How Hard is it to Skateboard?

Skateboarding is a fun and exciting sport that is enjoyed by many people around the world. However, skating is a pretty intense sport, especially when you take it up for the first time. 

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about skateboarding. And there are also a lot of myths out there. Some people think it’s tough to skateboard and others think it’s easy.

But the truth is, skateboarding takes practice, training, and dedication. It’s a skill that takes a certain kind of person. So whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skater, this post will teach you all you need to know about skateboarding. Let’s get started. 

Is Skateboarding Really Difficult To Learn?

The truth is that skateboarding is not too hard to learn. You can start skating at any age. But you’ll have to do some work to get good at it. If you are new to skateboarding, it’s important to know that it’s not easy to learn. 

You have to be willing to put a lot of time and effort into skateboarding. Now we are going to discuss some of the main factors that are needed to be considered in your skateboard to make your learning easy.

Quality Of Skateboard

Before starting to learn how to skateboard, you need to be sure that your board has the best quality. It should be sturdy and durable. If you go with a low-quality or cheap skateboard then there are several chances that you’ll land on the ground with severe injuries. You can’t learn skateboarding with a weak and poor skateboard.

Flexibility Of Skateboard

The skateboard should have appropriate flexibility. The flexibility of the skateboard will affect the way you skate and it should be able to give you a smooth riding experience. While learning skateboarding, you’ll have to make lots of turns. 

So, if your skateboard is very flexible, you’ll find it to be very easy to turn the board. If your skateboard is very stiff and rigid, it will not be easy to turn. In short, the stronger your skateboard is; the easier it will be to learn skateboarding.

Weight

The weight of the skateboard matters a lot. Skaters can purchase a skateboard based on their weight. If you are a beginner, you should go for a lighter skateboard than a heavier one. This is because they are easier to control while doing tricks. 

Also, you will have the ability to learn more complicated flips when you are using lightweight skateboards.

Grip Tape

Skateboards are made of wood. These wooden decks have grooves in them. The grip tape on the board comes in rolls or as a pre-applied material. The main purpose of skateboard grip tape is to provide the users with extra grip or traction. Without this tape, your feet may slip off the board if you are moving quickly or skating downhill. So, you need to be sure that you have the right grip tape on your board.

Easiest Way To Start Skateboarding

It is best to start with the basics, let’s take a look at the following points:

• Begin on grass or carpet, so that your board doesn’t move.
• Feel how your board reacts by leaning forward, backward, and sideways.
• Look for a clean (no pebbles, glass twigs, etc.) and safe (not crowded, minimal traffic) location where you can stand and ride easily. For example, empty parking lots are ideal. Before you start riding, go over your balance routine again.
• Put your feet in the right spots and give your board a gentle push. Push once and let it go, then continue until you feel more in control.
• You can progress to the very basic stuff once you’ve mastered riding and carving a little. But we would suggest practicing and riding your skateboard more and more for 3 to 4 weeks.

Tony Hawk has a really good video explaining the difficulties of skateboarding in 21 different levels, take a look.

Tricks For Beginners to Increase Your Skills

The following is a list of tips and tricks to learn and become comfortable with skateboarding in no time.

Kickflip Trick

Kickflip trick of the most basic tricks that any new skateboarder can learn and master. By leaning back on the board and raising the nose, you may raise the wheels of your deck from the ground to 180 degrees. 

You may execute this on the ramp or on the ground, and it will give you a precise and speedy turn. Kick-turn is an excellent approach to begin learning more basic skills before progressing to more advanced ones.

Ollie Trick

It’s a simple move that requires elevating your body while the skateboard remains on the ground. When completing this trick, bend your knees before lifting and make sure the skateboard’s tail comes off the ground first. 

Land in the same manner as you leaped, bending your knees to absorb the impact. To do this trick successfully, you’ll need exceptional timing skills, good balance, and proper foot placement. Short jumps should be your starting point.

Grind Trick

Grinds are stunts in which the skateboarder slides along a surface while making contact with the skateboard’s trucks. Grinds are performed on curbs, rails, the coping of a skate ramp, funboxes, ledges, and a variety of other surfaces that are narrow enough to fit between wheels.

Board Slide Trick

This trick is also called the railside trick. To do it, you have to slide on the center of your skateboard between the wheels. It is typically done on rails or narrow, smooth and elevated surfaces.

Final Thoughts

Summing up, it is not difficult to learn skateboarding. If you have the right skateboard and equipment, you can start practicing skateboarding without any trouble. It’s best to practice at a skate park or on a clean and safe surface. 

In the article above, we have discussed the basic skills of skateboarding. We have also given some tips on how to start skateboarding. So, if you are interested in starting skateboarding then you can follow the instructions given in this guide.

We hope that you enjoyed this guide to skateboarding. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, we will be happy to clear your doubts.