How to get into skateboarding

Yoshimo · 11-Jun-2004, 11:10

well, I've always fancied it and at the ripe old age of 20 I thought I'd get into it. When I mentioned this to a friend he said that you really have to start when you're young, and if you leave it til now it'll be too late and you'll not be able to do it.

Is it feasible to just buy one and get going at this venerable age?

If so, what am I likely to need to buy, and what type of board will I need, how much should I expect to pay, etc.

Any help would be mucho appreciated!

Jay77 · 11-Jun-2004, 11:16

A Trip to your local Skate shop is a must
Ask them what Boards they recommend and your never to old to start.

Dogma · 11-Jun-2004, 11:26

I used to board when i was a bit younger, then got talked out of it when i took football further by Coaches, because me arriving to training every time with a new injury wasent too good.

Yeah, like Jay said, go down to your local Skate shop, and they'll sell you a beginners board, and tempt you into buying saftey equipment which is a must!!

Then just start moving around on the board and get used to its physics.
Then try to Ollie (which is essentially jumping on a skateboard) as this is the basis of most tricks with the board.

http://www.bobstricktips.com/

I used to find ^^ useful when trying new tricks.

gimpchimp · 11-Jun-2004, 11:30

Try to learn how to tic-tac-toe first, that is moving from side to side with the board to pick up speed. You'd be best of being confident actually on the board before attempting tricks.

You can also practice ollying on grass so that it doesn't hurt as much when you fall off.

AnarKy · 11-Jun-2004, 16:51

www.routeone.co.uk

leady · 11-Jun-2004, 18:48

or you could just submit to that sensible part of your brain screaming"your too old" and scratch the whole idea.

mope · 11-Jun-2004, 23:58

Its not as 'cool' but its worth consider biking aswell, I could never skate because my balance is aweful. Fewer people 'bike', so if you can do it well, people tend to be impressed by it aswell. I can understand if you would not want to go riding around on a BMX when your older though

Yoshimo · 14-Jun-2004, 18:10

Update - bought a 30 quid skateboard but didn't bother buying safety gear (ooer!)

Got home, and found the following.

CAN:

Stand on it and not fall off.
Stand with one edge of the deck in the air and one edge on the ground.
Stand on the board, pushing with my left foot with the right foot on the board, and manage to go in a fairly straight line for a bit.

CAN SORT OF:

Stationary Manual (I think, basically every now and then I can balance on the back wheels, again while stationary))

CANNOT:

Go down a hill while standing on the board (either I start wobbling backwards and forth frantically before bailing, or I end up veering left or right into a wall/fence/thorn bush)
Olly.

I think there may be something wrong with my balancing. When my friends tried it (who have never been on a skateboard) they both managed to go down a hill in a straight line.

HELP!

Pet Gerbil · 14-Jun-2004, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by mope

Its not as 'cool' but its worth consider biking aswell, I could never skate because my balance is aweful. Fewer people 'bike', so if you can do it well, people tend to be impressed by it aswell. I can understand if you would not want to go riding around on a BMX when your older though

I ride a BMX, and I am far too old for it...reaally, really too old for it.

ph33r my flatland skillz!!! (and my elephant trick.)

Pet Gerbil · 14-Jun-2004, 21:19

hehe,just reminded meself. I rode past some people and heard em' mumble,"look,theres an old man on a BMX."

NWA · 14-Jun-2004, 22:20

I don't skate but I imagine it's the same principle as boarding - remember to bend your knees and lean forward, makes your balance a lot better.

lastexit [uk] · 14-Jun-2004, 22:42

If you live anywhere near the coast then i would recomend surfing. you will end up alot fitter and it wont be as painfull when you fall off

Uncle_Z · 15-Jun-2004, 12:36

Balance thing could be down to your stance. Try putting your other foot forward and see if that feels more natural. Relaxing is a big thing too. Carry your weight in muscles rather than in joints. "Walk before you run" is of course a bright idea - learn how to go straight, wide turns, tight turns etc. on flat ground. Stick a few obstacles to slalom around.

If you are not an unusually light and bouncy 20 year old invest in a pair of wrist guards. Whatever other knocks you can take your wrists do not forgive much.

Dull aside #1 I never mastered the Olly on account of having impossibly tight achilles tendons. Trying to crouch tilts my toes forward. :sigh: I coulda been a contenda, but now I'm a bum.

Dull aside #2 I recently bought a Mountain Board. Hopefully less laughable for oldies (30 in Sept OMG!!). Strategic error of living somewhere quite flat has started to sink in...

Nor · 15-Jun-2004, 12:41

yosh you maddie !

Yoshimo · 15-Jun-2004, 23:59

hehe Nor

MALLET · 16-Jun-2004, 00:06

BEWARE OF THE SPLITS

spl@t · 16-Jun-2004, 22:45

I have tried it a couple of times and I can safely say (now that I have fallen off a few times) it's pretty fucking difficult. Will not be trying it again any time soon, simplest thing of rolling and trying to turn a corner resulted in a trip to A+E \o/

Think I'll stick with my bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastexit [uk

]If you live anywhere near the coast then i would recomend surfing. you will end up alot fitter and it wont be as painfull when you fall off

Have you tried kite surfing? Looks really good and want to give it a go.

11-Jun-2004, 11:30	#4
gimpchimp free bandwidth? Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 6,825	Try to learn how to tic-tac-toe first, that is moving from side to side with the board to pick up speed. You'd be best of being confident actually on the board before attempting tricks. You can also practice ollying on grass so that it doesn't hurt as much when you fall off. __________________ gimpchimp breachlan \| myth weavers

11-Jun-2004, 16:51	#5
AnarKy poster of the month Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: dunno tbh Posts: 1,505	www.routeone.co.uk __________________ Getting bored of the same old sig.

11-Jun-2004, 23:58	#7
mope built in bulletin board Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 3,334	Its not as 'cool' but its worth consider biking aswell, I could never skate because my balance is aweful. Fewer people 'bike', so if you can do it well, people tend to be impressed by it aswell. I can understand if you would not want to go riding around on a BMX when your older though __________________ http://mypsn.eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/mopeh.png

14-Jun-2004, 21:19	#10
Pet Gerbil troll Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 309	hehe,just reminded meself. I rode past some people and heard em' mumble,"look,theres an old man on a BMX." __________________ 性交しなさい

15-Jun-2004, 12:36	#13
Uncle_Z pro poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 737	Balance thing could be down to your stance. Try putting your other foot forward and see if that feels more natural. Relaxing is a big thing too. Carry your weight in muscles rather than in joints. "Walk before you run" is of course a bright idea - learn how to go straight, wide turns, tight turns etc. on flat ground. Stick a few obstacles to slalom around. If you are not an unusually light and bouncy 20 year old invest in a pair of wrist guards. Whatever other knocks you can take your wrists do not forgive much. Dull aside #1 I never mastered the Olly on account of having impossibly tight achilles tendons. Trying to crouch tilts my toes forward. :sigh: I coulda been a contenda, but now I'm a bum. Dull aside #2 I recently bought a Mountain Board. Hopefully less laughable for oldies (30 in Sept OMG!!). Strategic error of living somewhere quite flat has started to sink in... __________________ Who trades his culture for dollars? The fool or the scholar? Griot, Poet, or white collared?" ~ Dälek

11-Jun-2004, 11:10	#1
Yoshimo pro poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 683	How to get into skateboarding well, I've always fancied it and at the ripe old age of 20 I thought I'd get into it. When I mentioned this to a friend he said that you really have to start when you're young, and if you leave it til now it'll be too late and you'll not be able to do it. Is it feasible to just buy one and get going at this venerable age? If so, what am I likely to need to buy, and what type of board will I need, how much should I expect to pay, etc. Any help would be mucho appreciated!

11-Jun-2004, 11:16	#2
Jay77 will post for food Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,194	A Trip to your local Skate shop is a must Ask them what Boards they recommend and your never to old to start.

11-Jun-2004, 11:26	#3
Dogma On. Fire. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Your Face. Posts: 7,409	I used to board when i was a bit younger, then got talked out of it when i took football further by Coaches, because me arriving to training every time with a new injury wasent too good. Yeah, like Jay said, go down to your local Skate shop, and they'll sell you a beginners board, and tempt you into buying saftey equipment which is a must!! Then just start moving around on the board and get used to its physics. Then try to Ollie (which is essentially jumping on a skateboard) as this is the basis of most tricks with the board. http://www.bobstricktips.com/ I used to find ^^ useful when trying new tricks.

11-Jun-2004, 18:48	#6
leady thread or dead Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,102	or you could just submit to that sensible part of your brain screaming"your too old" and scratch the whole idea.

14-Jun-2004, 18:10	#8
Yoshimo pro poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 683	Update - bought a 30 quid skateboard but didn't bother buying safety gear (ooer!) Got home, and found the following. CAN: Stand on it and not fall off. Stand with one edge of the deck in the air and one edge on the ground. Stand on the board, pushing with my left foot with the right foot on the board, and manage to go in a fairly straight line for a bit. CAN SORT OF: Stationary Manual (I think, basically every now and then I can balance on the back wheels, again while stationary)) CANNOT: Go down a hill while standing on the board (either I start wobbling backwards and forth frantically before bailing, or I end up veering left or right into a wall/fence/thorn bush) Olly. I think there may be something wrong with my balancing. When my friends tried it (who have never been on a skateboard) they both managed to go down a hill in a straight line. HELP!

14-Jun-2004, 22:42	#12
lastexit [uk] pro poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cornwall Posts: 686	If you live anywhere near the coast then i would recomend surfing. you will end up alot fitter and it wont be as painfull when you fall off

15-Jun-2004, 12:41	#14
Nor post haste Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9,326	yosh you maddie ! __________________ www.forzamotorsport3.co.uk

15-Jun-2004, 23:59	#15
Yoshimo pro poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 683	hehe Nor

16-Jun-2004, 00:06	#16
MALLET to post or not to post Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: right behind u Posts: 3,521	BEWARE OF THE SPLITS