How to Pump Track Surfskate: A Beginner's Guide

Pumptracking has been around for a while. In fact, it’s been around since 1992 when the first pump track was built in New Hampshire. Pump tracks are everywhere these days, but that doesn’t mean they are any less fun. In fact, they are probably more fun now than ever before because today’s pump tracks have features and terrain that would blow the minds of skaters from 20 years ago. There is so much to love about pump tracks—the adrenaline rush, flow and rhythm of riding one, the camaraderie among riders—but there can be a bit of a learning curve to begin with. Read on for beginner tips about how to pump track surfskate.

 

Surfskate vs. Skateboard

Surfskates and skateboards are both boards that allow you to ride on just a single wheel. Surfskates have been around for about 20 years longer than most people realize, surfskates are not a new concept. However, the board has gone through many changes over the years. Originally, the boards were made of wood. This changed to fiberglass and then eventually to a composite material which is what it is today. Surfskates come in all shapes and sizes; there are longboards, short boards, flat decks, concave decks and convex decks as well as many other variations. If you’re trying to decide between a surfboard or skateboard, think about what type of riding you want to do with your board. If you will be doing street skating or vert skating, a skateboard might be more appropriate. However if you plan on doing primarily free-ride downhill boarding or technical downhill boarding (pumptracking), surfing or wakeboarding, the surfskate would be better suited. 

Basics for Beginner Pump Track Riders

Pumptracking is all about pumping your body and pushing the bike forward to move. So, you need to learn how to use your body and not just rely on your arms. When you get started, it’s a good idea to concentrate on smooth transitions between pushing and coasting. Try to stay centered over the bike’s contact patch. Don’t worry too much about speed at this point. Focus on mastering the basics first before adding in additional factors like jumps or more difficult terrain. 

How to Pump Track Surfskate: A Step-by-Step Guide

First things first: you’ll need a pump track to surfskate on. Then, pick the spot where you want to start. When you get there, put your board down and stand with your front foot on the nose of your board. This is called “gapping out.” Next, place your back foot over the tail of the board and kick it out. Now you should be in a kneeling position. Push up from this position by employing both legs and arms to gain momentum as you ride down this awesome new terrain! When approaching a berm or other obstacle, try not to slow down too much or you won’t have enough momentum to get up it. Slow down enough so that when you reach the top, give a strong push off with both legs and arms and keep moving forward. Practice makes perfect when it comes to pumping track surfing! Always push yourself at every opportunity—you never know what features might lie ahead in the next section of terrain. What once seemed impossible becomes easy with practice. Remember: nobody is born with skills like these (except maybe Connor White)! 

Don’t Be Scared, Just Go Slow and Steady

It’s important to not be scared to go slow and steady. It takes time to learn how to pump track surfskate and you will fall a lot in the beginning. Don’t feel bad about it! Just get back up, dust yourself off, and try again. You won’t be able to ride your bike without falling a few times, so don’t worry about that either. In fact, some of the best riders are those who have fallen the most as they learned more about skateboarding. So don’t give up on your first try—you just need some time to learn. 

Tips for Intermediate Riders

If you are an intermediate rider, we have some beginner tips for you as well. Pump tracks are challenging, and it takes time to get the rhythm down. Be patient and take your time. When you first start out, it’s best to go on a pump track with a friend who is confident in their skills so they can show you the ropes or simply be there as a spotter for safety. Pump tracks are challenging because there is no coasting (ever). Coasting can lull one into a false sense of security because it’s easy to coast without the adrenaline rush that comes with pumping but coasting on a pump track will only lead to disaster. One way around this is to put your foot down every few pumps (or even after every pump) just to keep yourself grounded and aware of what is going on around you. 

The best skateboards for pumping track

The best skateboards for pumping track are grip type boards. The reason for this is that they have a skinny shape and wide trucks. This makes it easier to maintain control while riding the pump track. Wide trucks also make it easier to ride much higher speeds without flipping over backward. 

Know the basics of pumping before you go.

Before you go and do a pump track, make sure you know how to pump. Pumping is the basic technique that makes pumping tracks so much fun. If you don’t know how to pump, you won't be able to surfskate a pump track. It's as simple as that. To learn more about pumping, check out this article: "Pumping for Beginners." 

Watch some videos to understand the flow.

If you don’t already know how to pump track surfskate, you might have a hard time understanding what is going on. You can watch some videos to help understand the flow of the course. It might help if you find a video that focuses on a single type of turn—like an inside 180 or an outside 360. You may even want to watch different videos of the same type turn, just to see how they differ. 

Stay low and lean back while you’re learning.

The first mistake beginners make is not staying low and leaning back while they’re learning. Pump tracks are a bit tricky, and the best way to learn them is to stay low. This makes it easier to gain speed when pumping, which helps you take advantage of the momentum you get from pumping. When you’re starting out, don’t try to stand up or lean forward. Just focus on staying low. 

Try skimming before you try jumping.

If you never pumped track surfskate before, don’t start off by trying to jump. You could end up hurting yourself because of the speed and height. Start with a gentle skimming over the top of the bumps, taking your time to get used to the rhythm. Skimming helps develop a feel for pumping without the risk of injury. 

Take your time and enjoy the ride!

Don't try to take on the pump track at full speed. That's a great way to get hurt and it might discourage you from skating it again. Instead, take your time and enjoy the ride. Find your rhythm on the pump track by pumping at different speeds. Your body will naturally adjust to the rhythm of riding, so experiment with different speeds. Learn how to correct yourself when you lose momentum or grip. A little practice will help you avoid these mishaps altogether, but if you find yourself out of control, let go of the pump and hold onto your board with both hands as you slide down the side of the pump track away from traffic (or do this before taking your final run). Get used to pushing off with your toes instead of using your whole foot like on a skateboard or bike pedal. This is because of how small a surface area you’re pushing off with on a pump track compared to other boards or bikes. Take advantage of every opportunity to coast in order to conserve energy while navigating hills and obstacles. When it feels right, put all your weight on one foot while pumping with the other one—this is called "going hard". You'll also want to try going hard with both feet together for an extra burst of speed!