subject: Skateboarding Tips - Stances And Your Skateboard [print this page] Skateboarding doesn't look hard..Skateboarding doesn't look hard... put one foot down and move yourself along until you're going. And then you'll be skateboarding! Awesome! However, watching it and actually doing it are two entirely different things. It's a sport that requires a lot of practice. Even if you can manage to stay completely on the skateboard, what about all the cool tricks that can be done? How about those extreme tricks you've seen others do? Now before you get bummed because you're not quite there yet - just know that even the very best started where you are right now. Here are some things you can do to help speed up your learning process.
There's more than meets the casual eye. It's not just pushing yourself along. It's a fluid, smooth motion with strength in it. Remember that you don't want to pushoff too rapidly with a lot of short strokes.
Each single stroke should be strong and deep, and it should be one that you can recover from if your balance is lost. You'll be able to gain speed fairly quickly. How you choose to stand on the board will do a lot in determining how you push-off. If you're a beginner, mainly stay on level surface and use a board that's strong and well-built. It's best if you can firmly plant your feet without fumbling around if you're on an uneven surface. As you improve, of course this will be less of a concern.
Turning is all about holding your balance while shifting the weight of your body.
However, it doesn't mean you should lean completely with all your weight to the back/front. What you want to do is shift from flat-footed to either your heels or the ball of your feet. You don't want to be swaying, stay upright on the board. You just might take a fall if you lean/sway too much. It'll help to use a flat surface that is even and not crowded. Avoid sharp turns at first. Practice making wide, gentle turns so you can get good at shifting your weight. Once you're good with that, then it's cool to try lifting the board front just a little so you can do sharper turns.
Learn tricks one at a time and start slow. But make sure you have the basics down, first. Until you get the basics, don't be jumping big or going down the stairs. Begin with smaller lifts and then change directions. You can jump the board, then change direction. Get these basics tricks down before you try things that are more dangerous. Just like learning to skateboard, doing tricks takes starting small and gradually moving up.
Learning how to skateboard does not have to be difficult but it will probably take some time. Just try to have patience and be cool about it, you will learn. Learn the basics first, then start working on the tricks. People trying to go beyond their capabilites are the ones who get injured. Never know, you could be another Tony Hawk.
