Quick answer: Regular means you ride with your left foot forward. Goofy means you ride with your right foot forward. Neither is better. The right stance is simply the one where your front foot feels steady and your back foot feels natural pushing and controlling the tail. A few quick tests, then a short session of pushing both ways, will tell you which one you are.
Stance is the first fundamental. Before you can push, turn or stop with confidence, you need to know which foot goes at the front. Get it right early and everything after it, from pushing and stopping to turning, feels easier.
Regular vs goofy: what the terms mean
- Regular: left foot at the front of the board, right foot at the back. You face the right side of the board as you roll forward, so your chest points to your right.
- Goofy: right foot at the front, left foot at the back. Your chest faces your left as you roll.
Your back foot does most of the pushing and controls the tail. Your front foot steers and keeps you balanced. That is why the choice matters: you want your more coordinated, comfortable foot doing the jobs it is best at.
Being right-handed or left-handed does not decide it. Plenty of right-handed skaters ride goofy, and plenty of left-handed skaters ride regular. Test it rather than guess.
How to know if you are regular or goofy: 4 quick tests
Do two or three of these. If most of them point the same way, that is your starting stance.
- The slide test: in socks on a smooth floor, take a short run and slide. The foot you naturally put forward is usually your front foot on a skateboard.
- The step test: walk up a few stairs and notice which foot you lead with without thinking. Many people lead with their front foot.
- The nudge test: stand with your feet together and ask a friend to give you a gentle push from behind. The foot you step forward to catch yourself is often your front foot. Keep this gentle and do it on a soft or clear surface.
- The kick test: think about which foot you kick a ball with. That foot often feels best at the back of the board, doing the pushing, which would make the other foot your front foot.
These tests are hints, not rules. The real answer comes from the board.
The board test: push both ways
On a flat, smooth, quiet surface, try this short session:
- Stand on the board with your left foot forward over the front bolts and push gently with your right foot for 10 easy pushes.
- Switch: right foot forward, push with your left foot for 10 pushes.
- Notice which way feels steadier when you put your back foot on the board, which way your front foot stays relaxed, and which push feels smoother.
The stance that feels less wobbly is your natural stance, even if it is only slightly better. If both feel equally strange, go with what the tests above suggested and give it a few sessions before you decide.
Where to put your feet once you know your stance
Knowing which foot goes forward is half of it. Where your feet sit on the board is the other half.
- Front foot: over or just behind the front truck bolts, angled roughly across the board (anywhere from about 45 degrees to fully sideways).
- Back foot when riding: over or just in front of the back truck bolts, across the board.
- Width: feet about shoulder-width apart. Too narrow feels twitchy; too wide makes it hard to shift your weight.
- Body: knees soft and bent, weight centred between your feet, shoulders roughly in line with the board, eyes up and looking where you want to go.
When you push, your front foot turns to point forward along the board so your back foot can reach the ground. Once you are rolling, turn the front foot back across the board and bring your back foot up over the back bolts.
Mongo pushing: why front-foot pushing causes trouble
Pushing with your front foot while your back foot stays on the board is called mongo pushing. It works for rolling around, but it puts your back foot far from the tail, which makes stopping, kick turns and most tricks harder. If you find yourself pushing with the front foot, you may be in the wrong stance. Try the other stance for a session. If the push feels better there, switch.
Switch, fakie and nollie: stance words you will hear
- Switch: riding in your opposite stance. A regular skater riding goofy is riding switch.
- Fakie: riding in your normal stance but rolling backwards, tail first.
- Nollie: doing a trick by popping off the nose instead of the tail, while still in your normal stance.
You do not need any of these yet. Learn your natural stance first. Later, practising a little switch pushing improves balance and board control.
Common stance mistakes
- Deciding from handedness alone. Test on the board instead.
- Feet too close together. Aim for shoulder width.
- Standing straight-legged. Bend your knees so you can absorb bumps.
- Looking at your feet. Look ahead; your feet will follow.
- Switching stance every session. Pick one and give it at least a few sessions so your body can learn it.
Practice plan for your first sessions
- Warm up first (see our skateboard warm-up guide).
- Stand on the board on grass or carpet and practise moving your front foot from pushing position to riding position.
- On smooth ground, do short push-and-glide runs in your chosen stance.
- Add gentle turns and practise a controlled stop.
- Wear a helmet and wrist guards while you learn (our protective gear guide covers fit), and learn how to fall safely.
Need somewhere smooth to practise? Use BUTR Spots to find skate spots near you.
Keep Pushing
Regular or goofy, your stance is yours. Find it, commit to it, and let the basics build from there. Every push in your natural stance makes the next fundamental easier.
Are you regular or goofy, and which test gave it away for you? Tell us in the comments below.
