Q&A for How to Ride a Penny Board

A penny board is a good tool for somebody who wants to leisurely ride down the sidewalk and is okay with being limited to that. However, because it's so small, it's hard to balance on and hard to ride comfortably for an average-sized adult. Because the penny board is less stable, it's also not a good choice for somebody who wants to do tricks.

The famous saying is, of course I'm paraphrasing, "If you fall off the horse, get back on." If you don't get back on now, you will never be able to.

You can ride them in skate parks but don't do any tricks. Penny Boards are generally for cruising. Doing tricks could result in damage to your board or yourself.

Flat shoes aren't a necessity, they are just helpful to have. Ride the same way the instructions say to.

Once you start feeling speed, softly bring down the foot that you use to kick onto the ground to slow yourself. It takes time to learn to do this exactly right, but it really helps.

It's natural to be scared, as falling over is no fun. Turn that fear into action to protect yourself instead. Wear a helmet and some knee and elbow protectors and even practice in a place that will promise a soft landing. The feelings of fear are helpful, they'll stop you from doing anything beyond your abilities.

Use your back foot to push down so that your front wheels will lift and bring the board over nicely.

Riding upward, you have gravity to pull you down, so you have to exert more force in order to go up. However, you have gravity to assist your descent, so you can simply coast.

On the official website (PennySkateboards.com) or on sponsored websites, but be careful as you don't want to be fooled by a fake one. Make sure that it says "penny" on the trucks and there is an authentic "P" on the tail.

Practice riding inside your house or in your garage. You can also try practicing at your local park. You can also try practicing on a road close by that is not as busy; this may involve going on a short trip with your friends or family.

A nickel board is normally considered easier to ride and better for beginners, it is larger and easier to maintain your balance.

Wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist pads. These will help cushion your falls and prevent cuts and scrapes. If you can't get any pads, try wearing some gloves (fingerless gloves will also wok), long pants, and long-sleeved shirts instead. They won't work as well as the pads, but they'll be better than nothing.

A skateboard is bigger and easier to balance on, but a penny board has bigger, softer wheels. It depends on where you live and/or what surfaces you plan to skateboard on.

Take the board down to your local skate shop and ask if they can help. They should be able to properly loosen your trucks.

Usually, you just jump off, but if you have slightly more skill, you can stop the board by the lip.

Depending on the speed, and how you catch yourself, it can, but in all of my falls over the past two years, the worst I've had was a few scrapes and a hurt thumb.

Yes, especially if it is your first time. After a while your fear will probably disappear.

The middle part in between the two pairs of wheels, where there are no wheels under it.

22" is the standard size for a penny board. The 27" is called a nickel board, but it's made by Penny.

Usually by jumping off or grinding the tail. If you're more advanced, you can try drifting to the side.

Use a helmet, ankle pads, wrist pads, and elbow pads to minimize any possible injury.

My penny board was made by a brand called Ten Toes. I got it on Amazon for $30 and it's great quality and so fun to ride.

Of course! Any type of flat shoe is good for skating. Just be sure not to wear shoes with a high platform.

Try tightening your trucks. It'll make your board less wobbly, but you can't make as sharp of turns. And if you're still scared, don't be. The carpet will soften your fall.

I find it easier to have my right foot at the front too. It’s called goofyfoot, but it’s just as common as having your left foot at the front.

You can't do major stunts, but you can find some simple ones online. Penny boards are more for riding casually, not for skate parks, but yes, there are penny board tricks.

Practice near handrails on a flat surface before doing it free handed so you can learn the techniques and how much pressure you need. You should conquer your fears as you might want to start skateboarding and doing tricks on ramps.

Yes you can, but it will be harder to do rather than on a proper board because it is smaller and does not have a lot of weight.

With time, your fear of riding again should wear off. If it doesn't, and you're determined enough, try counseling. Otherwise, just start off by going slowly until you feel comfortable with it again.

I would try a nickel board first - it's a bit bigger and easier to control. Of course, the prices might be slightly higher, but I think it's worth it. You can also sell it after you have learned to use it if it isn't severely damaged.