Skateboarding Basics: Laying the Groundwork
Stance and Balance
Your stance is the foundation of everything you do on a skateboard. Determining whether you’re regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward) is the crucial first step. Experiment to find which feels more natural. Once you know your stance, practice maintaining your balance. Weight distribution is key; keep your weight centered over the board, bending your knees for stability. Simple exercises like standing on one leg (on and off the board) and shifting your weight from heel to toe will significantly improve your balance.
Pushing and Riding
Pushing might seem basic, but proper technique is essential for efficiency and control. Use your back foot to push, keeping your weight balanced over your front foot. Avoid pushing with your toes; use the entire sole of your shoe. When riding, practice turning by shifting your weight and leaning in the direction you want to go. Focus on smooth, controlled movements. Maintaining speed and stability is important, so practice riding comfortably at various speeds and navigating different terrains.
The Ollie: The Mother of All Skate Tricks
The ollie is the most fundamental trick in skateboarding, serving as the building block for countless other maneuvers. The ollie involves popping the tail of the board, sliding your front foot up the board, and leveling out in the air. It can take time to master, but breaking it down into steps can make it easier. First, practice popping the tail sharply. Then, focus on sliding your front foot upwards towards the nose of the board. Finally, level the board out in the air by bringing your back foot up. Common mistakes include not popping the tail hard enough, not sliding your front foot high enough, or not leveling the board. Regular practice and patience are essential.
Beginner Skate Tricks: Building Confidence
Rolling Ollie
Taking your ollie on the go is a natural progression. The rolling ollie is simply performing an ollie while moving forward. The key is to maintain your balance and control while adding movement. Start with a slow roll and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
Pop Shuvit
The pop shuvit involves popping the tail of the board and scooping it backwards, causing the board to rotate 180 degrees. The pop shuvit relies on coordination, body positioning, and scoop with the back foot to generate the board’s rotation. Common challenges include not scooping the board enough or not landing with your feet directly over the bolts.
Frontside One Eighty
A frontside one eighty is a stylish trick that involves rotating your body and the board 180 degrees in a frontside direction (towards your front). To perform this trick, you’ll need to combine an ollie with a controlled body rotation. Focus on spotting your landing and landing smoothly.
Kickturn
The kickturn is a fundamental trick for navigating ramps and obstacles. It involves using the tail of the board to pivot 180 degrees. Start by approaching the ramp at a comfortable speed. Then, lean back and lift the front wheels off the ground, pivoting on the tail.
Manual
The manual is a balance trick that involves riding on the back wheels of the board. Finding the balance point and maintaining a manual requires practice and coordination. Start by practicing short manuals and gradually increase the distance as you improve.
Intermediate Skate Tricks: Elevating Your Game
Heelflip
The heelflip involves popping the tail of the board and flicking your front heel off the edge of the board, causing it to flip. It often takes a while to master, but the sensation of landing one is exhilarating. Heelflips require precise timing and coordination.
Backside One Eighty Ollie
A backside one eighty ollie combines the backside rotation with a standard ollie. This trick involves rotating your body and the board 180 degrees in a backside direction (away from your front).
Boardslide
The boardslide is a classic trick that involves sliding the center of your board along a ledge or rail. Approaching the obstacle at the right speed and angle is essential for locking into the slide.
Nose Manual
Similar to the manual, the nose manual involves riding on the front wheels of the board. Nose manuals require precise balance and control.
Five-O Grind
The five-o grind involves grinding on the tail, keeping only the back truck on the edge. This requires balancing on a thin surface at high speed.
Advanced Skate Tricks: Taking Flight
Tre Flip (Three Sixty Flip)
The tre flip is a complex trick that involves popping the tail of the board, scooping it backwards, and flicking your front foot off the edge, causing it to flip and rotate 360 degrees. Tre flips require a high level of coordination and timing.
Hardflip
The hardflip is a more complex flip trick than the kickflip or heelflip. It combines a frontside pop shuvit with a frontside kickflip motion.
Varial Kickflip
The varial kickflip combines a pop shuvit with a kickflip, creating a stylish and challenging trick.
Backside Three Sixty
The backside three sixty involves rotating your body and the board 360 degrees in a backside direction. Maintaining your balance and spotting your landing is critical for landing this trick.
Advanced Grind and Slide Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic grinds and slides, you can start experimenting with more advanced variations, such as the feeble grind, crook grind, noseslide, and tailslide. These tricks require a high level of skill and creativity.
Tips for Learning Skate Tricks: A Recipe for Success
Safety First
Always wear a helmet and pads to protect yourself from injuries. Warm up properly before skating. And, most importantly, know your limits and skate within your ability.
Practice and Persistence
Consistent practice is key to mastering skate tricks. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t land a trick right away. Keep trying, and eventually, you’ll get it. Breaking down tricks into smaller, manageable steps can make them easier to learn.
Find a Skate Community
Skating with others can provide motivation, tips, and support. Local skateparks and online communities are great places to connect with fellow skateboarders.
Watch Tutorials and Analyze Skateboarding Videos
There are countless online resources available for learning skate tricks. Watching tutorials and studying the techniques of professional skaters can provide valuable insights.
Record yourself skating
Review your clips to catch issues and see how to improve your skating.
Resources for Learning Skate Tricks: Your Toolkit
Recommended Websites and YouTube Channels
Websites and channels like Braille Skateboarding and VLSkate are great for learning skate tricks.
Skateboarding Apps
There are many helpful apps available for tracking progress, learning tricks, or finding skate spots.
Skate Schools and Instructors
Professional instruction can accelerate your learning and prevent bad habits.
Conclusion: The Journey is the Reward
Learning skate tricks is a challenging but rewarding journey. Remember to be patient, persistent, and, most importantly, have fun. Keep pushing your limits and exploring new possibilities. With dedication and hard work, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve on a skateboard. Skating is more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle. Keep it radical!
