No matter the level of skateboarding that you are on, falling is inevitable. So, how do you navigate it?
Most skateboards fall mainly when they are new to skateboarding or trying out a new trick. But even pro-level players encounter frequent falls. Remember that it is a part of the sport, and you should never get deterred by a fall. The only trick here is to learn how to avoid it using effective methods.
When I first started skateboarding, I used to get very disappointed every time I fell off the board, mostly because I ended up getting hurt badly. And that’s when I started observing a few of my neighbors acing their fall like a pro. I would visit the ramps in my locality to watch them skate. And to be honest, I learned some of the best falling techniques from them.
Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today, I will take you through some of the safest falling tricks that you can implement while skateboarding.
So, without much delay, let’s dive right in.
Before I go on to tell you how to fall off a skateboard safely, it is important to talk about the various kinds of falls. Gaining some knowledge about them will help you navigate it the best.
I call this the ‘quit till you have time’ move. While skating, I sometimes realize that I am going to lose control. If this happens to you too, you can stop doing the skateboard trick before it is too late to minimize the intensity of the injury, if any.
This is the most common type, and I had encountered this a lot during my initial training days. When you fall off, you completely lose the board and end up stumbling on the feet without hitting the ground.
If I had a hate list, this kind of falling would top that one. This happens when you lose complete control and end up slamming on the ground. In short, you lose total control over the trick that you were performing.
As much as you would love to avoid falling off of a skateboard, let me tell you that it is an unrealistic wish. Falling is a part of learning, and there’s no way you can avoid it. As I have said before, even seasoned skaters experience massive falls sometimes. But at the same time, it is important to have some safer falling tricks up your sleeve.
You may have noticed that some people use their hands to save themselves from getting hurt when falling down. But let me warn you, this can do more harm than good. Especially if you're skating on a concrete surface, avoid committing this mistake, as you can get severely hurt otherwise.
In fact, I have witnessed a friend break her wrists trying to do this. To prevent such troubles, it is best that you start wearing wrist guards while you skate. I’d highly recommend this for beginners as their instincts (of using their hands to block the impact of a fall) tends to take over more often. The trick here is to learn how to use your hands to cut down on the impact.
You can even look up some videos on the internet to understand better how to avoid this mistake like a pro.
Wearing knee pads is extremely important, especially when you’re skating on the ramps. In case you end up falling without a knee pad on, then chances are that you will get badly injured.
If you see professional skaters falling, you will always find that they prefer falling on their knees and not their hands. So, you can understand how essential knee pads are.
One of the best ways to learn this method is to go to the top of the ramp and get down close to the knees before sliding down. In case you are practicing on a vert ramp, you can even try to get a good running start to reach as high as possible. As it is said, practice is what makes a wo(man) perfect!
As I have mentioned before, when falling, your instinct is likely to kick in to make you fall on the hands, and elbows are no exception to this. So, I would suggest that you stay extra cautious and use the shoulder or back to minimize the impact.
The best place to practice this is your yard, where the grass is soft. Here you can stand on your skateboard and try rolling on the shoulders. It won’t come easy, and you might need quite a lot of practice before you can become a pro. It is best if you can practice the roll when falling to monitor your instincts.
Remember that before you can learn to control your instincts, it is essential to understand them well. I cannot promise that it won’t hurt you, but I can assure you that it won’t hurt too bad. A pro tip: always try to keep your limbs loose and not tightened up. If they are too stiff, the chances of getting hurt will increase. And some basic exercises can be of great help in this regard.
That’s all for today.
I hope you had a great time learning about how to fall on a skateboard and that from now on, you will implement these tricks. It is true that, like any other sport, falling cannot be avoided when you are skateboarding. But you should always try to minimize the impact and the damage.
In case you get badly hurt, the chances are that you won’t be able to skateboard again. Now, that’s something that you certainly don’t desire. If you have liked this guide, keep a watch on this space for more exciting reads.
Until next time, adios!
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