Pushing is how you get rolling on flat ground. One foot sits on the board just over the front bolts with the knee bent, the other foot pushes off the ground, then steps back onto the board near the tail once you're moving. Beginner guides teach the back foot as the pushing foot. From the side, the app reads your balance over the front foot, your knee bend and whether you're leaning over the pushing foot.
Plant the front foot
Pick smooth, flat ground with plenty of space, away from traffic, and put your helmet on before you roll.
no slope, no cracks, room to glide and stop.
Put your front foot on the deck just over the front bolts, toes pointing forward toward the nose. Your other foot stands on the ground beside the board, about halfway along it.
front foot facing the way you'll travel, not across the board yet.
Bend the knee of the leg on the board. That leg holds your balance for the whole push.
soft, springy front leg, never locked straight.
Push with the back foot
Push off the ground with your back foot while the board rocks forward. Start with one short, gentle push. Control matters more than speed.
like a walking step that carries you forward, weight staying on the front leg.
Once one push feels natural, try two pushes in a row before stepping back on.
an even rhythm, each push about the same size.
Settle into your stance
Bring your pushing foot up and place it across the tail, close to the back bolts.
back foot landing on the board, not stomping on the very end of the tail.
Pivot your front foot on the ball of the foot so it turns across the board and your body turns sideways. Keep your knees bent and glide.
feet and hips lined up across the board, riding stance again.
To stop, lift your back foot off the board and press its sole onto the ground gradually until you come to a halt.
a slow, controlled drag, weight still on the front leg.
Feel it
Your weight rides on a bent front leg while the back foot steps and pushes underneath you, a bit like walking onto the board. The awkward part early on is the switch: front foot pointing forward to push, then pivoting across the board once the back foot is on. That switch takes time to get used to, so do it slowly. The app reads your front-foot balance, knee bend and pushing posture from the side.
Fix-its
- You wobble or lean over the pushing foot Bend the front knee and keep your weight on the front leg. Stiff legs make the board harder to control. Shorter pushes help you stay over the board.
- Your front foot stays sideways while you push Point the front foot forward, just over the front bolts, while you push. Pivot it across the board only after your back foot is back on.
- You push 'mongo' (front foot pushes, back foot stays on) Beginner guides teach the back-foot push first. They say pushing with the front foot shifts your weight to the wrong place and feels less stable. Swap which foot stays on the board and start again with single short pushes.
- Your pushes are big and rushed Go back to one short, gentle push, then two in a row. Speed comes after control.
- You fumble the foot swap and pivot Practise the switch slowly. If anything feels off, slow down and check the earlier steps are in place.
Drill
- On grass or carpet, where the board can't roll away, stand on the board and slowly practise the switch: front foot forward over the bolts with the other foot on the ground, then back foot across the tail and front foot pivoted across.
- On smooth flat ground: one short push, back foot on, pivot, glide, then a gentle foot-brake stop. Repeat until it feels smooth.
- Two pushes in a row, then back foot on and glide. Keep each push the same size.
- Film from the side. Check that your front knee stays bent and your shoulders stay over the front foot, not leaning back over the pushing foot.
Sources
- Skateboard GB — Learn to Skate Guide
- Leon Toppin — How to Skateboard for Beginners
- Braille Skateboarding — How to Push on a Skateboard
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Skateboarding Safety
Last checked 2026-10-26.