How to Play Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an exciting, fast-paced and challenging sport that can be enjoyed by both beginner and experienced riders. It’s an art form, a style of life, and a way of getting around. This article will provide an overview of the basics of skateboarding that will equip you with the knowledge to get started and become a successful rider.
Safety
Safety should be the top priority when learning how to skateboard. As with any sport, it’s important to make sure you’re wearing the proper protective gear. A helmet and pads (elbow, knee, and wrist) should be worn at all times. The best way to prevent serious injury is to take it slow and get to know your limits. Don’t let anyone pressure you into taking risks that make you feel uncomfortable.
The Gear
Skateboards come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find a board to suit your needs. A beginner usually starts off with a complete setup, meaning the board, trucks, wheels, bearings, and hardware are all one package. It’s recommended to get a board that fits the size of your feet and allows you to get the right technical moves.
Skateboarding Lingo
Becoming familiar with skateboarding terminology is key when learning how to ride. Knowing the language behind the sport will help guide you in the right direction and allow you to communicate with other riders.
For example, grinds, nollie and pop shove-its are all technique related terms. A tail grab is a move where the rider grabs the tail of the board while in the air, while a feeble is when the board is balanced on one rail while grinding on the opposite rail.
On the Board
Once you have the right gear and can communicate the lingo, it’s time to get to riding. Before you start grinding, ollieing, or popping into a manual, you must learn how to balance on the board and control its movement. The first thing to do is just stand on the board and practice shifting your weight from front to back to the center of the board. You can use this exercise to become comfortable with your board and identify any wheel or no wheel limitations.
Next, learn how to push with one foot on the ground and the other on the tail of the board. This technique is called the kick push, and it will eventually lead into full-on cruising and carving. You can use this technique to get accustomed to your board’s length, width, and wheelbases.
Tricks
Once you’re comfortable with pushing, cruising, and carving, it’s time to take on some basic tricks. The ollie is considered to be the base trick of skateboarding, and once mastered, it will open up more possibilities. To successful ollie, you need to know how to flick your back foot up while popping the tail of the board down with your front foot. When done correctly, the board should jump up off of the ground while staying close to your feet.
Other beginner tricks include jumping up to grab the board, known as a lip trick, as well as pushing off with both feet to gain height, known as a manuals. Both of these tricks will open up more possibilities, like kick-flips, shove-its, and pressure flips.
Practice
The last key component of learning how to skateboard is practice. Taking your board to the park or finding spots close to home where no one will bother you is essential to getting good. Take your time and don’t be afraid to fall. Like any sport, perseverance will lead to success.
Overall, skateboarding is a fun and rewarding sport that provides endless possibilities for creativity. By following this guide and having the proper safety gear and supervision, you will be on your way to becoming an experienced skateboarder in no time.