- The skateboard should fit your body size and riding style. Beginners benefit from a wider deck for more stability.
- Basic riding techniques such as getting on, moving forward, and braking should first be learned in a safe environment.
- It is crucial to always wear the necessary protective gear, including a helmet, knee, elbow, and wrist guards.
- Learning simple tricks like the Ollie lays the foundation for more advanced maneuvers.
- Regular practice and utilizing resources such as instructional videos or tips from experienced skaters contribute to continuous skill improvement.
- Engaging with the local or online skateboard community supports development and increases the enjoyment of skateboarding.
Skateboarding is a popular sport that requires skill and techniques. This guide helps newbies with a clear step-by-step guide, from choosing the first skateboard to mastering basic riding techniques and learning simple tricks. Important information about safety equipment is also provided. Practical tips will help to get off to a safe and solid start in skateboarding.
Choosing the Right Skateboard
The first step in skateboarding is choosing the right board. A standard skateboard consists of a deck, trucks, wheels and bearings. Beginners benefit from a wider deck as it provides more stability. The choice of wheel hardness and size also affects the riding experience: softer wheels are better for rough surfaces, harder wheels are faster on smooth surfaces. A good beginner model is the “complete board”, which is fully assembled and offers a balanced mix of stability and maneuverability.
Learning Basic Techniques
Mastering the basics is essential to performing complex tricks. This includes getting on, moving forward and braking. Practice first in a safe environment, ideally a skate park or empty parking lot. Start by standing on the skateboard and pushing off with one foot. It helps to practice balance by shifting your weight slightly forward or backward depending on the direction you are going.
Pushing Your Board
So the first way to get moving on your skateboard is to push. And generally, you want to push with your back foot. The reason you push with your back foot is because you can have your front foot in the position that it will remain once your back foot goes on the board. So you would start with your front foot at a slight angle just over the truck bolts. That means that your foot is at an angle enought that it can turn the board if necessary, but also it’s pointing enough forward that it will keep your momentum going. And you would take your other foot, push alongside the board on the tow side, give it one good stride. If you want to go faster another stride, and then place your back foot upon the tail. Once you put your back foot on the tail, you’re going to adjust your front foot to the proper position.
Stopping
So there are a number ways to come to a stop on a skateboard. One of the easiest ways to learn as a beginner is just to take your foot off and just drag it. Slowly put more and more pressure on it until you come to a stop. It’s basically right on the toe side of your board parallel to the board itself. And it’s just a mater of evening out your weight so that you don’t put all your weight on the foot that’s on the ground, because that will make your body stop. Your board will still be in motion. The other way to stop is by dragging your heel on your tail. And the reason we do that is because we don’t want to stop on our tail itself, because it wears down the tail, and you get what’s called razor tail. And your tail will actually start to chip away because you’ve been scraping it. And it’s also not as efficient as your foot, because your sole is made of rubber, and that will stop you quickly.
Turning
Turning is the act of leaning in one direction or the other. And that will make your board go with you, and you can gi into a circular arc or you can slalom. And basically, it’s just a matter of learning over one side of your board, and that brings it turning that direction. And the key to doing it correctly is to keep your weight centered over where you’re leaning so that once the board starts turning, you are turning with it and you are in the center. And you can actually lean back and forth. Lean to your tees is going back side. Leaning to your heels is going front side. And if you do one to the other, that will actually generate speed as well.
Tic-Tac
So tic-tacs are another way to get moving, and that way you don’t have to get off your board. You don’t have to actually push. You’ll find them very useful in skate park settings where you basically turn one way just little bit, lifting up like a quarter of a kick turn. You lift up a little bit and tac. And then as you’re leaning forward to do it again, that will just start to get you in motion by default, because you are leaning forward over your front foot. That motion generates you moving forward.
Using Protective Gear
Skateboarding can be a dangerous activity. Using protective gear is recommended. It’s important to wear a helmet and pads for your knees, elbows, and wrists all the time. This gear protect you from big injuries, especially when you’re still learning. Companies like 187, Brotection, and TSG make really good helmets and pads that are made just for skateboarding. Therefore, it is recommended to wear pads to anyone that’s starting to skate.
Learning First Tricks
Once you have mastered the basics, you can start doing simple tricks. The Ollie is the foundation to almost every trick on the street and most tricks on ramps. But for the street, that is the way that you bring your board up in the air using only your feet.
Continuous Practice and Learning
Skateboarding takes patience and a lot of practice. It is advisable to skate regularly and learn new tricks at your own pace. Tips from experienced skaters or instructional videos are very helpful. It’s worth looking for local skate clubs or online forums to get in touch with other skaters and benefit from their experience. Platforms such as YouTube offer numerous tutorials that explain various tricks step by step.
Finding a Community
Skating with others is social. Being in a local or online group gives support and keeps you motivated. Riding with friends is fun and helps you learn. Joining skate competitions or events is a good way to be part of the skating community and improve your skills.
In conclusion, skateboarding is a rewarding but challenging sport. With the right equipment, a solid foundation of basic skills, and a supportive community, anyone can learn and enjoy the art of skateboarding. The key to success is patience and continuous training. Grab your board and start your four-wheeled adventure!
