Why you STILL suck at downhill skateboarding

[@sk8bor3d]

You’re so on point about lower limb mobility. I’m 80% sure that’s what’s mostly holding me back. Sometimes when I’m doing hands down heelside slides, I get stuck in the slide because I got too low. So I end up doing a shut down slide instead of gripping up and continue rolling. Also, some of us don’t have homies to skate with on the regular so, at least in my experience, we end up just figuring stuff out the hard way with no guidance

[@RideFlyLongboards]

Your content is priceless bro. Nobody does it better. Your vids will forever be a go-to especially for beginners 🤙🏾

[@philip6252]

I think longboarding has such a focus on gear. It's refreshing to hear someone basically say you have to put in heaps of work

[@seancase3050]

I agree, but i do downhill on a magneto mini cruiser and a helmet. I cant afford a new board or safety gear which holds me back from improving majorly from my current situation.

[@MrPennyLord]

Gotta say after my first year, decent gear specifically good bushings for your weight and decent slide wheels are so so so necessary to learning slides. Much love Abuga please keep the vids coming

[@huntergibson9359]

Gear is important, but you can get pretty far on cast trucks and a decent deck. I rode stock bushings for a long time and learned my basic slides on a boaty board. It is doable, but obviously better stuff is going to be better. I think wheels are the best purchase you can make as a beginner. Get some snakes or something, don't break the bank and focus on having fun and progression.

[@ChistoleCorp]

Hi Abuga ! I just wanted to thank you for all the content you spent years creating. I started longboarding in 1999 at the age of 15 years old. Started downhill in 2001. I stopped in 2011 to be a father. Back on a longboard since 2022 and downhill too ! Your tips helped me a lot to remind me my weekly riding discipline and tips. It's been hard to get back on the board at 38 years old, but after two years of really working, training, investing money into quality parts, gear and stuff, I am back. I did my first downhill event one month ago in the french Alps. Lots of young wolves with their newschool styles asked me about my dropfoot technique, I was so happy to be back in business again. Cheers to you from a 40 years old downhiller

[@DanielKwan]

All right fine, you’ve convinced me to skip some work today to practice. Haven’t skated any kind of slope in over a year!

[@RatBürgerSk8]

For me, most of my improvement came by prioritizing technique and consistency over speed. Like I'd hit the same left-right combo breaker drift at 20mph for hours, then translating that to 40mph runs was just a matter of drifting earlier and longer. Confidence in your ability to slow down in any situation is the paramount goal for safely succeeding in DH imo. Your point about gear arrogance is very accurate. I've seen a few folks buy "the best" DH setup w/ Ronins & Cueis and have no clue how to handle it. Precisions have kinda gotten overhyped as some kind of easy mode, and it gives newer riders a poor perception of gear benefits.

[@jayseven5eight253]

So many of us have to learn in isolation; the advice to film and post on friendly forums for advice is huge. Longboarding subreddit for sure.

[@Gold__Dime]

Abuga, solid advice. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this. I have started doing focused sessions with a particular skill in mind for the last month and have started to re-experience progress and the excitement that comes with it. This was due to your suggestions - I never did hand drag carving practice when I started - then I started and suddenly my body positioning and weight in slides is **so** much more consistent and "proper" - I feel so much more confident - THANK YOU. (likewise with active and consistent lower body mobility)

[@BurningSpiderStokeCompany]

Nailed it dude! I think you got it all.

[@jmass7835]

Working on my flexibility and trying to skate consistently are where I need to put the work in. A good video for almost anyone learning and a good video to give me a wee kick towards working where I know i need to

[@KABOBkabob]

thanks abuga

[@LLLegitimacyyy]

ay wassup kebab

[@skateboardin99amer22]

I worry about the people that break lanes too.

[@musicvelle]

Honestly, I would've put the mobility segment earlier in the video. Having shitty hips is what hindered my skating for YEARS. Every glove down slide I would have to fight to not have my hips get stuck in position

[@kyddshine]

I like to skate before I study. I have a learning discrepancy so learning school subjects is like pulling teeth. So I skate for a hour. Work on new techniques, types of gear and tricks. Practicing to build off skills and knowledge I have but can be better at. I also set a timer. So I don’t just skate day away. Once timer goes off, I head home. Usually check out new area or things I want to do but have to work on. New ramp, trail or road. For place to start next season. Once I get home I can study much better, even on subjects I don’t know. The learning process is easier after practicing and learning on board. It opens my brains learning cycle and helps.

[@goodvibetribe4296]

True true! All great points, adding bearing spacers to my setup and getting good bushings changed the game for me.

[@spencerpatton667]

Practicing pendys in the driveway since its only one car length wide. On the downside, its a cheesegrater if you fall.

[@skateboardin99amer22]

When I started to get good I was spending 8-10 hrs just skating. Repeating the same slide over and over. This is all on point

[@Tony-zp8xn]

You're absolutely right. I'm full of knowledge, but I need more free time and fewer obligations, so I can skate more. That's why I have a hard time progressing. I'd say I've gotten to the point where I've mostly dialed in my setups for a double drop board, a freeride board, and a cruiser. I have protective gear, though I could probably use some padded shorts. I have times where I try to ride at least a couple times a week, but then times where I just don't have time for a few weeks. Thus, I find that free time is my biggest struggle. I'm hoping as things warm up again and the daylight start lasting longer, I'll be able to get out more often again.

[@GoosePlaysGuitar]

I just put orange knuckles on my trip collab and it's transformed the low speed(where I spend 99% of my time) handling. Who would have thought bushings would make such a difference? Your content is great keep it coming. PS I find it difficult to watch your footage of bombing down a road at 50mph and your not even wearing a shirt!!! Take care of yourself dude! You got to stay in one piece to continue your great content!🙏

[@eachfallenrobin]

Guess you haven't seen the motorbike vid then?

[@tulpa1940]

Bushings are insanely important in surfskate, so I've been experimenting like crazy. Pivot cups are more important on those boards too imo

[@NorvilleRogers-MYSTERY-INC]

Thank you Downhill God Abuga 🙇🧡

[@tumzi]

like these tips, i feel like they can even be applied to street/park skating

[@micahjones7837]

I definitely hear you about skating 2 or 3 times a week really helping you improve faster. Sometimes tho I struggle not to burn out and go "why am I making this so intense? It's supposed to be for fun, right?" Maybe I'm just one of the people who doesn't skate to be the best, I dunno

[@dewaynematthias5548]

This is perfect. Just what i needed. Im gonna start by working on specific things. I was working on toeside glove down shut down slides and keep doing 180s. I can do it when im hitting a turn. But im gonna start by working on slides i already know then start working on slides i need to learn. Thank you thats awesome.

[@dnah02]

I still can't do a glove down slide I got to keep studying and practice when it gets warmer.

[@my2vwillgapyou]

Dude is helping more than he realizes

[@johnnylonergan929]

On point as usual, I considered my lower body quite flexible from karate and after loosing 20kg but driving 4hrs per day and doing 12hr shifts effected it badly and now it will be summer before I can get back to practising shut down slides 😔, I will just be the sensei for my teenage son while he continues to practise safely and not push as hard as his old man was. The correct hardware is essential! I can't agree with this enough as I continue to hobble around the house. If I had recorded myself I would have been able to figure out how I did it on a hands down shutdown. I was definitely overconfident and It sucks but I use it as a learning for others even with safety shoes shit can go wrong in a split second. It's humbling and I can admit that I tried to force technique without developing it gradually.

[@deadendorozco7863]

very good video bro, I like the determination with which you nurture us with your experience, too bad it's only in English, it would be great if you could also have some content, especially the basics in Spanish, the Spanish-speaking community would appreciate it a lot because there are very few content or information in Spanish.

[@musicvelle]

another quality abuga video

[@Victor-ch7lo]

Can you recommend some streching routines for skating to us?

[@duylegend1245]

5:53 LMFAO FUCKING DED

[@mariozogbo790]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

[@eBoard3R]

🤙🏼👌🏼👌🏼🤙🏼

[@dnah02]

Practice and study like anything else