How to Skateboard
Knowing how to skateboard can be the difference between having a blast on your board and breaking your bones. A basic understanding of how to skateboard is essential before you ever step on a board.
Skateboarding How To
The following skateboarding how to tips aimed at skateboarding beginners.
Gear Up
The first step in learning how to skateboard is getting together the proper gear. Start out by buying a proper pair of skateboarding shoes. You can skate in your everyday shoes, but it will be more difficult and even dangerous. Skateboarding shoes are built with a wide flat bottom for gripping the board.
A helmet is another essential. A fall from a skateboard can seriously hurt or even kill you if you’re not wearing a helmet. Other essential safety gear — protective pads. Depending on the type of skateboarding you’re doing, you may only need elbow pads. Once you start skating on a ramp or other trick surface, you’ll need knee pads and wrist braces as well. Go ahead and buy them all just in case you need them.
Getting On a Skateboard
How to Skateboard
Before you try any tricks or long rides, you should be comfortable simply standing on your skateboard.
Standing on a skateboard is uncomfortable at first — you aren’t standing on solid ground anymore. For your first time, set the board in a patch of grass or even on the carpet in your living room if you have permission from your folks. Try simply standing on the board, jumping on top of it, standing on it with one foot, anything you think will help you get comfortable on the board. Learn to balance on the front or back wheels. Move your feet around in different positions, just to familiarize yourself with the size of your board. It may sound silly, but learning to stand on a skateboard is essential.
Pushing Off
Pushing the skateboard means getting it moving. Take your board out to the sidewalk or parking lot and get comfortable standing on the board.
When you’re ready, try cruising around the parking lot. With your front foot’s toes over the front truck, use your back foot to push so that the skateboard starts rolling. Once you’re rolling a little, put your back foot on back on the skateboard. If you start to slow down, push off some more with your back foot.
Turning
Part of pushing off is turning — when you want to turn, simply lean in the direction you want to go. This is a slow turn, but a safe one for the beginning skateboarder. Once you’re more comfortable on your board, you can learn to balance on your back wheels for just a second and push your front wheels in the direction you want to go. This kind of turning takes practice, but is more efficient and faster than the leaning turn.
Skateboarding can be a safe and healthy form of exercise, a mode of transportation, and even a cool lifestyle choice. Doing it safely is important, wearing safety gear, and taking baby steps in your learning process will keep you out of the ER as long as possible. Be safe out there.