Fingerboarding is an exciting sport that lets you ride a miniature skateboard with your fingers. You can perform most tricks done on a skateboard in a park.
However, with a fingerboard, you just need a quality fingerboard and learn how to manipulate them with your fingers. Most of the basic tricks might appear difficult at first. However, once you master how to position fingers and manipulate the board, performing tricks becomes natural.
In this post, I’ll help you learn how to get better at finger boarding. Join me!
How To Get Better At Fingerboarding
Just like any sport, practice makes perfect. But first, you need top-quality fingerboards. While all fingerboards are small, they still vary in size. You need a fingerboard that is proportional to your hand size. You might have to test it before buying.
The board must feel comfortable to handle. Place your middle and index finger on the back and front. Flip it down and roll it to see how it moves.
Mastering Basic Movements
You’re not going to become a pro right away! Most people you see performing fingerboard tricks seamlessly didn’t start yesterday. They started by mastering basic tricks. The first step is mastering the very basic movements.
Here is a quick video tutorial on how to get started with finger-boarding.
Finger positioning
How you position your fingers on the board is everything. Your index finger should provide balance. Place it in the middle of the board. The middle finger should be on the rear end.
The middle finger presses down to launch the board while the index finger provides balance. You need to master proper finger positioning. In addition, your hand should feel comfortable and at ease.
There is no fixed position on where you place the fingers. You need a position that makes it easier to control the board. Some people prefer having three fingers on the board while others have two.
Press down twist
The first basic movement is the press-down twist. It is a simple movement to master. Simply press down the middle finger on the back lip as you move the board in any direction.
Direction change is easy and done by twisting the fingers left or right. This move is crucial and a base for building your skills. Start by moving slowly as you master it. You can increase the speed with practice.
The Manual Movement
The second crucial movement to master is manual, where the front end of the board is lifted and coasted forward. Unlike the first movement, this one is done without twisting fingers.
The middle finger presses down on the back lip as you perform the manual. You need to practice the move frequently and master it at higher speeds.
Launching into the air
This is probably where you want to get it. Mastering the first two movements will enable you to launch your board into the air. This is the aim of staker. It’s a move that should give you high scores in competitive finger boarding.
The first and simple way to launch the fingerboard into the air is by pressing the back lip. It is called an ollie move and involves the index finger and the middle finger.
Position your index and middle finger on the board. The positioning should be similar to the press-down twist where you move back and forth. Now, apply pressure on the middle finger to lift the front wheels.
Make sure you press hard to launch your board into the air. Once in the air, you’ll use the index finger to stabilize it. Remember, the index finger should be on the board as it moves into the air. You only apply pressure to stabilize it.
The ollie move is simple to practice and a great way to show your finger boarding skills. Start at slow to moderate speeds before increasing as you master the tricks.
Kickflip
The kickflip should come once you’ve mastered the ollie trick. It follows all the steps of an ollie trick. However, slide your index finger on the board once in the air.
Remember, the index finger’s main role was stabilization. Sliding it tips the balance and makes the board rotate. Make sure you have both the index and middle fingers ready to stabilize and move the board in any desired direction.
Double Kickflip
This is another exciting trick to perform but one that should come after you’ve mastered the kickflip. The skill is all about finger control.
A double kickflip involves faster popping of the board tail and tapping it harder with the front finger. You need to control the board height and spin.
The push from the front finger controls the spin, while the push of the back finger controls the board height. It is a skill that takes time to master. You must have excellent control of both fingers.
Well, these are just a few of the fingerboard movements to learn. Once you master them, you can move a step higher and start performing more incredible tricks.
Some more complicated tricks you can master later on include the 360 Flip/Tre Flip, The Impossible, Switch Backside Double Flip, Switch 360 Inward Heelflip, etc.
Learning how to grind
Now that you can control the board and launch it into the air, it’s time you mastered grinding. Once you’ve done an ollie, you’re going to land on the ground. You can consider a custom-made fingerboard rail.
Landing an ollie to a rail requires proper balance. Apply slight pressures on both fingers to find balance. Move the board towards the end of the rail. The hands and fingers should be flat and parallel to the board as you grind.
You can also perform a 5-0, which involves three tricks. This is performing an ollie into a rail followed by a manual into a rail. With the ollie in motion, apply pressure on the rear fingers to move the board downwards.
This sets up the board at an angle on the rail. Next, keep the manual by applying continuous slight pressures on the rear. Finish off by bringing the front fingers down on the front flip.
It is a slightly complicated trick that you can learn once you’ve mastered all the basics. It is a combination of three tricks.
Lastly, you can learn a nose grind that involves doing a manual backward. This is done by pressing on the front. With the ollie move in the air, apply pressure on the front flip as opposed to the backflip in the 5-0.
This angles the board on the rear and allows you to ride on the rail. A nose grind is essentially a reverse of the 5-0 grind. It needs practice as putting the fingers in a reverse motion can be tricky. Watch the video below to learn more fingerboard tricks
Practice & Practice
There is no shortcut to becoming a pro at finger boarding. You need to practice, practice and practice every movement until you master it. Practice starts from the simple basics of positioning your fingers on the board.
You need to master putting your fingers in the correct position always. The middle finger should always be on the back lip while the index finger is on the middle.
The board needs excellent balance and control to perform any trick. If you can’t master proper finger positioning, then the next steps will be difficult to master. It’s like going racing when you don’t know the basics of driving.
Final Verdict
Well, that’s it from me! You can get better at finger boarding by getting a good board and learning the basic movements. Practice each movement several times until you can do it at fast speeds. Don’t be in a rush to perform complicated tricks.
You need to master the simplest steps first. Learn proper finger positioning, control, and balance. Make sure your fingers feel comfortable and can move with ease.
Happy finger boarding!
