Maybe you’re a snowboarder who wants to keep riding a board through summer? Maybe you’ve been inspired by skateboarding videos on Instagram and want to give it a go yourself? Maybe you’ve never even considered skateboarding as a sport but you need a new hobby?
Whatever the reason, skateboarding can be a fun, sociable, and thrilling sport to try. It can also be slightly terrifying. Falling on snow is one thing, but crashing into hard concrete? That takes guts.
We’re big supporters of skateboarding ourselves – so we’ve come up with 5 tips to help anyone get started on a skateboard. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to skate, but these are some important tips to keep you safe and having fun.
1. First, choose the right board – soft, small wheels are great for beginners. You should get a quality board but don’t worry about spending heaps of money – it doesn’t need to be the best in the market. Your local skate shop should be able to help you choose something right for you.
2. Get some protective gear! As we already said, concrete is hard and it can hurt. Grab a helmet, some knee and elbow pads. You’ll probably be falling over a lot as a beginner so make sure you keep your body safe.
3. Find a flat, smooth piece of concrete in a safe place and spend some time pushing around to get comfortable. If you’ve never been on a board, find out if you’re goofy (right foot forward) or regular (left foot forward). Don’t skate “mongo” – be sure to push with your back foot! Also, avoid puddles and any wet areas.
4. Once you’re comfortable with flat surfaces, go to a skatepark and start going up and down ramps. (If possible, find someone to skate with you – it’s handy to have a mix of people on your level as well as people to support your learning and give you tips!)
5. Practice, practice, practice. Skateboarding takes a lot of time to master and the more you practice, the quicker you’ll see progression.
And a bonus tip number 6: HAVE FUN. As a skateboarder you’ll have a great time exploring the local spots and hopefully making some new friends. Don’t push yourself too quickly and think you have to rush into learning how to do tricks. In the end, skateboarding is about rolling around with your friends - so don’t worry about what anyone else is doing and don’t be afraid to be get of your comfort zone.
Tag us in your clips and we’ll see you at the skatepark! #NITP Need some additional inspiration - be sure to check out @girlswhocanskate
As always comment below with your thoughts or questions!
Written by Hannah Hurley - Official NITP Blog Writer.