First of all it is great to see you taking the initiative to take full control of your FREEBORD and start riding for real. You showed us and yourself that you understand it’s up to you if you really want to succeed in something and that you don’t just give up at the first chance you get. In the next 16 Days we will do our best to guide you through all the basic steps necessary to accomplish your goal of taking full control of your FREEBORD.
First of all, quickly, let’s go over some basics on tuning your board so you can start to ride like a pro sooner. A stock Freebord comes with pre-drilled holes, for the binding and trucks. The new 5X series has holes for the castor or center wheels as well. Although some modifications can be made to your bindings like adding padding or grip the stock Freebord is best to learn on and you don’t need or want more holes in your board. Most riders with the older versions use the furthest out setting for the bindings. This helps in manual presses (wheelies) because the feet are placed more over the “hangers” or edge wheel axles. The new hole pattern uses the experience from the pro riders and uses the same holes on the ends of the board to attach the trucks and bindings (4 longer screws included). This also makes the carving and speed riding more stable the same as having a wider stance like on a snowboard. If you prefer a narrower stance and a slightly easier way to get your first rail to rail slide turns. The board is more loose or likely to slide with the feet over the center wheels in the inside position.
You can do this without rolling by standing on a flat surface holding on to something. Just place feet in the bindings and push with your toes and then rock over to your heels, and repeat. This is the crucial movement of Freebording.
Find the feeling of the freebord changing edges or rocking from the heelside to the toeside and back & forth. Because the center wheel extends past the plain of the outer wheels you have this “rocker” feeling. It’s the secret of how a smooth street can feel like snow. Try to push the “toe-side” down with your knees and chins moving forward rather than pushing down with your toes. It’s the same idea with the heel side; instead of lifting your toes try to have your knees slightly bent but keeping your ankles neutral, just think of sitting in a chair, and lean back ever so slightly. Keeping your back and torso straight.
1.2.3…in your bindings, once again we hope you’ve got your helmet on and your bindings are correctly sized for your shoes. At first stand next to something you can hold to get your balance. Stand on the board getting your foot perfectly centered and snug in the bindings. Practice this a few times until your foot is always in the right location. It’s also a great idea to practice getting out of your bindings. The Shape is designed for the feet to slide out in case of a fall. This way you don’t tomahawk with your Board under your feet when rolling after a fall. On the other hand they stay under your feet when jumping, grinding or sliding due to the natural pressure your legs and feet apply to them.
Learn how to make one carve from one side of the road to the other and get used to making a turn just on your heels, the back wheels and the center wheels. Get used to the weight and feeling by doing it lots of times.
Learn how to do the carve on your toes, using the same technique as your heel carve but staying on your turns for the whole carve.
Learn how to do the carve on your toes, using the same technique as your heel carve but staying on your turns for the whole carve.
Start with a long carving turn on your heels and turn your shoulder and eyes and look to the other side of the road and lift up your weight, turn your shoulders and then push on the back leg and then equally on the front and back leg on your heel on your front wheel. Keep practicing until you are confident stopping.
The technique is the same as the heel. Turn your shoulder and look to the other side of the road. This time put your weight on the toes and keep the weight in your front leg to initiate the turn to stop. If you feel you are turning 180, look back again.
Join Live Sessions and connect with other challengers on the official Facebook Group.
