If you get tired of wheeling around on a skateboard when other people show impressive tricks, trust me, you are not the only one.
When you start skateboarding, you want to perform amazing tricks and have fun. But if you have skateboarded, you know that is easier said than done. There are many nuances that you need to be careful about. I started skateboarding quite late in my life and had to take extra care to make myself fit the role.
But I can assure you that it is never too late to become a pro at skateboarding. Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today, I will tell you about how to get better at skateboarding. I will also walk you through the basics of becoming a better and a more seasoned skateboarder.
Remember that persistence is the key and there is no way around it. You will only achieve success when you keep at it. But most importantly, take good care of yourself and have fun while you are at it.
So, without any more delay, let’s get right in!
1. Develop Your Core
For a sport like skateboarding, it is essential that you stay fit. Unless you have good flexibility and strength, this sport won’t really suit you.
The most important thing to start with is developing your core muscles. I have seen some of my skater friends gaining great core muscles by skateboarding every day. On the other hand, I engage in other core development activities such as weightlifting to strengthen my core muscles. To each their own!
If you are wondering why I am emphasizing this so much, let me break it down for you. When you train the core correctly, you get better control and balance on the movements. So, the chances of you falling off the board are significantly reduced.
Training your core muscles is not a very tough task, but you need to be persistent. In case you are not sure where to start, you can always take help from the internet. You can watch fitness videos to create a schedule for yourself.
From my experience, I can tell you that sit-ups and crunches are of great help in this regard. Moreover, you don’t need to buy any expensive equipment for this purpose. Just get a few dumbbells, and you will be good to go.
2. Practice Makes A Wo(man) Perfect
Yes, it might sound a little boring to go over the same thing over and over again. But honestly, there’s no better teacher than practice. If you end up skateboarding every day, you are bound to learn new tricks and avoid making mistakes.
When I started off, I spent a great deal of time learning the basics by practicing every evening after work. You can also ask a more experienced friend to train with you, who can help teach the basics. Skateboarding drills may seem boring and tiring sometimes, but they are an absolute must if you want to become a seasoned player.
If you don’t want to go to the skatepark everyday, you can just practice in the driveway. It is true that it is not the same as practicing on a ramp, but it is good enough to improve your skills. If your kids want to practice, you can even turn the garage into a mini skating rink.
Once you have practiced well, you can show-off all the new tricks when in the skatepark!
3. Learn From Your Mistakes
Not to sound cheeky, but knowing how to fall is a great way to learn. And this is especially true for skateboarders. When you are playing on your wheels, performing unique tricks, embrace the fact that falling is a part of the process. How else do you learn?
If you are constantly scared of falling, there’s a good chance that you will never move beyond old tricks. And from where I stand, skateboarding needs to be fun. However, it is definitely essential that you take proper care to be safe.
In order to avoid gruesome injuries, it is best that you keep a few things in mind. For this, I would suggest that you learn how to fall without hurting yourself badly. If you know how to land correctly even when falling, the chances of incurring an injury will become significantly less.
Most importantly, remember to always wear proper elbow and knee pads to prevent yourself from getting hurt if you slide by mistake. It is also a good idea to roll on your back when realizing you are going to fall. This would prevent you from landing on your face.
And the most important thing to remember is to never use your hands, especially your palms, when landing. If not done right, there’s always a risk of a wrist injury.
4. Know Your Basics
It is essential that you learn the basics well before you can think of mastering the art of skateboarding.
Don’t get tempted to perform exciting and challenging tricks right from the beginning, as it will invariably do more harm than good. Skipping the fundamentals is a sin in skateboarding, as you might even end up breaking bones or tearing ligaments.
- Hardcover Book
- Brown, Sky (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Freedman, Blake (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 35 Pages - 03/14/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
Final Words
Like learning any new skill, skateboarding requires a lot of practice.
I would advise that you learn how to enjoy the sport before you start thinking about becoming a pro. Becoming too hard on yourself might be detrimental to the learning process. Learning the skill slowly and steadily will help you improve and become a proper skateboarder.Â
From my experience, I have learned that you need to train your muscles well in order to develop muscle memory. This will improve your retention capacity and enhance your skills manifold. And in case you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me in the comments section below.Â
Until next time, adios!