9 Longboarding Tricks for Beginners (And How to Do Them)

Longboarding isn’t as associated with tricks quite as much as skateboarding. However, countless longboarding tricks are equally fun and challenging.

It’s important to try several unique tricks so that you become a well-rounded longboarder. I recommend wearing protective gear as it’s common to fall when learning a new trick. Before you can learn any tricks on a longboard get comfortable riding around, the better you are riding the easier it will be to learn tricks. Learning the longboarding foot placement and stance is the best place to start.

So, what are the best longboarding tricks for beginners?

1. Manual

@lbtips Longboard Tips/ Tutorials: Manuals #howto #skate #tutorial #longboard #longboarding ♬ Spongebob Tomfoolery – Dante9k Remix – David Snell

The manual is the best longboarding and skateboarding trick for beginners. This is a great starting point because it can help you get better at balancing on a longboard. A standard manual is where you balance on the back truck and wheels with the nose of your board off the ground.

In the beginning, you will likely struggle to keep your longboard’s tail off the ground, and that is the hardest part of a manual. Practice this trick at a skatepark, parking lot, or driveway so that you have enough space without obstacles.

Once you get used to a standard manual, you can practice nose manuals where you balance on the front wheels and trucks with your back wheels off the ground.

Certain types of longboards make it impossible to perform the manual just because the design of the board, they don’t have a tail or a nose, so this may or may not be the trick for you.

2. Ghostride

@tristanrespress Easy longboard steps you can learn today! 😜 Ghostride Tutorial 👻 #longboard #longboarding #tutorial #ghostride ♬ Mood (feat. iann dior) – 24kGoldn

Beginners can quickly learn to ghostride. This stylish trick isn’t difficult but it’s great to throw into a line of tricks. A ghostride is when you step off of your longboard, let it roll, follow it for a few steps, and get back on it.

It sounds simple, and it is, but it requires some practice. First, you should focus on stepping off and getting back on your longboard without losing your stance. Once you have that down, you can inject your longboarding style into the trick.

3. Ghostride Kickflip

@tristanrespress Easy longboard trick you can learn 😁 #ghostridekickflip #tutorial #longboard #skate ♬ Rockin’ College – Walmart

The ghostride kickflip is an iconic and old-school longboard trick. It builds on the basics of a standard ghostride and takes them to the next level. Instead of simply walking alongside your board after you step off of it, you use your leading foot to flip the board from underneath before you get back on it.

Don’t attempt a ghostride kickflip until you’ve mastered a traditional ghostride. Try to flip the board from underneath in the center so that it rotates evenly.

The hardest part of this trick is learning when to step back onto the board. It takes practice to spot the bolts and put your feet back on the board before it flips again.

4. Boneless

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The boneless is a classic ollie alternative that is popular in both skateboarding and longboarding. While it is perfect for beginners, it takes lots of practice as it requires perfect timing. A boneless is when you take your leading foot off the board and then kick off the ground with it while grabbing the center of your board.

This will launch you into the air where you can put your leading foot back on the board and let go with your hand. I recommend practicing this on grass or flat ground without any obstacles or pedestrians.

Eventually you can start doing boneless 180s, 360s, and even boneless flip tricks.

5. No-Comply

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If you can land a boneless as a beginner, then you can perform a no-comply. This trendy longboarding trick is an essential staple. To perform a no-comply, you take your front foot off of the board and pop down on the tail with your back foot simultaneously.

After you pop the board, slide your back foot up on the grip tape up to the bolts. This will launch the board into the air and you can jump with your front foot and put it back on the board. Much like a boneless, this trick is all about timing.

The no-comply is a great start but then you can start doing no-comply shuvits and other cool variations.

6. Pop Shove-It

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While it’s easier to land a pop shove-it on a skateboard, it is a great longboard trick as well. Beginners can easily perform a shove-it once they’ve gotten the hand of no-complies. However, this is best done if you have a longboard with a steep, concave tail. This will make it easier to get the pop that you need to get the board off the ground.

Place your back foot on the tail of your longboard and your leading foot right before the front bolts. Simultaneously pop your back foot down on the tail and scoop it behind you while you lift your front foot. It helps to slightly kick the board in the direction of the scoop so that it will come around more easily.

7. Peter Pan

@boardvoldemort How to Peter Pan 🧚‍♀️ #longboarding #howto ♬ Intro – The xx

Are you into dance and freestyle longboarding? If so, then you need to learn how to perform a Peter Pan. This simple-yet-stylish longboarding trick is popular because it is quite visual.

You simply crisscross your feet over one another for the length of the longboard. While it is easy, it’s important to be careful as you can trip yourself with your feet. Start slowly so that you can maintain good foot placement and avoid bailing.

8. Hippie Jump

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The hippie jump is a classic longboarding and skateboarding trick that has recently made a comeback. It’s important to wear a helmet and pads when you perform a hippie jump as you fall if you don’t time it correctly. A hippie jump is when you jump off of your longboard and let it roll underneath an object.

You land back on your longboard after you jump over an object, such as a rail. The hardest part of landing a hippie jump is getting your feet high enough that you won’t catch them on the rail. Try to land your feet back on the board with your feet close to the bolts over each truck.

9. Ollie

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Many novice longboarders think that it’s impossible to pop an ollie without a skateboard. While it is more difficult, you can perform an ollie on a longboard if you have a concave board shape. This is typically only possible if you have a steep enough tail.

Foot placement is the most important part of an ollie. Place your back foot on the tail and front foot in the center of your longboard with each heel slightly off the board. Pop down on the tail with your back foot and slide your front foot towards the nose of your longboard while jumping.

The hardest part of an ollie is timing your slide and pop perfectly. Once you get the timing down, you will be able to catch air with each ollie. With that said, you aren’t likely to get as much air on a longboard as a skateboard.