Even Fast Skateboarders Start Slow

It doesn't come as a surprise how fast skateboarding has grown as a sport over the years. With a lot of X games and extreme sports gaining popularity, it is getting more attention than before. One of the attractions of skateboarding is that you can simply pick it up for fun as a personal hobby, yet it is serious enough for you to develop into a career someday. However, just putting your best foot forward won't make you do mid-air back flips; you need to really practice a lot. And you need to first understand the basics.

Before you even consider investing your life in it, find out first if it is something you would really want or enjoy doing. If you can't enjoy watching and observing other boarders for a whole day then better think twice. But if you can spend your time and energy for even just that activity then you can start pumping those knees and wallet for a crash course at the sports store.

Beginner Trick Skateboard

While you can borrow stuff, you need to buy your own equipment if you really want to practice freely. If you don't know what you should have, you can ask the salesperson at the sports shop to assist you. They should be able to guide you on which skateboards are advisable for beginners like you (and which are within your budget). Don't forget to also get safety gear. These are vital - both for amateurs and professionals. Be sure to test out the items for comfort and quality before you close the purchase.

Even Fast Skateboarders Start Slow

The first thing you should learn is how to balance yourself on the board. So step on it. Get used to how it reacts with your body. Once you stop falling off for a good period of time, you can dare yourself with a safe movement. Use the foot positioned in the back of the board to propel yourself forward. Quickly get back into your previous footing position and steady yourself until the board stops rolling. It's one thing to find your balance while at rest; it's another to keep your balance while in motion.

Now when you get the hang of it, try to gain more speed. Kick harder this time. You should be able to learn how to slow down and stop your movement. This can be done by dropping the foot at the back on to the ground, which serves as a brake. Don't do this recklessly. You should also learn, by this time, how to keep the board moving. Just like braking, you need to step your back foot. But instead of stopping, you use that same movement to push yourself forward again. Do this repeatedly.

If you're having difficulty getting your balance as your movement goes faster, you can try bending your knees slightly. This lowers your center of gravity, and helps you gain more control over your board. You might also want to try holding out your hands to your sides like they do while surfing, but do keep those arms low. Doing this makes your balance more flexible in adjusting to sudden movements.

You can learn the fancy work later on but you won't get there unless you're patient enough to slowly build your foundation - your body balance. As people love to quote, "Practice makes perfect." It might be smart if you can ask a novice skateboarder to see you through the basics. And always have your proper safety equipment on - not all accidents happen on dangerous tricks alone. In fact, don't be arrogant and experiment on the tricks until you are ready for them. Just keep on rolling, and pretty soon you'll be cruising on the brink of the rink.

Even Fast Skateboarders Start Slow