1 post tagged “learn to skate”

These are some very basic tips. These pointers are intended for the beginning skater just starting to learn, so some of this might seem obvious to many of you. There is simply no way around this. If you are an expert, by definition, you already know how to skate. In your case, show this article to any starting skaters, young or old, that you may have bugging you for lessons.

            First, you’ll need a board. If you don’t know how to skateboard, it will be a good idea to learn the parts of the board as well. As you develop a relationship with your board, mounting and balancing on your deck will be second-nature, but many beginning skaters need help orienting their bodies with the board. Keeping track of your foot placement in relationship to the bolts is a useful trick.

 The deck of your board is attached to the wheel-bearing truck with four bolts. The top of these bolts can be seen on either side on the deck, two by the nose, and two by the tail. Many skaters use these bolts as reference points to orient their feet on the board.

To mount your skateboard, place it on the ground in front of you and put your back foot on the rear bolts by the rear kick.  Then place your front foot in the middle of the board for balance.

If you want to use the momentum of your mount to propel you forward, take a few quick steps towards the board, in the direction that the board is facing. As you approach, place your back foot in the middle of the board (facing forward) and kick off with your opposite foot, planting it near the front bolts. Keep your back leg loose and your knee slightly bent. Locking the knees is a common error among beginners.

The first thing you need to figure out when learning how to skateboard is whether you’re “regular” or “goofy”. This refers to the way you prefer to position your feet on the board. Regular stance is defined by using your right foot as the rear foot and using your left foot to pump the ground as you build speed. Some skaters prefer to stand the opposite way, with the right foot forward. These skaters are called goofy-footers.

No matter which stance you prefer, many jumps have you landing in a different position from the one you took off in, so the important thing is to maintain your balance, whether you’re standing goofy or regular.

When learning how to skateboard,  each skater needs to find their own center of balance with the board. You will see that everyone develops their own relationship with their moving platform. Just find the stance that feels most comfortable to you, and keeps you vertical.

To dismount, simply put your back foot on the tail, and transfer your weight back, the nose of your board will rise so you can step off and grab your board in one smooth motion. You’re done! That wasn’t so hard now, was it?