Electric skateboarding burst onto the mobility scene as an eco-friendly way to zip through congested urban areas. But these swift battery-powered boards aren’t just transportation devices – they’re an open canvas for creative expression and technical mastery.
Learning electric skateboard tricks and techniques unlocks exhilarating new possibilities. Ollies, slides, kickflips and more let riders connect with their boards on a deeper level. Mastering maneuvers also improves balance, control and confidence.
While seasoned shredders can take things to a competitive level, any rider can have fun progressing their skills. This guide will equip you with fundamental techniques plus inspiration to take your electric skateboarding to new heights.
Building a Solid Foundation
Like any sport, progressing your electric skateboard tricks starts with nailing down core fundamentals. Establishing proper stance, push-off form and stopping control lays the groundwork for more advanced techniques.
Stance and Foot Placement
Adopt a comfortable shoulder-width stance with your front foot slightly angled forward. Keep knees bent and center of gravity low. Positioning feet too narrowly or widely compromises stability and leverage for maneuvers.
Pushing Off
Use your back foot to push off the ground and generate momentum. Bend back knee and keep front leg extended for optimal push power. Avoid overly long or short pushes that sap energy.
Foot Braking
Learn to modulate speed by dragging your pushing foot on the ground. Keep heel raised and use your toes to gradually brake. Practice emergency stops too by firmly planting the whole foot down.
Carving
Carving involves using your body weight to steer into wide, swooping turns. Lean in the direction you want to go while shifting weight between your feet. Carving controls speed while developing deep board feel.
Mastering these core skills establishes solid fundamentals to support more stylish tricks. Be patient, take it slow, and repetitive practice will soon make perfect.
Ollie: The Gateway Trick
The ollie is absolutely fundamental in the skateboarder’s trick toolbox, and electric boards are no exception. This maneuver sees the rider pop the tail down while sliding their front foot forward to lift the board off the ground.
Timing and technique adjustments are needed on an electric board due to the added weight, but the basic motion is the same. Learning to ollie unlocks a whole new world of aerial moves.
Getting Air
To perform an ollie on an electric skateboard:
- Crouch down with knees bent while rolling forward.
- Firmly snap the tail down with your back foot to pop the board upwards.
- As it lifts, slide your front foot forward toward the nose.
- Once the board levels out, even your feet out to ride away clean.
Take it slow, stay low to the ground, and gradually increase height. Patience and small tweaks will perfect your pop, slide, and aerial stability.
Common Errors
Avoid these common ollie mistakes that limit lift:
- Insufficient tail snap downward
- Front foot slides too late
- Front foot placement too far forward or back
- Knees straight instead of bent
- Eyes looking down instead of forward
Helpful Variations
Try these ollie variations to build board control:
- Nollies: Riding switch, pop the nose instead of tail
- Rolling Ollies: Ollie while rolling instead of from stationary
- 180 Pivots: Add a frontside or backside rotation mid-air
Mastering even small hops engages your core muscles and develops crucial coordination. Gradually increase height until you achieve true electric skateboard flight!
Carving Crazes: Mastering Deep Turns
Carving is the soulful dance of skateboarding. Carved turns are achieved by digging your edges in and elegantly shifting weight from edge to edge. On an electric board, carving skills equal enhanced speed control, stability and style.
Carving Essentials
Follow these tips for carving mastery:
- Loosen trucks moderately to increase turn responsiveness
- Bend knees and stay low with a wide stance for stability
- Lean evenly into your turns, engaging edges smoothly
- Let momentum carry you through loose, swooping curves
- Distribute weight evenly between front and back foot
Tight vs Wide
Practice carving in two ways:
Tight carves use sharper angled turns in a condensed area. They build stability and edge control at low speeds.
Wide carves emphasize longer swooping turns edge to edge. They help handle speed and flow rhythmically.
Varying turn sharpness develops versatility and fluidity. Link tight technical carves with wide surfy ones to craft your own signature flow.
Pendulum Power
Think pendulum motion. As you finish a turn to one edge, use your momentum swinging back through your body as you transition edges for the next turn. Let gravity guide you through the carving dance.
Enhancing your carves elevates every aspect of electric skateboarding. Deep smooth turns set the stage for more advanced downhill techniques too.
Slide School: Mastering Controlled Skids
Learning to intentionally break traction is a right of passage for mastering your electric skateboard. Controlled slides let you scrub speed, make sharp corners and look super steezy.
Powersliding
The standard back foot powerslide is the best slide to start with. Here’s how it’s done:
- Gain momentum then bend knees as you approach your corner
- Lean aggressively uphill and pivot your shoulders
- Swiftly swing your back foot out sideways, forcing the board to skid
- Hold the slide briefly before riding out downhill
Frontside Slides
To take slides to the next level, try steering into the slide with your front trucks:
- Gain speed approaching your slide
- Lean back and pop upward, lifting the front trucks
- Swing your shoulders and lead with your front heel to initiate the slide
- Control angle and traction with your front foot
Experiment with slide duration, intensity and recovery. Slides are as much about style as function!
Safety First
Practice slides in safe open areas free of obstacles. Wear slide gloves, knee pads and a helmet. Longboard-style protective gear greatly reduces injury risk.
Controlled slides allow electric skateboarders to shred with increased speed, stability and steeze. Start practicing now to upgrade your skills!
Kickflips and Beyond: Rotational Tricks
Once you’ve mastered ollies and slides, it’s time to take flight and start spinning! Rotational flip tricks represent the pinnacle of skateboard innovation. Electric boards need some modifications, but can still achieve full mid-air rotations.
Kickflips
The classic skateboard flip trick adapted for electric begins with an ollie, then:
- As the board lifts upward, snap your front foot off the nose sideways
- The nose should flip 360 degrees underneath you
- Spot your landing and catch the board with both feet
Go for single kickflips at first. Repetition develops the snapping motion and air awareness.
Heelflips
Try a heelflip for a back foot-powered 360 rotation:
- Ollie upwards as normal
- With your back foot, swipe your heel sideways off the tail
- Keep your knees bent and absorb the rotation
- Stick the landing on bolts to complete the heelflip
Grabs and Shuv Its
Not ready for full rotations? Work up slowly with these:
- Grabs: Grab the nose or tail mid-air to develop stability
- Body Varials: Spin your upper body independent of the board
- Shuv Its: Do a 180 degree board rotation beneath you
There’s no ceiling for technical progression! Keep practicing and innovating new electric skateboard flip tricks.
Riding On The Edge: Downhill and Slalom Skills
Once comfortable on flatter terrain, take your electric skateboard skills to new speeds by mastering downhill technique. Carefully built skills open up a world of mountain riding.
Choosing Hills
Start on mellow hills before progressing to steeper grades:
- Look for smooth paved roads with clear visibility
- Avoid excessive traffic, pedestrians and sharp turns
- Check hill grade and length. Start small.
- Ensure your brakes are in excellent working order
Stance and Form
Proper form is crucial when riding downhill:
- Crouch low in an athletic stance
- Keep your weight centered over the board
- Absorb terrain with your knees and ankles
- Stay relaxed, letting joints fluidly react
Carving
Utilize speed-control carving skills:
- Carve across and into the hill, rather than straight downhill
- Use turns rhythmically to manage acceleration
- Transition smoothly between heelside and toeside turns
- Avoid sharp pendulum-like turns that can cause speed wobbles
Stopping
Know your braking options:
- Foot braking is useful for gradual speed reduction
- Slides help shed speed quickly before corners
- For emergencies: run off the road or bail safely
Downhill electric skateboarding takes performance to the next level. Take lessons from experienced riders and always wear protective gear.
Urban Assault: Street Shredding Skills
While highways and hills offer endless fun, enhancing your street skating opens up daily opportunities to shred the concrete jungle. From basic navigation to advanced tricks, master these urban assault tactics.
Pushing and Pivoting
- Push and pump without pushing off, using sidewalk features to generate speed
- Utilize kick turns, pivots and reverts to change direction rapidly
Dodging and Weaving
- Slalom quickly between sidewalk obstacles and pedestrians
- Utilize sidewalk curb drops and ramps to vary your line
- Practice quick ollies, manuals and nose pivots to hop over cracks
Ledges, Rails and Stairs
- Ollie up and grind ledges of appropriate height
- Try boardslides along rails, ledges and concrete embankments
- Ollie cleanly up and down sets of stairs
Traffic Surfing
- Utilize bike lanes when available, otherwise share lanes cautiously
- Watch for turning cars, busses and opening doors
- Ollie up curbs to avoid busy intersections when possible
Street skills let you make the most of everyday commutes. But always respect pedestrians, ride defensively and obey traffic laws. Safety first!
Gear Guide: Outfitting Your Electric Arsenal
Quality gear optimizes both performance and protection across electric skateboarding disciplines. Invest wisely in your equipment as a valuable asset in progressing your passions.
Helmets
- Prioritize safety above style. Avoid skate style lids in favor of real protection
- Look for full coverage EPS foam or composite shell construction
- Ensure high quality straps and snug fit. Multi-impact rated ideal
Pads and Gloves
- Slide gloves with puck allow controlled hands-down slides
- Hard shell knee and elbow pads recommended for street and downhill
- Lightweight mesh guards suffice for flatland tricks
Shoes
- Opt for grippy flat skate shoes with adequate ankle support
- Soles should flex but not be overly soft or compressible
- Lace-up styles prevent rolling ankles. Add aftermarket insoles for cushion
Wheels
- Larger diameter wheels roll over debris and cracks more easily
- Softer larger wheels better absorb vibration for downhill speeds
- Try smaller harder wheels optimized for tricks and extra acceleration
Gear up for the terrain and techniques you aspire to master. Quality protection allows confident progression.
Community: The Social Side of Shredding
Beyond physical skills, embracing the electric skateboard community and culture accelerates your growth as a rider. Seek out local groups, document your journey and make new friends along the way.
Group Rides
Joining group rides like your city’s eSkate squad introduces you to new terrain and techniques in a social setting. Experienced riders often share helpful tips too.
Filming and Photography
Document your progress through video and photos. Analyze footage of yourself to identify areas for improvement. Capture trick milestones and scenic riding destinations.
Competitions and Events
From group ride sessions to pro downhill races, events help motivate progression through challenge and camaraderie. Even friendly competiveness inspires you to step up your game.
Online Communities
Connect with the global community by joining brand forums, Facebook groups and knowledge bases. Share your own riding journey and learn from others worldwide.
The social side of electric skateboarding creates lasting memories and relationships. Progress together!
Pushing Beyond Limits: Discovering New Horizons
Once comfortable with core techniques, exploring creative applications unlocks new possibilities. Discover an exciting world beyond basics by playing with personalized style.
Freestyle Expression
Linking tricks into creative flowing lines lets you develop a unique style. Try variations like cross-stepping, riding switch or adding grabs and shuv its. The options are endless.
Downhill Dancing
Take downhill technique to artistic new heights. Practice linking heel-toe side carves to create figure 8 patterns down the mountain. Add 180 pivots and checks between carves. Let the dance flow!
Urban Exploration
Roam the concrete jungle seeking out new skate features. Session stair sets, empty pools, embankments and drainage ditches. Discover inspiring new lines across architectural landscapes.
Long Distance Pushing
Escape the confines of battery range. Practice pushing longer distances by managing endurance and reducing foot fatigue. Further self-propelled adventures.
Night Skating
Experience your city in a new light under the glow of street lamps and moonlight. Add LED lights to illuminate your ride. Practice slides to shed speed in the dark.
Your electric skateboard is an open canvas. Progress creatively and discover fresh self-expression through board sports. The journey has no limits!
Mindset: Cultivating a Winning Headspace
Raw talent alone won’t land your dream tricks. Fostering the optimal mindset accelerates skills progression. Adopt these mental strategies as a roadmap for success.
Growth Mindset
View challenges as opportunities for growth, not threats to avoid. Embrace failures and feedback as a path to improvement. Small daily progress compounds over time.
SMART Goals
Set specific, measurable goals with realistic timelines. Break complex tricks into smaller milestone achievements. Check off each step of progress.
Positive Self Talk
Quiet your inner critic with empowering self talk. Visualize yourself landing tricks flawlessly. Celebrate small daily wins. Affirm “I can do this!”
Preparation Over Perfection
Don’t obsess over flubbed attempts, just prep better for the next. Assess why you missed the trick and practice needed corrections. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Enjoy The Process
Don’t fixate on the distant end goal. Truly enjoy each attempt, fall, small tweak and minor victory along your journey. The path itself holds the deepest rewards.
Strengthen your mental game alongside your physical skills. Develop a bulletproof mindset optimized for progression.
Riding Onward: Join the Electric Revolution
You stand at the forefront of a transportation revolution. Electric skateboards represent a future focused on sustainability, personal mobility and community. Advance our collective journey by safely sharing your passion with others.
Advocate and Educate
Promote responsible riding and cooperate with local leaders to allow eSkate use on bike lanes and paths. Educate the public on eSkate benefits and integration possibilities.
Build Community
Continue to grow local skate communities that welcome newcomers. Organize group rides, skill shares, clean-up sessions and fundraising events. Strengthen the bonds worldwide.
Share Your Story
Let your enthusiasm inspire others to join the electric revolution! Document your journey on social media and blogs. Express what skating means to you. Lead by example.
Innovate Responsibly
Push technology forward through open source collaboration, sustainable production and rigorous safety standards. Ensure the eSkate legacy benefits generations to come.
The future awaits, powered by the dreams of eSkaters worldwide. Progress your skills. Progress the sport. And progress towards a brighter tomorrow.
Now tighten your laces, check your helmet, and let’s ride!
