There’s nothing in your cart

Mountainboard Beginners Ride Guide

Mountainboard Beginners Ride Guide

The best way to learn to board is often through a lesson from an ATBA-UK approved instructor but if this is not possible below are some basic tips to get you riding your mountainboard safely. Check the descriptions and the diagrams to help you get up and riding safely.

All riders should know how to stop before attempting to ride steeper slopes. Turn frequently while riding, this controls your speed. Never go straight down a hill without making any turns.

  • Begin on slight slope with clear run out to stop.
  • Next, practice J-Turns, toe and heel (see diagram below).
  • Next, practice linking turns.
  • Next, practice power-slides. Learn to power slide to both heel side and toe side.
  • Advance to slightly steeper terrain.
  • Use low tyre pressure until you have mastered turning and stopping techniques.

Turning / Board Function:

Follow the body positions diagram opposite. Appling pressure to your toes and heels initiates your turns. Turn across the fall line and finish your turn a bit up hill before you commit to your next turn to control your speed of decent.

Mounting & Dismounting:

The golden rule of mountainboarding is not to get off the board while it is moving and never take one foot off! Starting on your own can be done easily by pointing the board downhill and putting your back foot into the binding then lifting your front foot up and in look up and off you go. You can also turn the board side onto the hill and get in the bindings and hop the board round to point downhill and off you go.

J-Turns:

Turning on toes or heels and continuing to turn back up the hill to a stop is your first way of stopping and controlling your speed. Gently apply pressure on toes or heels and look up where you want to go will help to move your body into the turn.

Stopping (Heel side Power-Slides):

To EMERGENCY STOP! Get up some speed on the board towards running pace. Bend your knees keep your weight towards the tip of the board, and reach down and grab your board with your trailing arm. While applying pressure to your heel-side reach out with your lead arm away from you, looking where you are going. If your weight is towards the front of the board the back will start to slide out and you will come around to a stop. Don't worry if you only turn back up hill without screeching to a stop, with practice it will come.

Stopping (Toe side Power-Slides):

Work on making tighter and tighter J-Turns on the toe side, eventually so tight that your boards tail will slide out sideways. Bend your knees and place both hands out over your toe side edge. Load up 75% of you body weight on your front leg; this will allow the tail of the board to slide out easier.

Linking Turns:

Once you are comfortable with turning both on toes and heels then start linking the turns together. Turn across the fall line and finish your turn a bit up hill before you commit to your next turn to control your speed of decent. Shallower turns down the hill accellerate the board and wider turns and tighter corners control the speed.

Tyre Pressure:

Make sure you are always aware of the board's tyre pressure before riding. Your tyres maximum pressure is 50psi. You will choose your own tyre pressure depending on your ability level and the terrain selection. Lower tyre pressure means safer slower descents. A good starting point for beginner riders is 10-15psi. NOTE: Never exceed the tyres recommended pressure. Over inflated tyres risk exploding the hub or tyre.