Skateboarding is the quintessential street sport, and one of the most popular of these activities. Whether you want to learn the basics just to get moving or kick-flip like a pro, you need to know where to start. This tutorial will give you information on everything from buying your first board to making an ollie, so you can learn how to whiz around the sidewalks.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Getting Started
Step 1. Find the board that best suits your needs
Skateboards can be cheap or very expensive and come in a wide variety of sizes and styles. The most popular are traditional skateboards and longboards. Go to your hometown skate shop or visit a dedicated website to find some solution you can afford.
- Classic boards have a rounded nose (front tip) and tail (rear end) and are slightly angled at the sides to allow for stunts. They come in different sizes, but the most common are 77.5 cm long and 40 cm wide. These are the most suitable if you want to use them in a skatepark or on the road to do some tricks.
- Longboards, also called cruisers, are longer and flatter with a pointed nose (and sometimes even tail). The length of this model can vary, but is usually double that of a classic board; this feature makes it more stable and maneuverable for beginners. You won't be able to do stunts, but if your goal is to move fast on the street, then the longboard is the way to go.
- A beginner board can cost from 30 to 150 euros and usually comes with standard wheels and trucks. Ask the shopkeeper to adapt the board according to your needs and to assemble the right model of truck and wheels according to how you want to use the skate.
Step 2. Wear the right shoes
Skate shoes are generally sold by Vans, DC shoes, Lakai, Nike sb or Etnies brands. They have a flat sole, sturdy edges and are perfect for maintaining a good grip on the board. While it is possible to skate with normal tennis shoes, it is easier to control the board with the proper footwear.
Never skate with slippers or sandals. You need to move your feet nimbly and feel comfortable. Without the right shoes your ankles have too much freedom of movement and you are more likely to fall
Step 3. Get the proper protectors too
When you are a beginner and learning, it can happen that you fall very often. For this reason, consider purchasing protective gear such as a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads to avoid hurting yourself a lot during falls. This is a fundamental precaution for beginners. In some US states, such as California, it is even mandatory to use a helmet when skating on the street.
- Make sure you choose a helmet that fits your head. Before you go to the store, use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your head, just above the eyebrows; try to keep the meter parallel to the ground. The helmet must fit snugly.
- There is nothing wrong with wearing protectors. You need to protect yourself from serious head injuries.
Step 4. Find the right place to practice
A flat concrete driveway is a great surface to feel comfortable skateboarding. Make sure there are no obstacles on the course and pay close attention to cracks, stones or holes. Running into a pebble could mean a lot of falls.
Skateparks are a perfect place once you have gained some experience. If you are learning and your initial goal is simply to be able to stand on the board without falling, then the parks may be a little too challenging. If there is one in your city, then you can go there to meet other skaters and ask for advice; but remember to stay on the edge of the paths
Step 5. Consider asking someone good at skateboarding to teach you
Your dad probably isn't capable of pop shove it, so it would be a good idea to find a teacher at the skate shop or park. Approach some beginner and ask if they are at an intermediate or advanced level. If so, perfect, you have found your teacher!
Skating with friends is the most important part of this sport, and perhaps also its essence. If there are some skaters among your friends, try to learn the basics on your own, but join them to succeed in the most difficult tricks and skills. Observe carefully, in person, who is able to perform them
Part 2 of 4: Mastering the Fundamentals
Step 1. Stand on the board correctly
Place the skate on the ground, learn how to put your feet down and keep your balance without falling. The feet on the board must be at an angle to the road, more or less parallel to the truck screws that secure the wheels to the skate.
- The "regular" position means that you place your left foot forward (near the nose) and your right foot behind. This typically means that you push yourself with your right foot.
- The "goofy" position indicates that you place your right foot forward and your left foot behind. Usually this posture is assumed by people who push themselves with their left foot.
- Sway back and forth slightly to understand how the wheels move and how well you can handle the trucks. Just be comfortable.
Step 2. Try to push yourself gently and put your feet on the board
Rotate your front foot slightly so that it is a little more parallel to the board rather than perpendicular. With the other foot, push gently to move slowly at first. There is no need to crash just because you pushed yourself too hard before you were ready.
- When you have reached some momentum, practice placing your rear foot near the tail as well, where it bends upwards, above the trucks. Find your balance and move by bending your knees.
- "Mongo foot" means that you feel more comfortable pushing yourself with your front foot, while the back foot stays on the board. While some find it an acceptable way to skate, be aware that this habit will prevent you from performing certain tricks and is an awkward way to sway your push foot. If you find yourself having this attitude, try switching from goofy to regular or vice versa.
Step 3. When you notice that you are slowing down, give yourself another push
Keep practicing with small thrusts and placing both feet on the board until the speed decreases. Then prop up the front foot keeping it straight, push yourself with the back foot and then rest it on the tail. The more you perform this exercise, the more comfortable you will feel moving around with the skate.
- Try speeding up, but just a little bit. Just like with the bicycle, some skaters find it easier to keep their balance at a higher speed.
- If the board starts to sway excessively as speed increases, then you need to tighten the truck nuts. This will make it harder to turn, but you can continue your training with rigid trucks as long as you are able to control the sway yourself. In this case it is useful to shift the weight slightly forward.
Step 4. Flex your ankles and shift your body weight to make turns
Once you have learned to push yourself and "ride" the board in a straight line, try making turns by gently shifting your weight. The knees must be slightly bent, so as to lower the center of gravity towards the ground. Then shift your weight forward to turn right (in the regular posture), while you have to rotate your ankles backward to go left.
- Depending on how loose the trucks are, it may be enough to just shift the weight or tilt your body in the direction you want to go. Longboard decks have a lower steering angle than traditional decks.
- If you have trouble keeping your balance or fall while steering, shift your upper body weight in the opposite direction. The really important thing is that the feet press on the board so that the trucks set the curve.
Step 5. Place one foot on the ground to stop
Once you've slowed down a bit, just place one foot on the ground to stop and block the momentum. Remember to keep the foot on the board that you are not pushing yourself with, otherwise it will continue to move.
You can also shift your weight back to scrape the tail on the ground if you want to stop. Some longboards have a "brake" on the rear edge made of a kind of plastic pad, but it is not an omnipresent accessory. This maneuver is slightly more difficult and causes you to wear out the back of the board
Step 6. Try to change position
When you get used to skateboarding, try reversing the position of your feet. If you want to be a really good skater, you need to be able to handle the board in both directions, because sometimes it will be necessary in performing tricks. This skill will come in handy when attempting to ride a half-pipe or perform stunts.
Step 7. Learn to fall appropriately
All skaters fall often and early. It is part of this sport. It is important to always wear protective gear and learn how to fall the right way. To avoid injuries more serious than a few scratches and bruises (which are the hallmarks of a skater), you need to learn a few tricks.
- The arms should remain relaxed, but away from the body. If you are very stiff, you risk breaking your wrists and ankles, but they should help cushion the fall.
- Roll, every time you fall. You may scratch yourself a little, but it will hurt a lot less than a hard "landing".
- Give up immediately if you notice that something is going wrong. If you find that you are going too fast and can't control the board, just jump off the skate and land on your feet or roll in the grass. Don't stay on a "crazy" board.
Step 8. Watch the more experienced skaters to learn the stunts and get some advice
Find other guys to practice with. You will learn a lot from their style and various skill levels. If you don't know anyone, have a few chats with the other skaters you can meet at the park. Generally these are friendly people who will gladly help you. Experiment with new stunts, try to ollie taller, read how to do another trick or whatever else you feel like doing. Your teacher is more a friend than a real instructor, share the skills with him and anyone else you want.
- For some advice on how to perform certain movements, you can watch slow motion videos and pay attention to how your feet move. Sequential photographs are also a great way to learn.
- The more you practice, the more you will improve. Don't be discouraged just because you can't finish a stunt on the first or second try. Just try it and have fun, in time you will succeed.
Part 3 of 4: Learning to Perform an Ollie
Step 1. Start with a manual on the ground
To perform an ollie you will need to lift the board into the air and land safely. The first part of the stunt is learning to move the rear foot over the tail to raise the nose. The "manual" is basically a "wheelie" of the board in which you tilt the tail of the board a little to raise the tip.
- While standing on the board, practice resting your weight on the back foot and lifting the nose without losing your balance. If you think you can, you can also try on the go.
- Even just before attempting the manual, it is worth staying by the side of the board and trying to lift it. Use your foot to step on the tail and figure out how much pressure you need to exert to lift the nose.
Step 2. Try to lift the skate from a standstill
Get on the board and bend your knees to lower the center of gravity a little and move it over the trucks. Bring your back foot to the tail as if you want to do a manual, but then lift the board into an ollie.
Don't move for now. You must first be able to ollie while landing correctly, as it is dangerous to attempt it while moving. If you did, the board would probably slip out from under your feet
Step 3. Lift the board and jump
To lift the skate off the ground, you must simultaneously slide your front foot back a little, jump bringing your knees to your chest while you prop your back foot onto the tail.
- All that needs to be done in one smooth motion and is not easy to manage at first attempts. You have to jump off the board while, at the same time, pressing with your back foot.
- You need to lift the front foot a moment before lifting the rear foot. Imagine running sideways and wanting to jump over an obstacle. You must perform a similar movement.
Step 4. Drag your front foot forward to regain grip with the board
When the skate is in the air, move your foot forward and place it flat on the board to regain control. You must start this maneuver as soon as you are in the air.
Step 5. Push the board down as you extend your legs
Once the board is parallel to the ground, push it to the ground by extending your legs and landing in a normal position. The most important thing to remember is that when landing your knees should be slightly flexed and your feet resting right on top of the truck bolts, this way you have a better chance of continuing your ride, plus you avoid breaking the board and getting hurt.
- Don't be ashamed to give up. If you can't straighten the board or just fear you won't be able, don't land on the skate. Fall on your feet instead.
- In fact, it is worth trying the first ollies by landing on the ground instead of with your feet on the board.
Step 6. Try a moving ollie
When you have successfully landed ten times in a row from a standing ollie, you can attempt to perform this stunt on the go. Push yourself and start moving at low or moderate speed, then crouch down and jump off the board, just like you did when standing.
This is a fundamental skill to master, as most jumping tricks are based on the ollie. For more information on stunts, read the next section and follow the attached links
Part 4 of 4: Learning Other Stunts
Step 1. Try a pop shove it
Ollie as high as you can, then when your feet are off the board, tap the skate with your front foot to make it rotate 180 degrees. You will need to do a "spoon" motion with your back foot to facilitate rotation.
Step 2. Do a kick-flip
This is analogous to pop shove it, except that when you hit the board, you have to kick the point of the edge that comes up. Make several attempts until you get the rotation you want. This is a difficult stunt, so practice and don't give up.
Step 3. Grind Try a grind
Start with a fairly low handrail or railing (no more than 30cm off the ground). This is a difficult trick, so you have to proceed step by step.
- Simply start balancing on the railing and then jump off the board, always landing on the railing with your feet. Let the skate roll away.
- Next, practice lifting the board as you jump, without worrying about where it goes. Just make sure you land with your feet on the railing.
- Make sure you slide on the railing slightly angled and not completely straight. In this way you run less risk of a wheel getting stuck at the beginning of the railing.
- Now is the time to get serious. Ollie as high as you can towards the handrail. Land with your feet on the truck bolts while keeping the board balanced.
- If the board slides sideways on the railing, it is a board slide. If you stand in the same direction as the railing in order to lock the wheels in order to crawl, this is a 50-50 grind.
- When you get to the end of the railing, turn the board (so that the nose is facing forward) and land with your feet on the bolts. This trick is called a board slide.
Step 4. Go to a skate park to learn how to drop in
It takes guts for this exercise, but it's worth it.
- Place the tail of the board on the coping (the metal bar on the upper edge of the half-pipe). The foot must be behind the bolts just enough to maintain balance.
- Put your front foot on the truck's bolts and squeeze the board forward. Don't hesitate or you will fall. It takes security and power.
- Make sure you lean forward during this movement. Otherwise, the board will slide off. Shoulders should always be parallel to the board.
- Don't worry about climbing up to the other side of the half-pipe, just jump off the board when you're high.
Step 5. Do some stunts on the edge of the ramp
Among those that deserve to be learned we remember the To_fakie rock to fakie, the axle stall and the nose stall. They are very impressive tricks, but not too difficult to learn if you have several months of experience.
Advice
- It always leans slightly forward. If you shift your weight back, the board may slip out from under your feet.
- Never give up. If you get it wrong, keep practicing.
- Always keep your feet apart; if you combine them you risk losing your balance.
- Spend some time still on the board and try out different positions. This exercise will help you keep your balance in the future. You can move your feet and sway a little; you have to become familiar with the table.
- When you finish a trick, always push the board to the ground by applying pressure on the truck bolts, so the skate will not escape from under your feet.
- Learn how to fall. Falling is also worth practicing.
- Always look ahead of you to understand where you are going.
- Do not keep your mobile phone or other delicate objects in your pocket.
- Skateboarding is a balance sport. Practice descending gentle slopes with only one foot on the board or while shifting your weight from foot to foot.
- Keep practicing and never give up!
- Be very patient with beginners.
- If someone tells you to get out of a place, do it. If the police or security personnel are called, then your skating session is over. In this case, move; try to practice your sport in areas where it is legal. The driveway, a parking lot, a garage, a dead end or the park are all great places.
- Keep a safe distance from children and animals.
- Always wear wrist protectors if you don't want to risk a really annoying injury.
- Give way to pedestrians.
- Wear protective gear so you won't get hurt.
- If you can't turn well when you lean, loosen the center bolt on the trucks.
- Quality trucks like Tensor, Independent, Thunder, Grind King, Royal and so on allow you to make turns easier and with more control. Wheels and ball bearings are also important for achieving good speed and maintaining it. Choose wheels made by companies such as Darkstar, Ricta, Autobahn, Spitfire or Bones and bearings from Reds, Bones, Swiss, Rockin 'Rons or Ninja. Obviously the boards are also fundamental. Those built by the Revive, Mini Logo, Mystery, Almost, Black Label, Element, Real, Girl or Chocolate offer you great control, are durable and react well to movement.
- Find a friend to skate with. If you know someone who is approaching the sport just like you, then you can meet and discuss your techniques, how fun or how difficult skateboarding is. Skating is a lot more fun in company and the more friends you have, the better.
- If you are a beginner, don't think about doing great tricks in the beginning. It takes time.
- Wear comfortable clothes that give you freedom of movement. You don't have to follow the latest fashion, but know that skate shoes are a good solution.
- Practice as much as you can and don't give up if you fall. Sometimes, some people get a bad fall and don't want to get back on a board anymore.
- When making your first descent, think about how you will be able to stop and not attempt an extremely steep one.
- Wear protective gear such as a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and so on.
- Practice on smooth roads, not old and badly paved ones.
- Don't feel embarrassed when you fall, this is completely normal. Professionals also fall!
- Always wear a helmet and wrist protectors. These are the areas of the body most prone to injury.
- If you feel that you are not comfortable on the board to perform a stunt, then don't do it. Stay safe and only attempt it when you feel ready.
- Place your weight firmly on the foot on the board.
Warnings
- You must always be aware of who and what surrounds you.
- Don't try to imitate others just to feel like you are worthy of the group. Only perform the stunts you feel ready to do.
- Do not throw the board on the ground when you make a mistake and feel frustrated, you could damage it irreparably.
- Wear a helmet. You may think he is not very cool, but it will keep you from breaking your head.
- Wear protective gear. At first you may think that they limit your movements a bit, but they are indispensable when you go up the ramps.
- Find a good pair of skate shoes that you feel comfortable in and that will last a long time.
- Skating is best done in a group; if something goes wrong, you will get help. Plus, skateboarding is more fun with friends.
