How to Buy a Skateboard for the First Time

When deciding which skateboard to buy, there are 4 basic things to consider: cost, trucks, bearings and wheels, and decks.

1. Cost. A skateboard can be very expensive so the basic principle to remember is to settle for something functional -basic. Do not aim for the best board that will set you back a hefty 3-digit figure that does not even include bearings, trucks, and a set of wheels. Set your budget at around $50 to$80 for a brand new beginner skateboard.

Any higher and you'll be paying for something you don't need; any lower and you'll be paying for junk. The point is, you should buy an average beginner skateboard so when you realize that the sport is not for you or you happen to destroy your skateboard in the process, you have not spent your fortune for nothing.

2. Trucks. There are different types of trucks suited for specific tricks and functions. Some are made heavy while some just look tough. While price is your main concern, always go for quality. Go to a proper skateboard dealer and seek advice or bring a friend who really knows what trucks are right for your skill level.

3. Bearings and wheels. Bearings keep the wheels spinning when you stop pushing. Now, there are different ratings (measured in ABEC value) that determine the speed of the bearings. The slowest are the 'AA' bearings. While this will help you maintain a very slow speed downhill, it won't give you that needed speed on flat surfaces.

'AA' is then followed by ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC 9. Beginners can go for ABEC 3 or ABEC 5 at the most. These bearings may not give you the best movement but going for the fastest bearings is not a good idea either.

4. Deck. If you want to go for the best deck, choose the one without any graphics. Why? Brandings and designs are what make skateboard decks expensive. Aside from that, deck designs can easily scratch off with a decent amount of skating. Instead of focusing on the cool graphics, get a 7-ply deck and pay attention to the shape of the deck. Get one with a good amount of curve to the kicktails.

Therefore, your ideal beginner skateboard should consist of a 7-ply deck, durable tracks, and ABEC 3 or 5 bearings at a reasonable price.

Executing This Head Turning Skateboard Trick

It is a fact that skateboard enthusiasts want to be like the pros. They want to execute different kinds of tricks and they want to do what their favorite skateboarders do in competitions.

If you want to be like Bam Margera or Tony Hawk, then you have a lot of practicing to do. Sure skateboarding can make heads turn, but if you really want to amaze people, you should learn how to properly execute the different tricks in order to avoid getting a mouth full of dirt and be the laughing stock of the neighborhood.

If you are just starting out skateboarding, you will want to start with the basics first. You have to remember that the ramps or the vert is one of the most difficult and also the most anticipated skateboarding activity.

This action will provide you with big air as well as enable you to perform different kinds of tricks.

If you are just starting out skating on ramps, you might want to start on a mini ramp and not on the real vert ramp. This will help you master the tricks you want to perform on the ramps and it is also the place to skate that will minimize injuries on huge falls.

To start out, you will first want to do the Rock to Fakie trick. This skateboard trick is what most skateboarders learn first on the ramp. It is easy and it is a very good way to start impressing people. This is also a great trick which will be a stepping stone to perform more elaborate tricks further on.

This particular trick is where the skateboarder will go to one side of the ramp and parks for a second on the edge of the ramp which is called the coping. Then, the skateboarder will rock back down the ramp.

The first thing you need to remember is that you should wear the proper safety equipment before you even start attempting this trick or any skateboarding trick.

Now that you are ready and you are now rocking back and forth the ramp, the next thing you need to do is position your feet the same way as you would when you will perform the Ollie. This means that your back foot should be on the tail of the board. The front foot should be a little closer to the nose of the board to perform the rock to fakie trick.

When you are rolling up the ramp, you need to stomp down a bit on the nose of the board just before you hit the coping. This will park your board on the edge of the ramp or the coping. Now, allow gravity to catch up with you and you should pop the trucks of the board back over the coping. This will allow you to ride back down on the ramp.

As you can see, this is a very simple yet very effective trick that you can do on the ramp. Just remember to wear the proper equipment to avoid serious injuries.

Choosing the Best Skateboarding Shoes for a Better Skateboarding Experience

In extreme sports, skateboarding is perhaps the most popular in the United States. If you love skateboarding, and you want to skate like the pros, then you need to understand that the board itself and your skills are not the only things that are important in this sport.

A lot of people think that skateboarding is done by just using regular sports shoes. However, you need to remember the fact that skateboarding will also require you to have a good pair of shoes that are specifically designed for skateboarding. They will be much more comfortable, and they will also be able to minimize injuries.

Although it is true that you can still skate using just about any shoes or even flip flops, you have to remember that when you are skateboarding, you will increase the risk of injuring your ankle.

Skateboarding shoes are designed to provide adequate protection to your ankles. These will be able to protect your ankle and prevent any serious foot injuries whenever you experience falls which is very common.

When choosing a pair of skateboarding shoes, here are some of the things that you need to remember in order to choose the right ones for a better and safer skateboarding experience.

The first important factor is that the skateboarding shoes you choose should be able to withstand a lot of force and should also be flexible enough so that you can execute tricks.

The grip is also an important factor. The skateboard shoes you purchase should be able to grip the skateboard to avoid slipping off from the board and falling.

Just like choosing any types of shoes, you have to remember that the skateboarding shoes you choose should be comfortable on your feet. The shoes you choose should feel good when you walk and when you skate, and they should be able to give you stability.

Shoes that are not comfortable will only result in giving you blisters and sores which will force you to give up skateboarding for a certain amount of time because of the pain.

The shoe laces are also important. You have to remember that skateboarding will require you to move your feet a lot and it will also let the shoes take a lot of force. Make sure that you get shoe laces that don't easily rip apart. Get a pair of special skateboarding laces, which are more durable than ordinary laces that will be able to withstand the roughness of the sandpaper like surface on your skateboard.

These are just some of the things that you need to remember about skateboarding. Always remember that the right shoes for skateboarding will make all the difference.

A Culture on Its Own

Although skateboarding may seem like just another sport that many teenagers get into, through the years, this sport has developed its own culture and skateboarders can be easily identified not just because they have skateboards, but because they have a lifestyle that can be easily seen through the clothes they wear and the things they do. Not only that, skateboarding is also an international sport in which numerous countries have their own representatives in international levels of competition.

Usually, the passion for skateboarding starts out at an early stage of a persons life, pre-teens have long known how to ride one and by the time they are in their teens, many have already mastered the skill and are able to do tricks and jumps. Some though have failed to pick up on the sport early on and may be intrigued with the skateboarding culture and would like to join as well. If you are interested in being a part of this society, here are some tips to help you.

First, you will of course need a skateboard. Although most skateboards are basically the same, you need to find a skateboard that will represent your personality. A good and sturdy skateboard will be able to withstand most of the high impact it will receive when being ridden. You will have a board that you can be very proud of.

Make sure also to get effective safety gear. Knee and elbow pads are a must and most especially the helmet. Being a beginner, you will experience a lot of falls. And also, you don't really have to wear what most skateboarders wear. Just be sure to wear comfortable clothes that you can freely move in. Skateboarding is not just about wearing the right clothes or having the right shoes, although good gripping skateboard shoes can help with your balance.

If you don't know anybody who can teach you how to skateboard, try to observe first the other skateboarders in your area. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Advanced skateboarders know a lot of tricks and can share some of their tips. Learning the basics of skateboarding can be a time consuming process. Some take to it like fish in the water while there are some that just can't seem to find their balance. Just be patient and soon enough, you may be doing ollies on your own.

How to Do the Kickflip

As a skateboarding enthusiast, you know that doing tricks is the best way to impress your fellow skateboarders. Learning how to do skateboard tricks is easy once you get your balance and are comfortable riding the board.

One trick is called the Kickflip. This trick is a variation of the Ollie and it is also considered to be one of the most difficult and popular beginner skateboarding tricks known.

With the Kickflip, you will start with an Ollie. Then you flick the board with your foot to make the board spin underneath while you are in the air. After the you get the board to spin once under your feet, get back on board, land and continue riding.

To do the Kickflip, you need to start with the most basic trick in skateboarding, which is the Ollie. If you don't know how to do the Ollie, then you will need to learn it first as the Kickflip is a variation of the Ollie.

It is also important that you know how to ride your skateboard comfortably in order to get used to your board and know how to balance it well.

Before you attempt the Kickflip trick, be sure that you are wearing all the necessary safety equipment, such as knee padding, elbow padding and a helmet.

The stance is basically the same when you do the Ollie. You need to get your back foot on the tail of the board and your front foot on the middle of the board or just behind the front trucks. You may want to try this trick when you are stationary by placing it on grass or carpet, which will prevent the board from sliding off as you are practicing. Or, you can also attempt to learn this trick while you are rolling at a comfortable speed.

Now, when you are ready, try to Ollie as high as you can. While in the air, flick the board with your front foot. This will be like flicking something with you hand like you would with a fly buzzing around your food but do it with your front foot and with the skateboard. Try kicking your front foot towards the heel side of the skateboard and use your toes to flick the board. It is important that the motion of your foot should be out and a little down. Do not kick the skateboard down, just flick it.

After flicking the board, get your feet out of the way in order for the board to make a complete spin. This happens so quickly so try to practice getting your feet out of the way.

While the board is flipping under you, try to keep your body level to the ground. This will help you maintain balance and also help you achieve a good landing.

After the board has done a complete spin, bout your back foot on it to catch it and prepare for landing by getting your knees bent. After catching the board with your back foot, you will want to put your front foot on the board too.

Remember that this trick takes time to master. So, try practicing over and over again. It may take time for you to get the board to do a complete spin, but after a few tries, you will be able to get it right.

Skateboarding Help for Beginners

You have probably seen the sport on TV or have played it in a video game but you have never really tried it yourself. Now, you want to try it. What should you do? After solving the problem of getting your own skateboard, you need to learn how to ride.

Riding the skateboard for the first time can be hard but with proper techniques, you will learn better.

First, know the gears. Never, attempt to ride a skateboard without padding up and wearing a helmet. They are very important. You may feel that you look like an idiot but who cares? Remember, if you don't know what you are doing, it is better to suit up for the occasion than to be sorry after a major cut or a broken bone. Riding the skateboard for the first time may involve falling and hurting yourself. Do not ignore the importance of these gears.

Now that you are fully prepared, it is time to step on your skateboard. Do not do anything stupid. Start standing on your board on the grass or on the carpet. Decide which stance you will use. You have 2 choices: the regular and the goofy. Once you are comfortable standing on your skate, push forward.

Take your skateboard to a skate park or in your garage or anywhere you can skate safely. Place your front foot right behind the front truck and your back foot, on the ground. With your back foot, push forward. If you are doing it correctly, you should be rolling by now. Push 2 or 3 times and put your back foot above the rear tracks. Get the feel of moving. Relax your body. Balance. If you slow down push off some more.

Now, learn how to stop. There are 4 ways to stop your skateboard: bailing out, power sliding, heel dragging, and foot breaking. Since it is your first time, use your foot to stop. This is the simplest among all the techniques. Do this by pressing your back foot against the ground to slow down.

Then you need to learn how to turn. Just bend the board slightly to your left and you go left; bend the board slightly to the right and you turn right - that easy.

If you find these to be overwhelming, then take it nice and slow. Do not force yourself to learn too quickly because it is not an overnight process. Practice and master the basics first and you are on your way to your first skateboarding trick.

Proper Technique for Executing the Ollie

Now that you know how to properly balance yourself on your skateboard and you know how to skate, it may now be the right time for you to start learning a few tricks on your skateboard which will catch the attention of your fellow skaters.

Everyone who loves to skateboard obviously wants to be like the pros and execute tricks with comfort, and style. However, you need to remember that most pro skaters practice different tricks for years before they catch big air and execute them in a fluid like motion.

Always remember that when performing skateboard tricks, you need to practice, practice and practice some more. Although you may experience falls, you will see that in time, you will be able to execute them perfectly and awe your fellow skateboard buddies.
One of the most common tricks in skateboarding is the Ollie. This is the most used trick out there and most of the tricks are based on the Ollie. If you research the web, you will see that a lot of websites will tell you how to do the Ollie but only a few will tell you how to do it easily.

So, here is the step by step proper execution of the Ollie which will help you get it done faster.

Firstly, you should obviously be on the board to perform the trick. Your back foot should be on the tail of the board and your front foot should be in the middle. Your knees should also be slightly bent to execute the Ollie properly.

It is important that you don't ride very fast when you are learning to do this trick. Surely you wouldn't want to hit your face on the pavement on your first attempt, would you?

When you perform this trick, always remember that the lower you bend the more air you will get. In fact, most pro skateboarders will perform this trick with knees bended so far that the hands almost touch the pavement.

Whenever you are ready, you need to jump high into the air by slamming your back foot onto the tail of the board. To get big air, you should slam the tail as hard as you can. You will see that when you go in the air, the board will follow.

As you are in the air, make sure that you stay in the center of the board. This will keep you balance. Also, you need to keep your knees bent in order to absorb the impact when landing and it will also provide you with a smooth landing.

These are the things that you need to remember about the Ollie. By just following these simple tips, you can be sure that you will be able to perform the Ollie effortlessly and awe your friends.

More than Just a Fashion Statement

The resurgence of the popularity of skateboarding can be attributed to a lot of factors. It is a simple sport that can be very exciting especially if you learn to do the complicated tricks. The movements are incredible and many people get a rush when doing these tricks, especially when they get to impress a lot of people. But as mentioned, the sport can be highly dangerous and many injuries have been attributed to skateboarding.

That is why it is essential that you have sturdy and durable equipment and good safety gear as well. But aside from your skateboard, your pads and your helmet, having proper skateboarding shoes will allow you to have a safe ride. Not all shoes are tailor fit for skateboarding.

When you skateboard, your ankle and feet need ample protection. A good skateboard shoe should be able to have a good grip on the board and be able to protect your ankle and foot and should have the right fit. Slips and slides can happen anytime and it does happen even to the best of them. The perfect skateboard shoe will be able to prevent injuries when these accidents do happen. Also, if your shoes have a good grip on the surface of the board, you will be able to do your tricks more effectively without letting the board slip from under you.

Good skateboarding shoes should be sturdy and strong enough to withstand the constant beating and pounding shoes absorb in skateboarding. But, it should also be flexible enough to allow a variety of foot movements especially when a rider is going fast and preparing to do tricks. The sole of the shoe should also be thick enough so that they will last a long time. Skateboarders push often for momentum and the rough surface of the skateboard can also eat through the sole in time.

You should also take into consideration comfort. Skateboarding requires hours of practice and the constant foot movements can take a toll. If you are not wearing comfortable shoes, you will end up with a blistered sore foot which can be very painful. An improper fitting shoe can take away your stability and balance which will result in accidents.

Buying a good pair of skateboarding shoes may mean more expense on your part as some of these good shoes can be quite expensive. But this extra cost will also spell the difference between effective riding and a trip to the hospital.

Learning How to Do This Impressive Skateboard Maneuver

Knowing how to go back and forth on a skateboard is one thing. However, you also have to remember that there is more to skateboarding than just riding it forward, stopping, and then riding back to where you came from.

If you know how to ride the skateboard comfortably, then it is time for you to learn about the different basic maneuvers that you can do with your skateboard.

One basic skateboarding skill is Kickturning. This particular skill can be easy to look at but it is rather complicated or confusing to do it. In this skill, you will need to have good balance on your skateboard.

Kickturning is basically where you will balance your back wheels for movement and swinging the front of the board to go in a new direction. This takes some practice to master and a lot of balance.

Before you start, make sure that all you are wearing all of your safety skateboarding equipments are to prevent injuries during falls when practicing.

The first thing you need to learn is how to balance your body and skateboard on two wheels, particularly the back wheel. Try to practice it on the carpet or on the grass outside to prevent it from rolling too much which can send your skateboard flying off and land your bottom on the pavement.

To balance the skateboard on two wheels, you need to get your back foot across the tail and your front foot just behind the front trucks. Try imagining your foot when you are going to attempt an Ollie. This is the same stance that you need to have to attempt Kickturns.

Keep your knees bent and relaxed. Your shoulders should be level to the skateboard deck.

Then shift your weight to your back foot. Just a bit of weight shift is good. Now, lift your front foot just a little. This will make the front of your skateboard pop up. To turn to the direction you want to go to, just rotate your back foot to the left or right along with your body.

Try practicing the duckwalk with kickturns. This will be like shifting the board from left to right with the kick turns. This will improve your balance and enable you to practice your kickturns.

You should also practice the tic tac. This is where you combine the left and right kickturns. Try doing a little kickturn to the left and another to the right. Do this continuously and you will be able to a great skateboard maneuver.

You may fall when attempting to do kickturns on the first few attempts but this is natural. Almost everyone falls when practicing this move. By knowing how to kickturn, you will be well on your way in becoming a good skateboarder.