6. The drop in
We’re going to learn how to drop in on a quarter-pipe today.
Building block skills
You should have learnt how to pump on a ramp, and be able to get the back wheels of your skateboard up to the coping, but this isn’t absolutely necessary.
Steps to learn how to drop in
Learn on the flat first
First learn the motion of the drop in on the flat. Just stand with all your weight on the tail of your board. Place the front foot on the bolts. Then transfer your weight from the back to the front foot quickly. Get super comfortable with this first.
Drop in position on the quarter pipe
To get into the drop in position on the quarter pipe we push our back wheels over the coping with our back foot on the tail of the skateboard. If you’re regular, that’s your right foot, or goofy your left. Keeping our weight 100% on the tail of the skateboard, we then put the front leg over the front bolts, in a low riding stance. Foot position is vital. Review our video about how to stand on your skateboard if you need to. Your legs should be bent, and you should have your arms out, ready to catch yourself if you fall.
Get comfortable balancing in this position on one foot. When you drop in, you’ll need to ensure your weight drops down and straight ahead, and not off to the side. So just standing in this position is good practice.
If you’re scared of dropping in, first ensure you’ve watched our video about learning to fall and falling to learn, then try squatting right down on your board, hold on to the coping, and then drop in with your hands running along the floor. Because you are virtually already on the floor, it’s very difficult to hurt yourself with this technique.
Drop in on your skateboard
Ok, then you just have to drop in. Commit 100% to going down and forward. The rookie mistake is to lean back, you must lean forward far more than you’d expect. If you have someone to help you, have them take your hands while facing you, and they should pull the leading arm down towards the floor. Let the body drop into the transition without actually moving the front foot til the last second. At the last second straighten the front leg which will take the wheels down to contact the transition. When the wheels hit the transition distribute your weight more evenly with a bias towards the back leg. Roll away. Smiling.
Pump or anti-pump to control speed
Once the front wheels have contacted the transition you can put more weight on the back leg to pump, and gain more speed, from your drop in. Otherwise you can put less weight on the back leg to anti-pump, or kill your speed.
Next steps
That’s it, you’ve learn to to drop in. The tail stall is probably the next trick you can build on from learning to drop in.
Get your drop in featured here
Simply tag your Instagram video with #sosdropin to be featured here!
Here`s Jackson`s #gopro footage of learning to #dropin at his birthday #skateboardlesson. Thanks @jodiebracken1981 he was learning super quick, and really keen to try by himself only after a matter of minutes on a board...
#learntodropin #skateboardingisfun #skatecoach #london #sosdropin
..and she was #droppingin. She really didn`t want to do it at first, but after a few times she wanted to do it again and again and again 🙂
The dropping in trick guide is on our website. Link in bio..
#skateboardinglessons #skateboardskills #skatecoach #deptford #skatepark #lewisham #london #quarterpipe #sosdropin #4yearolddropin #learntodropin #schoolofskate
Finally got 🎥 of the nipper dropping in. I can have her at the park all day and she`s skating for all of 2 mins. Hardly worth padding up! Hoping she`s going to get the bug soon.. I`ll grind her down 😄
The dropping in trick guide is on our website. Link in bio..
Great 🍕 by telegraph hill skatepark too
#spawnofskate #competitivedad #miniramp #droppingin #sosdropin #newcross #telegraphhill #skatepark #skateparklife #gromsesh #raddad #learntodropin