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L ongboard Pushes

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For skateboarding with midsize street longboards, I mostly use the standard skateboard push, with the front leg as the standing leg and the back leg as the pushing leg. With my big board styles with the variety of walking that goes on, I have developed several variations on the skateboard push. If you absorb some of these variations, you'll have some useful tools to keep your speed up when walking the board.

Standard middle stance push with stride

I demonstrate here a standard push with a one leg stance on the middle of the board.

I push in a big stroke, trying to get good follow through with my right leg. For more power and balance I swing my arms like in a running motion or a cross country skiing poling motion.

I replace my back pushing foot (right foot) on the board.

Tail push

The tail push is very useful for the big board traditional style. It's important to push from a tail stance because on the tail is where you have the greatest turning control and leverage with big boards. Many of my turns and tricks start right on the tail, so it makes sense to be able to push from that stance.

After the tail push I return my foot onto the tail. My weight is predominantly on my left foot. I bend forward at the waist to transfer the weight to the middle of the board while my feet are well back.

You probably can't get the same power from the tail push as with middle push. Pushing from the tail may feel awkward because the balance is shifted so far back. Keep your weight forward when pushing from the tail or when riding tail stance so you don't wheelie until you're ready to turn.

To mong or not to mong

No skateboard push article would be complete without a discussion of monging. The mong happens when you put your back foot on the tail and push with the front. It's almost universally frowned on in the skateboard community. The reason it's bad is because you can't get much power or speed pushing with your foot right over the rear trucks. The board is just too squirrely.

I use so many different kinds of pushing for my big board styles that it seems ridiculous to rule out monging. I probably wouldn't use a mong to get speed into a slide or other power trick, but while cross stepping I constantly use a mong variation that I call the cross push, described next. You might mong if you're going to push right into a wheelie (manual), or no comply type of trick. Once you've done a lot of switch, it starts to not matter if you mong. If it's quicker or suits the situation, especially if you're walking the board, use your front foot to push. Alternating push feet is less tiring on a long ride.

Cross push

The cross push is a push with your usual front foot, done in the process of walking the board. It's a way of alternating your pushing legs without changing stance. I do the cross push after having taken a cross step and also from a regular stance ending up in a cross stance. The cross push is done while walking up the board or backpedalling down the board.

The push is done with the left foot, from a cross stance. The cross foot (right foot) remains in its diagonal position 45 degrees to toeside.

The push foot is then replaced in the cross stance, in its position behind the cross foot.

The cross push may seem awkward and difficult. It's very useful, as it seems to flow right into a walk. It's also a good practice move to help master cross stepping. It will give you a bullet proof cross stance.

Cross push backpedal

This walk sequence uses a cross push while backpedalling, or walking backwards down the board.

I start in a regular stance at the middle.

I pick up my front (left) foot and push with it. My back foot remains slightly diagonal to toeside, and does not go to switch stance.

When I replace my push foot on the board, I place it behind the old back (right) foot, into cross stance.

Continuing to walk back, I uncross my right foot and place it on the tail. I end up in the tail stance.

Backwards push

It can be useful to learn how to push backwards with some power. This sequence shows a push with my back facing the direction of travel. The board is going nose first, but it feels like riding backwards. All push motions must be reversed.

I am facing to toeside and toward the tail, setting up a push with my left foot. This is a situation where any prior "mong" practice pays off, because I am used to using my left foot to push.

I reach my left foot back, closer to the nose.

I bring my left foot forward with my toe planted, pushing the board backwards.

I now replace my left foot on the board behind me, closer to the nose. I then turn to face a bit more towards the nose. Effectively, I'm in regular stance travelling forward.