Beginning Skateboarding

[Bananagator]

Hi everyone,
So I've recently decided that I would like to learn how to skateboard. I don't really care about doing tricks or anything, I just want to be able to ride around and enjoy the speed, maybe do some ollies and stuff

The problem is: I'm 20, in college, and I feel like learning now would be kind of weird. I'd like to skate to class and stuff but I can't do that without practice. And I'd be too embarrassed to practice in public because I don't know how to skate. It's kind of a circle lol. I don't personally know a single person that skates either so I'm all by my lonesome.

Any advice? How/where to practice so I won't embarrass myself too much?

 

[star in the sky]

youtube videos I guess

 

[star in the sky]

I have questions, Id get into skate boarding if I knew that I wouldnt fall off the board much(as in 10% of the time fall off, 90% on the skateboard). Like not only does it hurt and but it seems embarrasing in front of the public. The plastic big ones from the 80s seem safer I dont know I need some reassurance I wouldnt fall off or get hurt that much if I was to do it. I tend to only do sports or in some cases extreme sports if theres no much injury factor not much risk of being hurt I.e I like the idea of free diving for cray/ snorkeling theres not too much of the injury factor (but there is sharks lol hah)

 

[star in the sky]

Hi everyone,
So I've recently decided that I would like to learn how to skateboard. I don't really care about doing tricks or anything, I just want to be able to ride around and enjoy the speed, maybe do some ollies and stuff

The problem is: I'm 20, in college, and I feel like learning now would be kind of weird. I'd like to skate to class and stuff but I can't do that without practice. And I'd be too embarrassed to practice in public because I don't know how to skate. It's kind of a circle lol. I don't personally know a single person that skates either so I'm all by my lonesome.

Any advice? How/where to practice so I won't embarrass myself too much?

Dependant on where you live but I mean if you can find a park with a foot path or a skate park empty try there when no one s around and when someone does come to skate maybe you could leave - you know practice on your own. I mean depends where you live I.e a big bustling City with lots of people isnt best for independent practice.

 

[Bananagator]

Thanks for the reply, star in the sky!

I go to a huge school with a lot of roads and paths so finding a place to skate shouldn't be a huge problem. But there are a lot of people around so that in itself is a problem. I don't want to run into anyone lol

I did some location scouting today and campus is actually pretty empty on the weekends. So some of these paths in between buildings should be pretty nice for practicing.


In response to your comment about being afraid of falling, yeah I have that fear too lol. I know it's inevitable but it's something I'm willing to live with. I figure: hey, if it's something you really want to do, just go for it and keep working at it! And the same should go for you too, if you want to learn!
I think the key is not trying anything beyond your skill level. And right now my skill level is like nonexistent


I invested in a mini longboard (paradox ). It's small, light, and perfect for just cruising. I'm looking forward to getting some good use out of it!

 

[star in the sky]

hey! cool. I agree. Have you considered the rip stik or wave board ? I was going to buy a big plastic skateboard this week i think they call them pennys but i can only find the thin ones so im going with a rip stik! there a much safer design than skateboards like a skateboard but im glad ive found something safer than a skateboard so you know how were both gonna have to face the fear of getting hurt itll be much easier for me now with this ripstik im thinking of getting only $40NZD ($30 usd?). Up to you I definitely know for me Im gonna feel much more relaxed with a ripsyik when I do fall as opossed to skateboards. We should encourage each othdr I might do a video or two on youtube showingmy progress

 

[star in the sky]

opps didnt see your last paragraph neat youve gotca long board

 

[Bananagator]

You know, I tried riding a Ripstik back in middle school and they are hard to get used to
They are pretty cool though, and yeah they probably are a little safer hahahaha. It probably wouldn't take too long to get used to!

The one I got is actually very similar to a Penny skateboard. Same 22" plastic deck and basic design, the only difference is mine is from a different company: Tiger Boards. Penny boards are around $100 USD and I got mine for $50 (so I guess around 65 NZD) so saving some money was nice.

Correction: I didn't get a long board lol. It's a cruiser, but it's anything but long. I'm not sure why I said longboard when it's only 22 inches

So yeah, encouragement!
You can't really go wrong with either thing you're looking at!

 

[star in the sky]

Wow you know Nz is a country. Not every american knows that. Or they think Nz is apart of another country Australia.

 

[Bananagator]

Wow you know Nz is a country. Not every american knows that. Or they think Nz is apart of another country Australia.

I know a lot of people that do know that New Zealand's a country. Unfortunately there's also that part of the population that doesn't know anything beyond their own noses, which is a shame

 

[Winman]

I grew up skateboarding and surfing in Florida. Both are great sports.

First of all, you are going to fall. I have fallen literally thousands of times. I have never broken a bone, but I have twisted my knee and sprained my ankle completely blue. I have skinned myself up badly MANY times. If you are not willing to fall and get hurt, skateboarding is not for you. They do sell very helpful equipment today such as knee-pads, elbow-pads, helmets, and gloves that also protect your wrists. These are good to use.

If there is a skate-park nearby, go there and practice. It will be obvious you are a newbie at first, and you may draw some laughs, but if you stick it out you will earn the other skater's respect. It is just part of paying your dues.

If you don't have a nearby skate-park, just practice in your driveway or find a street with good smooth black pavement. The only secret is practice, practice, practice, and practice some more.

 

[anewman1993]

Just find some people to skate with, here is the thing. I'm 21 and picked it up around 5 months ago. Yes, thats considered "weird" but most of the people who meet you and skate are actually going think its weird in the "wow, I'm impressed" kinda of way rather than a negative. You WILL fall, quite a lot, however while people who don't skate my chuckel if they see it, no skaters will. Skating kind weird, for the most part, so long as you are trying people are going to act positivly towards you.

If you have a driveway you can push around in, or a like street in a sub division or something without a lot of traffic you can use that to get use to pushing and carving and kickturns. Once you can get on the board and not fall off get to a local skatepark, get use to banks and stuff, make friends with the people there. Thats assuming your parks in a good part of town, mine was in the getto and after almost getting mugged a few times I stoped going lol.

 

[star in the sky]

I know a lot of people that do know that New Zealand's a country. Unfortunately there's also that part of the population that doesn't know anything beyond their own noses, which is a shame

lol yeh.

 

[Bananagator]

First of all, you are going to fall. I have fallen literally thousands of times. I have never broken a bone, but I have twisted my knee and sprained my ankle completely blue. I have skinned myself up badly MANY times. If you are not willing to fall and get hurt, skateboarding is not for you. They do sell very helpful equipment today such as knee-pads, elbow-pads, helmets, and gloves that also protect your wrists. These are good to use.
.

Oh yeah, I know I'll be falling a lot hahaha. I'm willing to put up with that, I'm just hoping I don't horribly injure myself. I guess the main thing I'm worried about is looking like a fool in front of other skaters but you're right; I've got to pay the price of being a newbie first just like everyone else

If you have a driveway you can push around in, or a like street in a sub division or something without a lot of traffic you can use that to get use to pushing and carving and kickturns. Once you can get on the board and not fall off get to a local skatepark, get use to banks and stuff, make friends with the people there. Thats assuming your parks in a good part of town, mine was in the getto and after almost getting mugged a few times I stoped going lol.

I actually don't know if there are any skate parks around here. I'll have to check on that. I'm not very familiar with the area lol. I'll probably have to stick with practicing on roads and paths for quite awhile anyway so... all in good time


Thanks for both of your inputs!

 

[GrowingSmaller]

take a bare board, stripped of trucks and wheels, and you can practice ollie technique on a piece of old carpet. Thats how I learned and by biggest ollie was nearly hip high.

 

[Bananagator]

take a bare board, stripped of trucks and wheels, and you can practice ollie technique on a piece of old carpet. Thats how I learned and by biggest ollie was nearly hip high.

I actually have been practicing ollies on carpet a little bit but with the trucks still attatched I almost got it once, I think, but I haven't made much progress since then

I never thought of just practicing on a deck. Maybe I'll give that a try if I'm feeling confident I'll be able to get the trucks back on properly. Hahahaha.

 

[BrotherMichael:)]

Why don't you get a cruizer board if you can or whatevers available. The cruiser will make it easier to uhhh cruize and you can start learning ollies too