You have surely watched skaters before and noticed how easy they make skating look. Unfortunately, the first attempts on a skateboard are not that easy for most people. With our tips and a little perseverance, however, you will soon realize: skateboarding is not that difficult!
Is skateboarding hard? Not with the right equipment!
If you want to learn how to skateboard, the right board plays an important role. Not every board is equally suitable for beginners. Advanced skaters in particular use skateboards with special features. For you as a beginner, such boards are not suitable at first. To start with, you need:
- A suitable beginner's skateboard: with firm steering and a straight deck. With loose steering, it will be much harder for you to keep your balance.
- Skate shoes: When skating, you should wear suitable shoes. This means they should have a flat, even sole. We recommend skate shoes from the brands Vans or Etnies.
- Protective gear: Especially in the beginning, you will hardly be able to avoid the occasional fall. Therefore, protect yourself with good protective equipment. This includes: elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and of course a helmet. A helmet with a smooth surface and a snug chin strap is ideal.
Skateboarding – 5 tips for beginners
If you have the right equipment, that's a good start. But now it's time to practice, practice, practice. With these tips, you won't find it difficult and you will soon have your first successes:
For your first attempts, choose an area with a concrete floor that is as smooth as possible. Here, your board will roll particularly well and pushing off will be much easier. As soon as you have some practice and have become more confident, you can venture onto slightly more uneven surfaces like asphalt.
First of all, you have to learn to keep your balance on the board. For this, it is important that you find a good position on the board. There are practically no rules for this. Once you have found a good position in which you stand securely on the skateboard, maintain it! To find and practice a good standing position, train while standing still. For this, it is best to go to a lawn first. Here, the skateboard practically cannot roll away.
In the next step, you practice starting and rolling. For this, choose a surface that is as level and smooth as possible, as described above, so that you can roll well. Push off with one foot using the largest, most even steps possible. This makes it easier to find your balance than with small, short steps. To switch to the riding position, the front foot must be in a sideways position. The lead foot remains at the front of the board. Maintain an upright posture and bend your knees slightly.
You perform turns by shifting your weight to the left and right. The more pressure you apply, the tighter the turn. Start slowly here as well and increase gradually.
Like starting, safe braking and stopping are part of skateboarding. At low speeds, you can simply stop with your foot by placing it on the ground. Pay attention to your balance. Advanced skaters usually brake with the tail of the skateboard.
As with everything, when it comes to learning to skateboard, practice makes perfect. It is helpful to observe advanced skaters or ask them directly for tips. As soon as you can ride, steer, and brake safely on your skateboard, you can gradually venture into your first tricks and stunts. We wish you lots of fun!
