How To Ride Switch Skateboard?

Embarking on the skateboarding journey often means mastering various techniques, but one skill that intrigues and challenges many is learning how to ride switch skateboard. Nowadays, a large number of youngsters enjoy skateboarding. But adding spice to the game by increasing the difficulty level makes it exciting. The skaters move a level up when they switch rides.

Another form of entertainment for young people is making things harder. But picking up a new talent is beneficial for everyone. We all enjoy learning new things, no matter what they are. Switch skating in the opposite stance of switching your regular foot and your goofy foot. In addition to the thrill and exciting ride, this stance typically offers considerable space for tricks.

Switch skateboarding is more comfortable since it reduces leg effort while swapping feet. Because which foot is the leading foot while skating, it differs from a typical stance.

Let us go right into it and discuss it in more detail:

What Is Switch Riding

Most intermediate skateboarders use the technique known as switch riding. To ride a switch skateboard, you must shift your footing position. In a normal stance, if a person regularly uses their left foot forward, their right foot forward will typically act a goofy stance and switch. However, in a switch stance, the rider can transition the left leading foot to the goofy foot position and the right foot to the regular foot.

Switch ollies are any technique you can perform in a switch style, including heelflips, kickflips, and ollies. The ride is made more exciting and entertaining for the rider by simply adding a level of difficulty to the game.

How To Ride Switch Skateboard?

Simply put, the only way to learn to switch skateboard rides is to practice swapping your leading foot while riding. Of course, you need a guideline if you are new to it.

Steps that I found helpful while learning switch riding:

Step: 01- Master Your Normal Stance First:

People generally try to jump directly to switch stance, but it is a mistake. The truth is that before acquiring an advanced skill, you must first master the basics. Start by practicing your feet in the normal skateboarding posture on the board.

Step: 02- Be Aware Of The Style:

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can proceed to switch skating. But first, know how to do it and take precautions while you learn it. Without any background knowledge, you take the chance of having failed at it right off the bat.

A switch is sometimes mistaken for a fakie, but if you know the difference, you can go over it. When riding a switch, the skateboard’s nose is at the front. The fakie, however, is skating on the skateboard’s tail.

Step: 03- Get Used To The Switch First:

Switching your pushing foot will help you get started. If your right foot is pushing in a normal stance, then switch to your left foot.

Since I found it difficult to perform any tricks, I initially found switching boring. Instead, strive to cruise or roam in comfort. Just practice and adjust yourself to the switch.

While riding, you may easily switch from your regular foot to your goofy foot to enjoy a different riding style. I used to cruise the town while frequently adjusting my stance. You must master the trick before moving on to the real trick.

Sometimes it feels stiff and uncomfortable, but you need continuity in your practice to learn to switch. The switch level-up your riding experience if you get the hang of it.

Step: 04- Learn The Basic Board Lifting And Kickturns:

It was a little difficult for me to begin tricks with the switch. When you first start riding the switch, it feels stiff and awkward, but once you get used to them, you can take a start with kick turns or simple board lifting. At first, you might find the skateboard a bit tricky to control.

Additionally, if you are skilled at these moves on a regular foot stance, you may efficiently perform them in a switch.

Step: 05 Practice Tricks Like, Heelflip, Kickflips:

Take your time learning all the tricks, and slowly practice all in a switch. Just focus on your comfort level and safety. Learning can be a slow and steady process as you do not start doing a cartwheel in the first gymnastics class; it comes with time.

Step: 06 Track Your Progress:

You can use video recordings to track your progress or check your moves. Try recording your tricks with the normal stance and switch stance and look for the differences that can be improved. Try matching both styles end to end for smoother switch riding.  

Practice regularly

They say that training did take place nearly every day. I agree since consistency and continuity are essential to succeeding in the challenge.

However, you can adopt it as your default position and act as though you are simply walking through the neighborhood or skatepark. Consider acquiring the switch riding habit and making it your regular move. Practice until you can transition smoothly and quickly.

Reason To Learn Switch Riding

Different tricks and transitions, including the 180-degree spin, are part of advanced switch tricks. It may seem unnecessary and frustrating to start over after learning everything. However, accept it Switch skating leads to some kind of a new era of skateboarding.

You can tell that you are using your board more smoothly and comfortably. At first, you might find it a bit challenging to learn, but it’s more like picking up a new skating trick.

The concept of skating, including ollies and tricks, is expanded by switch riding. The degree of fun is directly proportional to the skating ability.

Conclusion

Switch skating is an advanced kind of skating. Many 180-degree spins, including stunts, can be performed. After mastering your board, you also get considerably more comfortable with it. Simply by changing your regular leading foot to the goofy foot, you can learn it. You can start by using it for street cruising by alternating the leading foot.

You can continue with the ollies and tricks once you’ve gotten the feel of it. Practice and consistency are the only needs for mastering it. Once you learn it, you’ll understand why it’s so popular.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:1 Why is it hard to ride a switch?

Ans: There’s no getting around that learning to ride a switch might be challenging initially, which can be very unpleasant if you’re comfortable with being able to cruise the park at your leisure. However, the more time you devote to working on it, the more at ease you’ll get, much like when you initially started learning to link turns.

Q:2 How do you differentiate between regular and goofy feet?

Ans: Regular and goofy stances are the two different types. Goofy footing is when the right foot is at the front. While in the regular foot, your left foot is in front.

Q:3 What is the main difference between a switch and a fakie?

Ans: The main distinctions between the switch and riding a fakie are two. Firstly: In switch skating, you ride with the board’s nose in front, whereas when riding a fakie, you ride with the board’s tail. Second, whereas fakie uses your normal stance, the switch demands you to adopt the opposite footing.