Longboard dansing, dancing, tricks and longboard dunce - what it is and how the stylish videos come about

What is Longboard Dancing? How to learn how to make spectacular elements on a longboard?

Vastab longboardingu arendamise eestvedaja Venemaal.

Longboards have already established themselves as real rebels of the asphalt. In downhill, for example, speeds can reach 100 km/h and more. We bet you’ve seen those crazy videos on the Internet, where “madmen” are flying down serpentine downhill, overtaking hitchhikers. And that’s just one facet of longboarding. The other is densing. Not so fast, not so crazy, but no less mesmerizing and spectacular.

Katja Voinova

leader of longboarding development in Russia, world champion in longboard densing and freestyle.

Longboard dansing is literally dancing on a longboard. Dancing is expressed in various steps and spins on the board while moving in arcs or in a straight line. There is also longboard freestyle. These are tricks with feet or hands, which are basically very different from skateboarding: they are smoother. Usually these two disciplines are combined by the common name “longboard-dancing and freestyle”, because together they look much more spectacular and beautiful than separately.

Sisukord

How to choose a board

First of all, it is worth paying attention to the length of the longboard. For densing, boards from 44 inches (111 cm) and up are suitable. This length will be comfortable for performing elements. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to densing on shorter boards: the steps simply won’t fit on a small length of the longboard.

The exact length of the board can be chosen according to your height: if you are taller than 180 cm, look for a board 46-50 inches (116-127 cm), and if you are of medium or small height, a board from 44 inches (111 cm) will be enough.

When choosing the length of the board, also rely on your preferences in the style of riding: if you want to mix dens with freestyle (tricks), choose a shorter board. And if you’re not interested in tricks, a long board will be the most comfortable for you to learn dens. Keep in mind that if you plan to focus on tricks when riding a longboard, the optimal length for freestyle is 40-44 inches (101-111 cm).

I advise you to choose a symmetrical board, as it is more practical and will allow you to diversify the densing elements of freestyle at any time, without thinking about which side of the board you are on.

Flex (the softness of the board) is not to be forgotten either. Every brand has a different way of labeling the flex of their boards. To avoid confusion, the manufacturer’s website most often lists the range of human weight for each flex. ⠀

The customization of the board depends on the components. For smooth and beautiful arcs during densing, I recommend relaxing your suspension so that the longboard becomes maneuverable, but still remains comfortable to control and doesn’t roll sideways. When loosening up the suspension, be sure to pay attention so that the wheels do not “bite” the board itself (do not contact it at maximum edge pressure).

For comfortable riding, wheels of about 65 mm with stiffness 77-83a are ideal. If you have a lot of tile in the city, choose 70 mm wheels. And if the asphalt is fine, you can go for 60-62mm wheels to lighten the board for easier tricks.

Katja Voinova

Serious sport

There are regular longboard dansing and freestyle competitions around the world. It is difficult to win in such events using only dens elements. Usually riders alternate densing with tricks to make the skating look smooth and varied. As a rule, the performance is judged on four criteria: complexity, style, creativity and flow (smooth flow of one element into another).

There is even an officially recognized world championship in longboard dancing and freestyle – So… You Can Longboard Dance, it is held annually in the Netherlands. I have won prizes in international competitions many times. I took first places among men and once even became world champion.

In Russia, such events are usually organized by me and my husband or other active guys from the community.

Katja Voinova

Three tips for beginners

Buy a quality longboard, don’t skimp on it. Only on a good board you can fully enjoy riding and get a lot of positive emotions. If you do not like it, a good board can always be sold on the Internet, there is a huge demand for them. If you buy a cheap one, you may not like riding just because of the board, and it will be difficult to sell such a board. But if you do like it, you’ll have to spend extra money on a new one.

Set your mind and focus on a positive result. Densing is easy if you don’t have blocks and fears in your head. If you are very afraid of falling and all your thoughts about longboarding are accompanied by thoughts of injury, buy some protection and calm yourself down. Sign up for a lesson with a trainer, he will definitely look after you.

It’s more fun to learn new things together. Involve your friends in your new hobby, find a longboard community in your city and start communicating with like-minded people. My husband and I created Flip’N’Flow, where, in addition to teaching, we are building a friendly community. Newbies are happily welcomed there. In our chat rooms, besides the motivating atmosphere, you can always ask for advice or get support.