Are you tired of aimlessly skateboarding while your friends learn new impressive tricks on the board every day? Well, today must be your lucky day, because your wish has come true.
We want to give you some tips on how to get better at skateboarding. Not just better, but rather to sharpen it, turning it into what it really is: an exciting sport.
Stick to the following list, and soon you will be able to show a great boardslide or even a more complex trick.
How to learn to use a skateboard quickly and well
No sport can be mastered overnight, you need to start from the basics, and then go up. To begin with, you need to take time, train regularly and concentrate. Together with this, we offer you the key to a smooth transition from beginner to professional.
Master the basic principles
It is impossible to complete any task to the full extent without learning the basics – the same is the case in skateboarding. Starting from scratch doesn’t sound interesting at all, but the practice of skating helps to get acquainted with the board, its sensations and behavior when pushing, tilting, and carve.
However, if you are a beginner, the first thing you need to do is choose a high-quality skateboard.
Remember: skipping the basics is like a terrible sin in the world of sports.
Learn to keep your balance
For a beginner, this is one of the most difficult and at the same time the most important moments in the conquest of skateboarding. Learning to balance, of course, requires practice as well as patience. However, this is quite possible if you have enough desire.
Here are some steps to improve balance:
Stance: Put your left foot forward or turn your body to the right to take the standard “regular” position. Put your right foot forward or position your body on the left for a “goofy” stance.
Position of the legs: Stand on the skateboard so that the legs are properly positioned right behind the bolts. This is one of the best positions for beginners to practice perfect balance.
Improve balance by using your weight: Make sure your weight is in the center of the skateboard and try to shift the weight from your heels to your toes. This way you will be able to maintain stability while driving
Learn to ride a Fake
For those who are not familiar with the term “Fakes” – this is a movement in which the board goes backwards. It will seem like a waste of time, but it’s important.
Why? Because many tricks require landing in a Fake or taking a Fake position at the very beginning. In addition, master other movements, such as Fake Big Spence, Fake Ollie or Fake Shuvit.
On the day of your workout, take your board and go to the nearest skate park. Try to train daily, the only way you can progress faster. Those who are more experienced than you can share their techniques and wisdom about difficult tricks for you.
Drop competitive behavior, ask questions and learn from them, adopting experience and skill.
Those who are ahead of you will not only help you, but you will also be able to hone the skills you have already acquired by helping those who are a few steps behind you.
Visualize yourself while performing the trick
A good way to perform any trick is to scroll it in advance in your imagination. This way you will know exactly what you need to do.
This way it will be more convenient to position yourself, since you will be presenting a step-by-step performance of somersaults and tricks.
Visualization helps to stop dwelling on the actions during the performance of the trick and not give yourself a reason to doubt your every move. Simply put, it helps you feel more confident.
Your behavior during training
In addition to physical movements, you will also need a strong mentality to practice skateboarding.
Stay positive: patience and perseverance are very necessary for skateboarding, as learning it is not an easy task. If you get upset because of every fall or failure, you will lack the positivity necessary for the learning process, and therefore patience.
During training: discard any negative thoughts, such as “why am I spending more time studying than my peers?” or “what if I fall?”. Start every day with fresh thoughts and an optimistic approach.
Stay confident: confidence is a key and mandatory element when performing any tricks. When practicing a trick, never surround yourself with the possibility of failure, be confident in all your actions.
Confident movement either helps or hinders the performance of the trick. When you speak boldly, your style is appreciated because it does not look sluggish. On the other hand, if you are not strong psychologically, even a properly executed trick will not seem complete.
Be energized: while skateboarding, do not forget about physical fitness, train at home, do laps or visit the gym. Thus, you will always be ready for any new positions or tricks, your body will get used to flexibility, and there will be no obstacles such as muscle cramps or lethargy.
In conclusion:
When we watch on TV how professionals perform perfect 180 turns, and we ride our boards on mini-ramps, we always envy them. Yes, the tricks may seem difficult, but they are not impossible. If a guy who started in the minor leagues can do them, then why can’t we?
Take our advice on how to get better at skateboarding as motivation for the next few months and you will see progress for yourself.