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Skateboarding – An Exhilarating Hobby!
What can make you feel more elated and joyful
than zooming around on your skateboard? You’ve
probably watched the world famous Tony Hawk,
Rodney Mullen, Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez and
the like – and wanted to take up skateboarding
as a hobby and perhaps even become good enough
to enter competitions. Today, skateboarding is
one of the most popular sports and there’s no
specific age in which you must start learning.
The
Origin Of Skateboarding
If you are
wondering when the first ever skateboard was
made, it was in the 1950s by Hobie Alter, when
what was called ‘sidewalk surfing’ was popular
in California. When there wasn’t any surfing to
do, skateboarding was born. People used flat
planks of wood, fixed them to roller skate
trucks, and moved in a style similar to the
skateboarding, as we know it now. It gradually
grew to become the extreme sport it is today.
The most wonderful thing about skateboarding is
that it is constantly evolving – and it is
hardly surprising that more and more people are
getting interested in this invigorating sport.
Now, How Can
YOU Get Started?
If
you are new to skateboarding, it might seem
tough at first – both in terms of where to look
for help, how you can learn all those dexterous
tricks the pros perform so easily, what attire
and accessories to buy, etc. Here’s a look at
what you might need:
First, buy a
pair of skate shoes. Even though regular shoes
can be comfortable, skate shoes are better as
they are specially built to help you skate
safely. Skate shoes have a flat large base so
that you can get a good grip on the board and
are built stronger. Next, you will require a
helmet. You’ll find most of the skate parks
insist on them for your safety. You can also go
in for protective pads for your elbows and
knees, and wrist braces. You can either buy or
borrow a skateboard and you are ready to get
started.
You will need to
find a reputed coach who can teach you the right
techniques in safe surroundings. Skate camps are
a good idea, as they will not only teach you to
skateboard but also the most popular tricks and
tips through focused training. Most of these
camps are well equipped with huge street
courses. There are also mini-ramps, bowls and
convenient places to practice on for the Newbies.
Since this is a skill that comes with a lot of
practice, you must remember that it could be a
while before you master the skateboarding
tricks.
It is very important to get used to riding your
skateboard first so that you can push, stand,
come to a halt and turn with ease. You must
learn to put the right foot forward when you
ride your skateboard and also learn to push in
the right manner. It is only after you ride
comfortably that you can move on to learning the
tricks. Some popular tricks you will see are the
Ollie, kick flips, backside 180s, front side
180s and heel flips. One thing is guaranteed –
you will have a lot of fun in the process. Each
person has his or her personal pace of learning,
so don’t get too bothered about the amount of
time it takes you to learn a particular trick –
all that matters is for you to enjoy the
process, because, with that comes your style.
Get your stance on your skateboard right and the
rest of it has to do with practice.
Choosing Your
Skateboard
Depending on the
kind of skateboarding you intend doing, you can
buy the appropriate deck and accessories. You
can choose to go street skateboarding,
transitions skateboarding or all around
skateboarding which is a mix of the earlier two
- – but the main thing is to be comfortable with
the board you buy.
You can buy your
skateboard from your local store. The 7.75-inch
deck is an average size that suits a majority of
aspiring skateboarders for starters. In
addition to this, you will require accessories
like bearings, wheels, trucks and grip tape. You
can go in for medium suspension as far as the
trucks go since you need to decide whether
you’ll be a street skater or a park skater. Get
everything assembled by the store guy and you
are ready to go on your very first skateboard.
You can get used to the board by rolling around
on a safe surface. Most people practice off the
sidewalk by planting their feet on the board and
then pushing off.
It’s the best
way to learn to balance on your skateboard. If
you are dedicated enough, you will soon find the
most comfortable stance for you on the board.
Don’t get disheartened by a few falls – just
pick yourself up and keep at it. When you find
it easy to roll around – you are ready to learn
the tricks.
Skateboarding Tricks You Start Off With
Some tricks you
learn in the beginning are the Ollie, the Nollie,
the Kick flip, the heel flip and so on. An Ollie
involves popping the board and moving your front
foot toward the front of the board. When you
move your foot to the back of the board, it’s a
nollie. The kick flip involves spinning the
board vertically towards you. When you spin it
away from you, it’s a heel flip.
We’ve covered
the basics on how to get you started with
skateboarding. You can get more tips and
information on developing your skills at the
links above where there’s a wealth of in-depth
knowledge in the form of instructional videos,
links to useful websites, book recommendations,
etc. So get that skateboard – and make your
moves!
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