The first way to turn is by leaning: press through your toes or your heels and the board tilts, the trucks pivot, and you curve in that direction with all four wheels on the ground. It is the gentle turn you use to steer around things before you learn the kickturn. Stay upright, keep your knees bent and use small pressure; the app reads your body lean and knee bend from behind or the side.
Set up
Learn the feeling first on grass or carpet, then move to smooth, flat ground with plenty of space. Stay away from traffic, wet or icy ground and uneven surfaces.
no rush; a quiet, open space.
Roll slowly in your riding stance: one foot over each set of bolts, knees bent, body weight central over the board.
loose, slightly crouched legs ready to absorb bumps.
Lean to steer
Toeside: apply a little pressure through your toes toward the ground while you stay upright. The board tilts, the trucks pivot, and it starts to turn toward your toe side.
the deck tipping slightly under your toes and the path bending.
Heelside: do the same through your heels to turn the opposite way.
the deck tipping under your heels, the curve going the other way.
Start with small pressure and let the board do the work. The trucks follow your lean; more pressure gives a tighter turn, and you don't need to force it.
a smooth, gradual curve rather than a sudden swerve.
Stay upright, knees bent
Keep your upper body upright over the board through the whole turn. Don't lean back or bend at the waist; the pressure comes through your feet, with your weight staying central.
your head and chest staying over the board while your feet steer.
Keep your knees bent. Bent knees lower your centre of gravity and absorb bumps; stiff legs are a main reason beginners fall. Turning your shoulders to lead is a kickturn cue, which comes next.
springy legs that let you add or ease off pressure.
Feel it
A smooth curve from light pressure through your toes or heels, upright body, weight central, knees bent. Common problems: the board barely turning (too little pressure or very tight trucks), stiff legs, and leaning back or folding at the waist. The app reads your body lean and knee bend from behind or the side; it can't see the board or your foot pressure.
Fix-its
- The board barely turns Press a little more through your toes or heels. If it still hardly turns, the trucks may be too tight; many complete boards come stiff. A quarter turn on each kingpin nut with a skate tool loosens them.
- The board feels wobbly at speed The trucks may be too loose. Tighten them a little and keep your speed low while you learn. Tighter trucks just need more pressure to turn.
- Stiff legs, you keep losing balance Bend your knees and lower yourself a little. Practise going from standing to a squat on the board (on grass or carpet first).
- Leaning back or folding at the waist Stay upright with your weight central over the board and steer with your feet, not your upper body.
- You lose balance mid-turn Crouch down so you have less far to fall, land on the fleshy parts of your body rather than your arms, relax and roll.
Drill
- On grass or carpet, stand on the board in your stance, knees bent, and shift pressure onto your toes, then your heels, until it feels natural.
- Rolling slowly on smooth flat ground, make one gentle toeside turn, roll straight, then repeat. Do the same heelside.
- Once both feel steady, alternate a toeside and a heelside turn to make gentle S-curves.
- Film from behind and check that you stay upright with weight central and your knees stay bent through each turn.
Sources
- Skateboard GB — Learn to Skate Guide
- Leon Toppin — How to Skateboard for Beginners
- Sidewalk Magazine — Skateboard Basics (Sidewalk Basics, 2013)
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Skateboarding Safety
Last checked 2026-10-26.