Shuffle Stepping
Shuffle stepping is the simplest way to adjust your stance on a longboard without losing trim. Instead of lifting a foot to place it somewhere new, you keep both feet lightly in contact with the deck and “shuffle” them a few inches at a time.
Setup
- Find trim first: board gliding with minimal corrections
- Knees soft, hips over the stringer, eyes level down the line
- Hands relaxed and quiet — no windmilling
Mechanics
- Unweight slightly by compressing, then softening pressure
- Slide the front foot a few inches along the stringer (don’t lift high)
- Match with the back foot to re-center a shoulder-width stance
- Keep torso stacked over the stringer to avoid wobble
Small fore/aft shuffles let you fine-tune speed and control: a bit forward for glide, a bit back to set a turn.
Drills
- In soft waist-high waves, shuffle 2–3 inches forward, hold trim, then 2–3 inches back
- Flatwater or small whitewater: practice 3–4 micro-shuffles without looking down
- “Breath cue”: inhale to lengthen posture, exhale to soften pressure before a shuffle
Common mistakes
- Over-lifting the feet — creates instability; keep light contact
- Big moves instead of micro-moves — make changes in inches, not feet
- Looking down — shifts weight forward; keep eyes on the line you want
Mastering shuffle steps builds the confidence to begin stepping with a lifted foot while keeping trim intact.