The Basics of Skateboarding
Skateboarding, among other street sports is relatively easy to start as a hobby. It can earn you new friends and can also double as your daily fat burning exercise. You just have to observe several reminders before you take up skateboarding.
Safety should be first priority. This is why the major equipment and gear used for skateboarding are all designed for your protection. As a beginner, or even when you are about to start your first skateboard trick, you should always have your protective gear intact. The main piece of course is the helmet. Then you will also need a couple of elbow pads and knee pads to round things off.
If initially you do not have the said gear, you can always borrow from a friend or neighbor. But it is always advisable to use only the size equipment that fits you best. A way too big helmet only presents a higher chance for an accident to happen. Loose elbow pads and knee pads will not be able to do their job as efficiently either. Remember that it is always better to invest a few more bucks to be safe now than sorry later.
After the protective gear has been secured comes the centerpiece of it all, the skateboard. Skateboards have various designs and sizes that will fit every person who would like to take a crack at skateboarding. Actually it does not really matter if you borrow a board at first since you will need to determine first which style or make you would like to be using as you go along your skateboarding career!
Remember that before you even think of hitting the streets with your skateboard, practice and familiarize yourself first with your chosen wheeled wonder. Try standing and jumping. Move your feet on the skateboard and experiment with various foot movements. This will give you a feel for the skateboard allowing you to adjust before the real action begins.
The skateboard stance is one important thing you will have to determine at the onset. Try to feel if you are more comfortable with the right or left foot forward. The rule of thumb when choosing which foot goes where is to put your kicker at the back. This only means that whichever foot you use for kicking a ball, this most definitely should be the foot placed at the rear end of the skateboard. If you do kick with your right foot, place it behind the left when riding the skateboard. It is really as simple as that!
Movement comes after your set skateboard stance. It is generally attained by pushing with your back foot to get a forward movement for the skateboard. Just remember to always relax yourself when you start to push out keeping your knees bent if you feel that it would help. At first, it may feel quite weird, but you will soon get a hang of it so do not worry!
Last but not least, you should learn how to stop your skateboard. The most basic of the techniques is to use the backstop where you only need to put your back foot on the ground to slow you down to a halt.
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