subject: For Skateboarding Newbies Only [print this page] For Skateboarding Newbies Only For Skateboarding Newbies Only
Beginning Skateboarders - Useful Tips You Can Use Today
You watch others skateboarding, and it looks terribly easy going from one point to the other. It just appears that you push-off and then balance yourself. Surfing looks pretty easy, as well. All you do is paddle-out, then stand-up when a wave rolls by. Skateboarding only looks easy from the stands where you watch. It takes practice and skill--especially if you want to be able to do the tricks you see expert skateboarders doing. Just starting out? Here are some good points to take with you because they'll decrease the pain. Blogging Syndicate Bonus shortens the cost to obtain targeted traffic to your website
For one thing, being in decent to good physical shape will help. Skateboarding is more physically exerting than you may realize. It's not all about strong legs, either. You need to understand this sport puts a demand on all your muscles because you'll need them to maintain stability and keep your balance, and even more when you're doing more complex maneuvers other than going from A to B. You'll discover that as you get in better condition, your control over the skateboard will improve. A consistent work out will get you there faster.
With turning, all you're doing is shifting body weight while remaining balanced.
But you won't lean completely toward the back or front directions. Try to shift to the ball of your foot, or your heel, from the flat-footed position. Avoid swaying in any direction, and maintain your body in the upright position. You could fall-off by leaning/swaying excessively. It's best to be on a flat/even/uncrowded surface. You can get the feel for shifting weight with wide turns that are gentle, then you can try more sharper turning. Then, when you're comfortable, practice lifting the front a little for the sharper turns.
You'll want to figure out how you'll want to stand on your board. Might be hard to believe, but skaters have a wide variety of stances they use depending on the situation. The best way to figure out your stance is to simply get on your skateboard and stand still. Look for your most comfortable standing position, one that you can maintain with comfort. Ok, so then you just need to know how you'll be pushing-off to gain and keep your speed. So then you try to push-off without needing to go fast/far. You can use different methods of push-off, but just practice finding a way that works for you.
If you don't practice, though, even the basics can seem tough. No one will ever be a pro the first time out skateboarding. Take your time to really learn how to control the skateboard. If you fail to do that - the board controls you, and you could get hurt.
Additional Resources:
Beginner Skateboarders Alert - Do You Know These Hot Tips?