How to Brake on a Skateboard: 4 Methods for Beginners

Learning how to push and balance is exciting, but before you start bombing hills or navigating busy streets, you need to learn the most crucial skill of all: how to stop on a skateboard.

A skateboard doesn't have a built-in emergency brake, which means your body and your board have to do the work. If you don't know how to slow down on a skateboard safely, a fun session can quickly turn into a dangerous wipeout.

Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your technique, here is a complete guide on how to brake on a skateboard using four different methods.

1. The Foot Brake (The Most Essential Method)

If you only learn one method from this list, make it the foot brake skateboard technique. It is the safest, most reliable way to slow down at almost any speed, and every skater needs to master it.

How to do it:

1. Keep your front foot pointing straight forward over the front truck.

2. Shift all your body weight onto that front leg.

3. Take your back foot off the board and bring it down toward the pavement.

4. Keep your back foot flat and parallel to the ground. Let the sole of your shoe lightly drag against the concrete.

5. Apply more pressure to the ground with your foot to stop faster.

Tip: Do not stomp your foot down, or you will throw yourself off balance. A smooth, gradual drag is the secret to a perfect foot brake.

2. The Tail Scrape (The Classic, But Costly Stop)

When you watch older skate videos, you will often see skaters stopping by slamming the back of their board into the ground. If you are wondering how to brake on skateboard setups quickly without taking your feet off, this is a common beginner instinct.

How to do it:

1. Keep your back foot on the tail of the board.

2. Shift your weight completely to your back leg while keeping your front foot light.

3. Press the tail down until it scrapes against the ground, using the friction to stop.

The Catch: We don't highly recommend this method for everyday use because it causes "razor tail." Scraping the wood against the pavement chips away at your deck, ruining its pop and forcing you to buy a new skateboard deck much sooner.

3. The Heel Scrape (The Deck Saver)

If you like the motion of the tail scrape but want to save your deck from getting ruined, the heel scrape is the perfect compromise.

How to do it:

1. Position your back foot far back on the tail, so your heel is hanging off the edge.

2. Shift your weight back to lift the front wheels.

3. Angle your foot so that the heel of your shoe grinds against the ground before the wood of the tail touches the pavement.

This method trades deck wear for shoe wear. You will grind through the heel of your skate shoes eventually, but shoes are generally built to handle it better than wooden decks!

4. The Powerslide (The Advanced Stop)

Once you are comfortable on your board and riding at higher speeds, the foot brake might not be enough. To stop quickly while going fast, you need to learn the powerslide skateboard technique. This is an advanced move, but it looks incredibly stylish and is highly effective.

How to do it:

1. Gain a good amount of speed (powerslides don't work well if you are moving slowly).

2. Bend your knees to lower your center of gravity.

3. Unweight your board slightly by making an upward motion, then quickly kick your back foot out 90 degrees.

4. Lean back slightly to avoid pitching forward as the wheels lose traction and skid across the concrete.

5. Once you slow down, rotate your shoulders to bring the board back to its normal forward position.

Gear Note: Powerslides are much easier with harder wheels (99a or 101a). Soft cruiser wheels are too grippy and will make powersliding very difficult.

Stop Safely with Skates USA

Learning how to brake on a skateboard takes practice and a few inevitable falls. Make sure you are protecting yourself while learning these techniques by wearing proper safety gear.

At Skates USA, we carry a huge selection of durable skate shoes (perfect for foot braking) and hard wheels (ideal for powerslides), plus all the helmets and pads you need. Shop our collection today and enjoy free shipping on orders over $50!