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Glam Monitor

Should your dominant foot be on the skateboard?

Author

Isabella Ramos

Updated on July 19, 2026

Skateboarders typically use their dominant foot as the back foot to make their skateboard easier to control. To determine which stance is right for you, stand up straight, and have someone push you gently from behind. Whichever foot you brace yourself with is your lead foot.

Where does your dominant foot go on a skateboard?

Usually, the foot that you put in front will be your dominant foot when you skateboard or snowboard. If your right foot is dominant, that means you're regular foot and should stand on your board with your right foot on the back. Alternatively, if your left foot is dominant, you'll ride goofy with it near the tail.

Which foot to use on a skateboard?

The leg they use to catch themselves should generally be their front foot. Have them stand at the bottom of a set of stairs with both feet on the ground. Say "go" and see which foot they step up with first. That should be the front foot.

Is it better to be goofy or regular?

There is no right or wrong way to stand on a skateboard (or snowboard, surfboard, or any other board), but most people feel more comfortable riding a skateboard regular, instead of goofy. The dominant foot is often back because it is better able to control the board. Beginners should go with the stance that feels best.

Which way do you stand on a skateboard if your right footed?

These are called stances. The goofy stance means you skate with your right foot forward, while the regular stance is when you are skating with your left foot forward.

45 related questions found

Is goofy stance rare?

Your stance is goofy if you do the exact opposite of regular and lead with your right leg, placing your left leg more toward the tail, or back, of your board. Although the goofy stance is less common, plenty of pros use it, including skateboarding pros like Chris Russell and Felipe Gustavo.

Is Tony Hawk goofy-footed?

For example Rodney Mullen is regular and Tony Hawk is goofy.

Do most skaters ride goofy?

First, the numbers: One study of snowboarders put the ratio of goofy- to regular- foots at 30 to 70. Another study, this time of skateboarders, found that 44 percent are goofy.

How do you stop on a skateboard?

Push down sharply on the tail, to lift up the front of the board, transferring some of your weight backwards and bending your front leg. You can also use your shoulders and your front foot to turn backwards, turning the board away from the direction of travel. Your heel and the tail will bring you to a stop.

What percentage of skaters are goofy?

Does being right-handed or left-handed determine your skate stance? No. Of the 4,000 skaters in the Skatepark of Tampa Database, about half are goofy (44%) and half are regular (56%).

Why are some people goofy-footed?

Genetics of Handedness

Why some of us are born left-handed, right-handed, or goofy-footed is thought to relate to an important and early time in the formation of our brain.

Does it matter which way you ride a skateboard?

If your deck's nose and tail are identical, then it's designed to be ridden in either orientation. However, if you skate with one end forward all of the time, then your bushings, trucks, and the deck itself will wear down in that direction.

Which leg is dominant?

In 1998, Peters defined the dominant leg as 'the leg used in order to manipulate an object or to lead out in movement' [9]. This automatically leads to the definition of the non-dominant leg: 'the leg which performs the stabilizing or supporting role' [9].

Why am I left handed right footed?

Mixed dominance or cross laterality happens when a person doesn't favor the same side of the body for a dominant hand, foot, eye and ear. Some parents notice that their children with developmental delays may not have a dominant hand when completing all activities.

Can police take your skateboard?

Anything and everything can be considered evidence, so yes, officers can confiscate whatever they want if they deem it can be used as evidence at trial. So stay cool, give up your board, and it should be returned to you.

Is skateboarding bad?

Although it is a fun and exciting activity, skateboarding carries with it a serious risk for injury. Approximately 70,000 injuries requiring a visit to the emergency department occur every year.

How do you control speed on a skateboard?

Let your back foot drag lightly across the ground.

Shift your weight slowly from the front to the back foot. If you want to slow down quickly, apply more pressure with your back foot. Apply even pressure with your foot for a smooth stop.

Why do I skate with my left foot?

There are two stances for skateboarding: regular and goofy. Goofy-footers skate with their right foot at the front of the board and push with their left foot. “Riding regular” means that you skate with your left foot as your front foot and push your board with your right foot.

Do lefties ride goofy?

This is why most right-handed people have a regular surfing stance and most left-handed people have a goofy surfing stance. However, this isn't always the case. Some right-handed people prefer surfing goofy while some left-handed people prefer surfing regular.

Is Rodney Mullen goofy?

Mullen has set out to reverse his native stance—to feel as adept at skating with his right foot forward as he is with his left. He is seeking genuine goofy-footedness. What makes a soul regular, and what makes a soul goofy?

How do you ollie in Tony Hawk?

And as that's happening, you take your front foot and slide it forward in order to level out your board and bring it up to your back foot. Your legs will be bent, and then you gradually straighten your legs to keep that friction on your board and your feet until you land on the ground.

Why do most skaters skate goofy?

Goofy stance gets this name because most people put their left foot forward, which is called a regular stance. There is no right or wrong way to stand on a skateboard (or snowboard, surfboard, or any other board), but most people feel more comfortable riding a skateboard regular, instead of goofy.