Penny boards are small plastic surfboards. The penny board is extremely flexible, lightweight and ideal for playing short distances or maneuvering on city streets. Since the penny board is lighter and smaller than a regular surfboard, you will need to learn how to stand, kick, and maneuver on this particular surfboard.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Standing on a Penny Board
Step 1. Wear the right shoes
Closed shoes with flat soles are the best shoes for playing penny board. You need to make sure your toes are covered, in case you trip or fall. The flat sole will allow you to feel and control the penny board.
Canvas shoes like Vans or Chuck Taylor are great to wear
Step 2. Place the penny board on a flat surface
This is especially important if you've never learned how to skate. Placing the penny board on a flat surface will make it easier for you to control yourself when you stand up, so it doesn't slide around.
- Stand on a gravel or grass area to keep the penny board in place. Although it will be more painful to fall on a rocky area, this surface will keep you stable as you learn to stand on a penny board.
- Hold on to something to maintain balance. If you're near the edge of a ladder or wall, hold onto it to help maintain balance.
Step 3. Position your left or right foot on the penny board (make sure you feel comfortable while practicing) just behind the two screws that connect the front truck to the penny board
This is the foot that is not used for kicking and will always be in front of the other foot to maintain balance. The body should face forward.
- Some skaters will act in a mongo style, which means pushing with the forefoot (usually the dominant/right foot). In the mongo style, the feet should stay behind the penny board, not in front.
- A skater using a regular style will skate with his left foot and facing the right as he advances forward.
- Surfers who use the goofy style will skate with their right foot and face the left when advancing forward.
Step 4. Place the soft part of the other foot (which is between the arch and toes) on the surface as if to kick
Practice lifting and lowering your leg while finding balance on the penny board with the other leg.
- Balance the penny board on one leg and feel how easy it is to move. Knowing how far you can lean before you lose your balance will help when skating and turning.
- If the penny board is too wobbly, tighten the truck part. Truck is part of a penny board made of metal, which connects the wheels and deck (penny board body). Use tools designed for skateboards to adjust the truck. With this tool, turn the kingpin to the right until it feels tight.
Step 5. Adjust the front leg. Move the front foot on the penny board until it feels comfortable
If you're having trouble finding your balance, keep your foot closer to the center as you kick with the other foot.
- Adjust your right foot (or dominant foot) back using the cushioned foot and heel until you feel your entire foot pressing against the penny board.
- The further the front foot is moved back, the greater the adjustment that must be made when actually skating with both feet on the penny board.
- Try to keep the foot in position so that the front of the shoe covers at least the two bottom screws that are in the front.
Step 6. Change to glide position
Rotate the forefoot at a 45-degree angle from the direction of the penny board. Position the rear foot behind the rear truck at a 90 degree angle from the edge of the penny board.
- The hind legs will be perpendicular to the penny board. Position your feet where the lip-shaped curve meets the flat part of the penny board.
- When adjusting and rotating the forefoot, lift the heel and balance the soft part of the foot.
- A goofy skater will place his right foot in front; a regular skater will place his left foot in front.
Part 2 of 3: Kicking on the Penny Board
Step 1. Move the penny board onto a long, level asphalt or concrete path
Make sure there's no traffic flow when practicing, as you'll have less control than usual when you first started playing.
- It is best to find a quiet place or an empty parking area to practice.
- Find a place where there is room to push a few times.
- Make sure there are no cracks, bumps, or rocks in the slide area.
Step 2. Facing forward
Place the front foot on the penny board behind the front screw and find balance. Lift the other leg off the surface and make sure you are comfortable on the penny board.
Adjust the leg if necessary, moving it forward or backward until you feel confident and comfortable
Step 3. Make sure your feet are facing straight ahead
Kick from the soft part of the foot that is on the board with light steps. Don't be too fast and too hasty.
Hold so that most of your body weight rests on your legs and feet on the penny board. Focus your body weight on your front thumb. Hold your knees slightly bent
Step 4. Kick by placing the soft part of the foot on the surface and pushing about 30 cm several times to gain speed
Don't let your feet touch the surface for too long because you can lose your balance.
- With the kicking foot, push off the soft part of the foot, like kicking dust back.
- Take longer strides when pushing. Long, smooth strides will keep you consistent and it will be easier for you to maintain balance.
Step 5. Start sliding
When you have reached a sufficient speed and you are comfortable, position the foot that is pushing back on the penny board. At this point, turn your legs and body to the side, turning your neck to see where you are going.
- The front foot should be at a 45 degree angle and the back foot should be perpendicular to the penny board.
- If you need to adjust the forefoot, slide it forward or backward using the outer edge of the foot.
- Position the back leg where the lip meets the penny board body, right where the four screws are located.
- Hold your knees slightly bent and center your weight so that it is in the center of the penny board.
- Extend your arms to stay balanced.
Step 6. Practice alternating movements
Alternate pushing and skating until you feel comfortable and confident with your balance. Practice extensively before attempting penny board skating in crowded areas.
Continue to practice placing your feet and bending your knees. Make small adjustments until the skating position feels natural
Step 7. Experiment with placing the front foot
The front foot should be at a 45-90 degree angle from the board when skating. You will be facing sideways and must choose an angle that provides optimal control of the surrounding area.
- As you begin, you may notice that it is more comfortable if the front leg is in a straight position.
- Finding a comfortable position for the forefoot is important because it controls the penny board and keeps it under your control.
Part 3 of 3: Maneuvering on the Penny Board
Step 1. Feel the ability to spin
Understand that you have limited ability to turn when the truck is fast. If you're still practicing kicking and skating on a penny board, it's even better to keep the truck fast until you feel confident with your balance.
Spinning on a penny board requires adjusting your body weight forward, on the soft part of the foot, or backward, on the heel. By pressing on one of the edges of the penny board, you are resting on the truck so that it can turn
Step 2. Loosen the truck for more flexibility when turning
Take the equipment and look for the kingpin, the large nut in the center of the truck. Turn the nut to the right to tighten it and to the left to loosen it.
- A firmer truck makes the penny board less wobbly, making it more stable to maintain balance. However, if the truck is very fast, you will have to lift the board to turn.
- Since the penny board is small, it may be easier to loosen the truck a bit so that the turning motion will be much easier.
- The looser truck allows for body weight adjustment for better bushing compression on one side. Bushing is part of the truck made of colored rubber. The bushing allows the hanger, the T-shaped part of the truck, to rotate.
- The truck should not be too far apart because it will be more difficult to balance, besides if the truck is too wide, the kingpin can be released if you hit a rocky area.
Step 3. Get more speed by kicking
Perform consistent kicks until adequate speed is reached before turning. If it's too slow, you may not get the momentum to spin. If you go too fast, you will likely fall.
- If it's too fast, the penny board will start to feel wobbly. These are called speed wobbles and make it difficult to rotate the penny board because it can fall off the feet.
- When learning how to play the penny board, make wide turns by sliding in a bent leg position. Take the opportunity to spin. If you're in an open area, adjust your body weight to start spinning by gliding with your legs bent.
Step 4. Position the back foot further to the lip of the penny board for a sharper turn
Keeping the back foot perpendicular to the penny board, shift toward the lip of the penny board. Feet can be at the very back of the deck to help you turn at sharper angles.
- The sharper the spin, the more your knees need to be bent to stay balanced.
- To perform a kick spin, which is a sharp turn in which you lift the front wheel and then spin, make sure the back foot is on the back of the penny board. Concentrate most of your body weight on your back leg and press it, while swinging the penny board with your front leg.
Step 5. Center your weight on your front foot to glide with your legs bent in the direction of rotation
The forelegs will direct the penny board in rotation. When this plastic deck tilts, the wheels will rotate in the direction of the deck.
- Directing the rotation with the forefoot is known as carving. This is how the board normally rotates.
- You'll also need to keep adjusting the weight of the back foot to do the carving, but it's mostly controlled by the front foot.
Tips
- Start by tightening the truck when you first buy a penny board. Loose trucks provide greater maneuverability, but the penny board will move erratically. Balance is easily lost due to loose trucks.
- Wear skates. These flat-soled shoes help move the foot with ease while maintaining control of the surface and the penny board. The flat sole helps you achieve balance when sliding.
- Wear protective equipment such as elbow and knee pads and a helmet.
