.
Another important feature of freeride longboard trucks is the bushings. Bushings are the small rubber or urethane components that sit inside the truck hanger and provide resistance when turning. For freeride, you’ll want bushings that are relatively soft, as this will allow for more turnability and responsiveness when initiating slides and making quick turns.
Freeride longboard trucks also come in a variety of sizes, with wider trucks providing more stability and narrower trucks offering more turnability. The size of the truck you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the type of freeriding you plan on doing.
Perfect Wide for a Truck for Longboard Freride
The width of the longboard truck for freeride will depend on several factors, such as the width of your longboard deck and your personal preferences. However, as a general rule of thumb, freeride skaters often opt for wider trucks to provide more stability and control during slides and high-speed turns.
Typically, freeride trucks range in width from 150mm to 180mm, with most skaters opting for trucks in the 160mm to 175mm range. Wider trucks are generally more stable and better suited for skaters who prioritize control and stability over maneuverability, while narrower trucks are more maneuverable and better suited for skaters who prioritize quick turns and agility.
It’s worth noting that the width of the truck should also match the width of the longboard deck. A general guideline is that the truck hanger should be roughly the same width as the deck. For example, if you have a longboard deck that is 9 inches wide, you would want to choose a truck with a hanger width of around 9 inches.
Ultimately, the best width for a longboard truck for freeride will depend on your personal preferences, skating style, and the width of your deck. It’s always a good idea to experiment with different widths and setups to find the perfect combination for your freeriding needs.
Perfect Angle for a Truck for Longboard Freride
The perfect angle for a longboard truck for freeride will depend on your personal preferences and the type of freeriding you plan on doing. However, as a general rule of thumb, most freeride skaters tend to prefer trucks with a lower angle, typically between 40 and 50 degrees.
Lower angle trucks provide better stability and a more solid platform for performing controlled slides and high-speed turns. They are also typically more forgiving and easier to control, making them a great choice for beginner to intermediate freeride skaters.
On the other hand, some more experienced freeride skaters may prefer higher angle trucks, typically between 50 and 60 degrees. Higher angle trucks are generally more maneuverable and better suited for quick, tight turns, making them a good choice for advanced freeride skaters who prioritize agility over stability.
It’s also worth considering the type of longboard deck you have when choosing the angle for your trucks. Drop-through and drop-platform longboard decks typically work best with trucks in the 40 to 50 degree range, while top-mount decks may be better suited for higher angle trucks.
Lower angle trucks provide better stability and a more solid platform for performing controlled slides and high-speed turns. They are also typically more forgiving and easier to control, making them a great choice for beginner to intermediate freeride skaters.
That being said, some more experienced freeride skaters may prefer higher angle trucks, typically between 50 and 60 degrees. Higher angle trucks are generally more maneuverable and better suited for quick, tight turns, making them a good choice for advanced freeride skaters who prioritize agility over stability.
Again, the best angle for longboard trucks for freeride will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and skating style. It’s always a good idea to experiment with different angles and setups to find the perfect combination for your freeriding needs.
How much Money Should I spend on trucks for freeride?
When it comes to buying longboard trucks for freeride, the price range can vary depending on the brand, features, and materials used. However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect to spend between $50 to $100 on a set of longboard trucks for freeride.
While it may be tempting to opt for the cheapest option available, keep in mind that higher-priced trucks often come with more advanced features, such as better materials, stronger axles, and improved bushings. These features can provide better stability, turnability, and durability, making them a worthwhile investment for serious freeride skaters.
That being said, there are also plenty of affordable longboard truck options that can still provide a great freeriding experience. As with any longboard component, it’s important to consider your own needs and preferences when choosing a set of freeride trucks. If you’re just starting out with freeriding, you may want to opt for a mid-range set of trucks and upgrade later on as you develop your skills and preferences.