By: Dana Bradley
When preparing for a skateboarding contest, the contestants have to stand out above the rest. One can not expect to stand out above their competitors without preparing well in advance before the ‘big day’.
Skateboarding is an extremely popular sport among young people from the ages of 10 – 25. Why is skateboarding such a popular sport? It’s more than the tricks and the turns that a skateboardist can do. It’s about style, attitude and even the type of music that one listens to whether its rap, rock or contemporary Christian. Skateboarding is a lifestyle.
Like all spirited sporting activities, skateboarding when it’s time to compete, you have to go out in full force. Here are some tips, to prepare for a competition.
-Make sure that your helmet fits nice and snug on your head. It will be quite an embarrassment for one’s helmet to fly off during a competition…not to mention a safety hazard.
-Invest in the top of the line skateboard and make sure that you choose colors that capture people’s attention. When the judges rate a contestant during a competition, everything is visual.
-Unless you are highly gifted at skateboarding, if you are new to the sport, don’t join a competition unless you know for certain that you have the skills that it takes to compete.
-Make sure that you practice everyday. The judges will be judging how smoothly you maneuver your skateboard. Skateboarding should be like music…it should flow easily.
-Do not invent new tricks during the competition. Inventing new tricks can cause embarrassing bloopers.
-Do not eat a huge meal before a skateboarding competition. If you do have breakfast, do not over indulge. Stick with dry foods such as a breakfast bar, bagel or toast. Eating eggs with sausage and pancakes is not recommended. It will not only make you tired and slow you down but it may cause stomach pains from the excitement and all the twist and turns that you will make during the competition.
Last but not least, it’s extremely important that a player is in tip top shape before the competition. That means eating healthy, taking your vitamins and exercising. Practicing skateboarding is not an excuse not to exercise your limbs. You should jog or take 30 minute brisk walks daily or join a gym to help build your muscle and give you more confidence and definitely more energy.
Being in shape prior to the contest helps one to escape from injuries.
About the Author:
Dana Bradley writes about Skateboard coupon codes, DickSportingGoods Coupon Codes and Sport Coupons
Skateboard Safety
By: Dana Bradley
Skateboarding is an immensely popular sporting activity, specially enjoyed by young persons having a flair for advantageous sports. Skateboard is a narrow platform with attached wheels and people ride on it to move quickly on hard surface. Like all adventurous sporting activities, skateboarding may cause several types of injuries. Fracture or sprains are main types of injuries.
There are some safety tips, which are always to be followed by skateboard riders to escape from injuries. Some important recommendations are given below:
1) A skateboard rider should always use properly fitting helmet, Wrist guards, Knee and elbow pads & shoes. All of these accessories are used as protective gear.
2) A quality skateboard is always should be used. There are different types of skateboard for all types of riding. A beginner skateboard rider should always use board with shorter deck, which is easy to handle.
3) Skateboard is not an easy sport for a newbie and one should always learn the basic skill of this sporting activity. Various techniques like slowing, turning, falling safely are very necessary to learn to start skateboarding on hard surface.
4) Skateboard should be inspected thoroughly before a ride. A broken or loose part or a sharp edge on board, wheels with cracking, a slippery board can cause serious injuries.
5) A skateboard should not be ridden in traffic jammed place as it can cause serious injuries. A collision with any vehicle can take a toll on skateboard rider.
6) Skateboard should not be used in darkness or in wet weather, as it is always risky.
7) A proper screening and observation of the area before riding is always helpful. Irregular riding surface cause more than half of the injuries.
8) It is always advisable not to take unnecessary risk with difficult tricks and jumps while skateboarding. A person should always use such tricks and jumps, which are perfectly under his control.
9) It is also very important for a skateboard player to be in good physical shape to escape from injuries. Some stretching exercises are always recommended before and after skateboarding to avoid muscle injuries.
10) A sound knowledge to handle any problem in emergency.
11) One and only one person should use one skateboard. There should not be any sharing as it can cause dangerous accident.
12) Hitching a ride from car, bicycle can be very risky and cause accident.
13) Children under age of 14 are the main victims of skateboard injuries. So, a child under that age should be always under observation while skateboarding. Skateboard riding is a strictly “NO” for children under age seven. Poor balance, slow reaction, lesser coordination of body parts, lacking of riding skill are the prime cause for children having injured while skateboarding.
When skateboarding, a person should never compromise their safety. When skateboarders play by the rules, everyone can enjoy.
About the Author:
Dana Bradley writes about BladesBoard promo codes, FogDog on sale and Skate boards
Skateboarding is an immensely popular sporting activity, specially enjoyed by young persons having a flair for advantageous sports. Skateboard is a narrow platform with attached wheels and people ride on it to move quickly on hard surface. Like all adventurous sporting activities, skateboarding may cause several types of injuries. Fracture or sprains are main types of injuries.
There are some safety tips, which are always to be followed by skateboard riders to escape from injuries. Some important recommendations are given below:
1) A skateboard rider should always use properly fitting helmet, Wrist guards, Knee and elbow pads & shoes. All of these accessories are used as protective gear.
2) A quality skateboard is always should be used. There are different types of skateboard for all types of riding. A beginner skateboard rider should always use board with shorter deck, which is easy to handle.
3) Skateboard is not an easy sport for a newbie and one should always learn the basic skill of this sporting activity. Various techniques like slowing, turning, falling safely are very necessary to learn to start skateboarding on hard surface.
4) Skateboard should be inspected thoroughly before a ride. A broken or loose part or a sharp edge on board, wheels with cracking, a slippery board can cause serious injuries.
5) A skateboard should not be ridden in traffic jammed place as it can cause serious injuries. A collision with any vehicle can take a toll on skateboard rider.
6) Skateboard should not be used in darkness or in wet weather, as it is always risky.
7) A proper screening and observation of the area before riding is always helpful. Irregular riding surface cause more than half of the injuries.
8) It is always advisable not to take unnecessary risk with difficult tricks and jumps while skateboarding. A person should always use such tricks and jumps, which are perfectly under his control.
9) It is also very important for a skateboard player to be in good physical shape to escape from injuries. Some stretching exercises are always recommended before and after skateboarding to avoid muscle injuries.
10) A sound knowledge to handle any problem in emergency.
11) One and only one person should use one skateboard. There should not be any sharing as it can cause dangerous accident.
12) Hitching a ride from car, bicycle can be very risky and cause accident.
13) Children under age of 14 are the main victims of skateboard injuries. So, a child under that age should be always under observation while skateboarding. Skateboard riding is a strictly “NO” for children under age seven. Poor balance, slow reaction, lesser coordination of body parts, lacking of riding skill are the prime cause for children having injured while skateboarding.
When skateboarding, a person should never compromise their safety. When skateboarders play by the rules, everyone can enjoy.
About the Author:
Dana Bradley writes about BladesBoard promo codes, FogDog on sale and Skate boards
Top 10 Skateboard Truck Brands
Top 10 Skateboard Truck Brands
From Steve Cave,
Your Guide to Skateboarding
Here's a list of the best skateboard truck brands Trucks in the Skateboard Dictionary). Trucks can be expensive, and picking out the right set of skate trucks can seem tough. But, if you get a pair of trucks off of this list, you should be good. There are other brands that are good quality too, but each of these brands has something that helps it to really stand out. These aren't put in any particular order.
1. Fury Trucks
Fury TrucksFury skateboarding trucks are heavier and stronger than most. Most skateboarders try to shave off as much weight as possible. However, Fury has some other special features to try to tempt you - Fury trucks are wider than most, come with a mini riser (similar to Phantom trucks), and special Fury bushings. And if that's not enough, Fury trucks have a unique ballpoint turning design, so that the hangar has a ball joint sitting in a socket in the base plate.
2. Grindking Trucks
Grind King TrucksGrind King skateboard trucks are the best trucks available for grinding. The truck hangar is made from aluminum, making it softer and weaker, but better for grinding. This means you will have to replace them faster if you grind, but your grinds will be smoother and better. Grind King trucks do use special hex-head kingpins, so you will need a special tool to adjust them.
3.Tensor
From Steve Cave,
Your Guide to Skateboarding
Here's a list of the best skateboard truck brands Trucks in the Skateboard Dictionary). Trucks can be expensive, and picking out the right set of skate trucks can seem tough. But, if you get a pair of trucks off of this list, you should be good. There are other brands that are good quality too, but each of these brands has something that helps it to really stand out. These aren't put in any particular order.
1. Fury TrucksFury TrucksFury skateboarding trucks are heavier and stronger than most. Most skateboarders try to shave off as much weight as possible. However, Fury has some other special features to try to tempt you - Fury trucks are wider than most, come with a mini riser (similar to Phantom trucks), and special Fury bushings. And if that's not enough, Fury trucks have a unique ballpoint turning design, so that the hangar has a ball joint sitting in a socket in the base plate.
2. Grindking TrucksGrind King TrucksGrind King skateboard trucks are the best trucks available for grinding. The truck hangar is made from aluminum, making it softer and weaker, but better for grinding. This means you will have to replace them faster if you grind, but your grinds will be smoother and better. Grind King trucks do use special hex-head kingpins, so you will need a special tool to adjust them.
3.Tensor TrucksTensor TrucksTensor trucks are the most highly engineered skateboard trucks on the market. Tensor trucks are like the Cadillac of trucks, and have the brilliance of skateboarding legend / engineer Rodney Mullen as a driving force. Tensor trucks come in both standard and low designs, and should work excellently in most skateboarding situations. Sort of a perfect all-round well built skateboarding truck.
4. Independent Trucks
Independent TrucksIndependent has been making skateboarding trucks for over 25 years. Independent's Stage 9 truck series are quality made, lightweight and still durable. They also feature "Fast Action Independent Geometry," which means they are designed to react more quickly to your motions than other trucks. Independent trucks are usually on the wider side, but all sizes are available. Independent trucks are also guaranteed for life against manufacturer defects, but should last forever anyway.
5. Navigator Trucks
Navigator TrucksNavigator is a newer truck company, and may be hard to find (the Navigator site has a store locater that should help). I've listed them here because they have some unique features on their trucks. For example, they have a special addition beneath the baseplate that holds the kingpin in place so bushings can be replaced without taking the trucks off of the skateboard. Also, Navigator is the only truck company that pins their axles, so they can guarantee their axles will NEVER slip! The Navigator site lists many other features - take a look and see what you think.
6. Destructo Trucks
Destructo TrucksDestructo has some fancy skateboarding trucks. The Destructo raw series skate trucks come in low, medium and high designs and look oddly skinny. The Limited and Pro series trucks just look awesome, with simple pro signatures on the front and great color schemes. That's not to mention Destructo's "Rail Killer" series - these light trucks have extended baseplates to reduce wheelbite, and come in some incredible color schemes (including one using 24 karat gold!).
7. Krux Trucks
Krux TrucksKrux make some great trucks. Krux makes "downlows" trucks, that have a lower hanger and kingpin than even Grind King. However, you will need a hex tool to adjust them. The Krux IIIs with Topless System are even lighter, with special bushings that feel broken in from the start, but that also provide a faster snap back into position. Krux trucks are light and low.
8.Thunder Trucks
Thunder TrucksThunder trucks are solid, with some great innovations. Thunder's light truck range claims ot be the lightest available, with the quickest turning. Thunder's team is also pretty impressive, with Thomas, Appleyard, Marks, Steamer, Ellington ... the list is actually pretty huge. If having a lot of pros ride the same trucks as you is important (which isn't a bad idea - these people are skating in competitions, and want the best!), then take a look at Thunder.
9. Phantom Trucks
Phantom TrucksPhantom 2 trucks have a low profile, are lightweight and have a nice smooth edge for grinding. They also just look nice. The thing that sets Phantom trucks (both regular Phantoms and Phantom 2s) are their built in shock pads. Phantom calls it an "Impact Dispersion System," a 1.5 mm rubber shock pad built onto the bottom of the trucks. Shock pads help reduce stress from the trucks to the board.
10. Silver Trucks
Silver TrucksSilver has edged it's way onto the scene offering nice, quality skateboard trucks, with plenty of little extras to make their trucks stand out from the rest. With things like inverted kingpins and axle caps, Silver trucks are pushing their motto, "Strength with Style." Silver trucks do look nice! Silver also sports a great team, with guys like Sheckler, Dyrdek, Rodriquez and more.
4. Independent TrucksIndependent TrucksIndependent has been making skateboarding trucks for over 25 years. Independent's Stage 9 truck series are quality made, lightweight and still durable. They also feature "Fast Action Independent Geometry," which means they are designed to react more quickly to your motions than other trucks. Independent trucks are usually on the wider side, but all sizes are available. Independent trucks are also guaranteed for life against manufacturer defects, but should last forever anyway.
5. Navigator TrucksNavigator TrucksNavigator is a newer truck company, and may be hard to find (the Navigator site has a store locater that should help). I've listed them here because they have some unique features on their trucks. For example, they have a special addition beneath the baseplate that holds the kingpin in place so bushings can be replaced without taking the trucks off of the skateboard. Also, Navigator is the only truck company that pins their axles, so they can guarantee their axles will NEVER slip! The Navigator site lists many other features - take a look and see what you think.
6. Destructo TrucksDestructo TrucksDestructo has some fancy skateboarding trucks. The Destructo raw series skate trucks come in low, medium and high designs and look oddly skinny. The Limited and Pro series trucks just look awesome, with simple pro signatures on the front and great color schemes. That's not to mention Destructo's "Rail Killer" series - these light trucks have extended baseplates to reduce wheelbite, and come in some incredible color schemes (including one using 24 karat gold!).
7. Krux TrucksKrux TrucksKrux make some great trucks. Krux makes "downlows" trucks, that have a lower hanger and kingpin than even Grind King. However, you will need a hex tool to adjust them. The Krux IIIs with Topless System are even lighter, with special bushings that feel broken in from the start, but that also provide a faster snap back into position. Krux trucks are light and low.
8.Thunder TrucksThunder TrucksThunder trucks are solid, with some great innovations. Thunder's light truck range claims ot be the lightest available, with the quickest turning. Thunder's team is also pretty impressive, with Thomas, Appleyard, Marks, Steamer, Ellington ... the list is actually pretty huge. If having a lot of pros ride the same trucks as you is important (which isn't a bad idea - these people are skating in competitions, and want the best!), then take a look at Thunder.
9. Phantom TrucksPhantom TrucksPhantom 2 trucks have a low profile, are lightweight and have a nice smooth edge for grinding. They also just look nice. The thing that sets Phantom trucks (both regular Phantoms and Phantom 2s) are their built in shock pads. Phantom calls it an "Impact Dispersion System," a 1.5 mm rubber shock pad built onto the bottom of the trucks. Shock pads help reduce stress from the trucks to the board.
10. Silver TrucksSilver TrucksSilver has edged it's way onto the scene offering nice, quality skateboard trucks, with plenty of little extras to make their trucks stand out from the rest. With things like inverted kingpins and axle caps, Silver trucks are pushing their motto, "Strength with Style." Silver trucks do look nice! Silver also sports a great team, with guys like Sheckler, Dyrdek, Rodriquez and more.
Skateboarding: A Brief History (3)
Skateboarding: A Brief History (3)
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Vert skateboarding took a dive in fame in the early 90s, but skateboarding still remained, though it became primarily street. It was then that Mike Vallely and Natas Kaupas came on the scene and pushed street skateboarding even further.
Skateboarding started to grow again in popularity in the 90's, this time with a more raw, edgy, and dangerous attitude. This coincides with the rise of more angry punk music, and the general discontent with the current system that raged throughout this time frame. Call it discontent, or call it Post Modern frustration, but the image of the poor, angry skater punk came to the surface loud and proud. Interestingly, this only helped to fuel skateboarding's popularity.
In 1995, ESPN held their first Extreme Games, in Rhode Island.
first X Games was a huge success, and helped pull skateboarding closer to the mainstream, and closer to being accepted by the general population (read more in the History of the X Games). In 1997 the first Winter X Games were held, and "Extreme Sports" were classified. Plenty of skaters resent the way skateboarding has slowly moved from underground to mainstream.
However, the X Games did bring vert skateboarding back into popularity. The X Games and competitions like that have continued to keep vert skateboarding popular, even though vert few skaters actually ride real vert ramps. Vert skateboarding has slowly become a much loved spectator sport.
Since 2000, attention in the media and products like skateboarding video games, children's skateboards and commercialization have all pulled skateboarding more and more into the mainstream. The benefit of this is that, of course, skaters are more accepted, and the assumption that all skaters are criminals is slowly being torn down. Also, with more money being put into skateboarding, there are more skateparks, better skateboards, and more skateboarding companies to keep innovating and inventing new things.
However, there is a large group of skaters who miss the underground days, and who strongly disagree with the way skateboarding has been made more mainstream. One benefit of skateboarding is that it is a very individual activity. There is no right or wrong way to skate.
However, if skateboarding is officially classified as a "sport", many skaters fear that this freedom will die out. There is currently a great deal of concern about skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport (read Skateboarding in the Olympics? for more).
But, with all this history crammed into such a short period of time, it's easy to see that no one knows where skateboarding will truly go from here. Skateboarding still hasn`t stopped evolving, and skaters are coming up with new tricks all the time. Boards are also continuing to evolve, as companies try to make them lighter and stronger, or try to improve on their performance.
Skateboarding has always been about personal discovery and pushing oneself to the limit, but where will skateboarding go from here? Wherever skaters continue to take it.
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Vert skateboarding took a dive in fame in the early 90s, but skateboarding still remained, though it became primarily street. It was then that Mike Vallely and Natas Kaupas came on the scene and pushed street skateboarding even further.
Skateboarding started to grow again in popularity in the 90's, this time with a more raw, edgy, and dangerous attitude. This coincides with the rise of more angry punk music, and the general discontent with the current system that raged throughout this time frame. Call it discontent, or call it Post Modern frustration, but the image of the poor, angry skater punk came to the surface loud and proud. Interestingly, this only helped to fuel skateboarding's popularity.
In 1995, ESPN held their first Extreme Games, in Rhode Island.
first X Games was a huge success, and helped pull skateboarding closer to the mainstream, and closer to being accepted by the general population (read more in the History of the X Games). In 1997 the first Winter X Games were held, and "Extreme Sports" were classified. Plenty of skaters resent the way skateboarding has slowly moved from underground to mainstream.
However, the X Games did bring vert skateboarding back into popularity. The X Games and competitions like that have continued to keep vert skateboarding popular, even though vert few skaters actually ride real vert ramps. Vert skateboarding has slowly become a much loved spectator sport.
Since 2000, attention in the media and products like skateboarding video games, children's skateboards and commercialization have all pulled skateboarding more and more into the mainstream. The benefit of this is that, of course, skaters are more accepted, and the assumption that all skaters are criminals is slowly being torn down. Also, with more money being put into skateboarding, there are more skateparks, better skateboards, and more skateboarding companies to keep innovating and inventing new things.
However, there is a large group of skaters who miss the underground days, and who strongly disagree with the way skateboarding has been made more mainstream. One benefit of skateboarding is that it is a very individual activity. There is no right or wrong way to skate.
However, if skateboarding is officially classified as a "sport", many skaters fear that this freedom will die out. There is currently a great deal of concern about skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport (read Skateboarding in the Olympics? for more).
But, with all this history crammed into such a short period of time, it's easy to see that no one knows where skateboarding will truly go from here. Skateboarding still hasn`t stopped evolving, and skaters are coming up with new tricks all the time. Boards are also continuing to evolve, as companies try to make them lighter and stronger, or try to improve on their performance.
Skateboarding has always been about personal discovery and pushing oneself to the limit, but where will skateboarding go from here? Wherever skaters continue to take it.
Skateboarding: A Brief History (2)
Skateboarding: A Brief History (2)
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
The Zephyr team, and all the skaters who wanted to be like them, also made skateboarding even more edgy in the public eye, and added a strong anti-establishment sentiment that still remains in skateboarding today.
In 1978, only a few years into the popularity of this new style of low-to-the-ground skateboarding, a skater named Alan Gelfand (nicknamed "Ollie") invented a maneuver that gave skateboarding another revolutionary jump. He would slam his back foot down on the tail of his board and jump, thereby popping himself and the board into the air. The ollie was born, a trick that completely revolutionized skateboarding -- most tricks today are based in performing an ollie. The trick still bears his name, and Alan Gelfand was inducted into the skateboard hall of fame in 2002.
Unfortunately, near the end of the 70's skateboarding faced its second crash in popularity.
Public skate parks had been being built, but with skateboarding being such a dangerous activity, insurance rates got out of control. This, combined with less and less people coming to use skateparks forced most to close.
But skaters kept skating. Through the 80's skateboarders started to built their own ramps at home, and to skate whatever else they could find. Skateboarding began to be more of an underground movement, with skaters continuing to ride, but to make the whole world into their skatepark.
During the 80's, smaller skateboard companies owned by skateboarders started cropping up. This enabled each company to be creative and do whatever they wanted - new styles and shapes of boards were tried.
It was also during the 80's that the VCR came on the scene, and opened up the world of skateboarding to any kid, anywhere. Stacey Peralta and George Powell pulled together a team of young talented skaters and named them the Bones Brigade. Stacey had a talent for filming, and in 1984 shot the first of a long series of revolutionary skateboard videos - The Bones Brigade Video Show. The team included Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Rodney Mullen, Stacy Peralta, and Kevin Staab, among piles of other huge named skaters. Peralta made more Bones Brigade videos - Future Primitive in 1985, and the famous Search for Animal Chin in 1987. There are many, many more. Skateboarding began influencing clothing styles, music and culture.
Unfortunately, near the end of the 80's, skateboarding started to dive in popularity again. Vert skateboarding quickly lost popularity, and most skaters only rode street. Each time skateboarding has fallen in popularity, it has fallen a little less. But these dips in popularity have huge impacts on pro skaters. Pure vert skaters like Tony Hawk had a very difficult time holding on through the late 80's and early 90's. The stress on Tony Hawk was incredible, and he even lost his first wife during this time.
Continue to the next page for the end of the history...
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
The Zephyr team, and all the skaters who wanted to be like them, also made skateboarding even more edgy in the public eye, and added a strong anti-establishment sentiment that still remains in skateboarding today.
In 1978, only a few years into the popularity of this new style of low-to-the-ground skateboarding, a skater named Alan Gelfand (nicknamed "Ollie") invented a maneuver that gave skateboarding another revolutionary jump. He would slam his back foot down on the tail of his board and jump, thereby popping himself and the board into the air. The ollie was born, a trick that completely revolutionized skateboarding -- most tricks today are based in performing an ollie. The trick still bears his name, and Alan Gelfand was inducted into the skateboard hall of fame in 2002.
Unfortunately, near the end of the 70's skateboarding faced its second crash in popularity.
Public skate parks had been being built, but with skateboarding being such a dangerous activity, insurance rates got out of control. This, combined with less and less people coming to use skateparks forced most to close.
But skaters kept skating. Through the 80's skateboarders started to built their own ramps at home, and to skate whatever else they could find. Skateboarding began to be more of an underground movement, with skaters continuing to ride, but to make the whole world into their skatepark.
During the 80's, smaller skateboard companies owned by skateboarders started cropping up. This enabled each company to be creative and do whatever they wanted - new styles and shapes of boards were tried.
It was also during the 80's that the VCR came on the scene, and opened up the world of skateboarding to any kid, anywhere. Stacey Peralta and George Powell pulled together a team of young talented skaters and named them the Bones Brigade. Stacey had a talent for filming, and in 1984 shot the first of a long series of revolutionary skateboard videos - The Bones Brigade Video Show. The team included Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Rodney Mullen, Stacy Peralta, and Kevin Staab, among piles of other huge named skaters. Peralta made more Bones Brigade videos - Future Primitive in 1985, and the famous Search for Animal Chin in 1987. There are many, many more. Skateboarding began influencing clothing styles, music and culture.
Unfortunately, near the end of the 80's, skateboarding started to dive in popularity again. Vert skateboarding quickly lost popularity, and most skaters only rode street. Each time skateboarding has fallen in popularity, it has fallen a little less. But these dips in popularity have huge impacts on pro skaters. Pure vert skaters like Tony Hawk had a very difficult time holding on through the late 80's and early 90's. The stress on Tony Hawk was incredible, and he even lost his first wife during this time.
Continue to the next page for the end of the history...
A Brief History of Skateboarding (1)
A Brief History of Skateboarding
From Steve Cave, Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Some big names and turning points in skate history
Skateboarding was first started in the 1950s, when all across California surfers got the idea of trying to surf the streets. No one really knows who made the first board -- instead, it seems that several people came up with similar ideas at the same time. Several people have claimed to have invented the skateboard first, but nothing can be proved, and skateboarding remains a strange spontaneous creation.
These first skateboarders started with wooden boxes or boards with roller skate wheels slapped on the bottom. Like you might imagine, a lot of people got hurt in skateboarding's early years! It was a sport just being born and discovered, so anything went. The boxes turned into planks, and eventually companies were producing decks of pressed layers of wood -- similar to the skateboard decks of today.
During this time, skateboarding was seen as something to do for fun after surfing.
In 1963, skateboarding was at a peak of popularity, and companies like Jack's, Hobie and Makaha started holding skateboarding competitions. At this time, skateboarding was mostly either downhill slalom or freestyle. Torger Johnson, Woody Woodward and Danny Berer were some well known skateboarders at this time, but what they did looked almost completely different from what skateboarding looks like today! Their style of skateboarding, called "freestyle", is more like dancing ballet or ice skating with a skateboard.
Then, in 1965, skateboarding's popularity suddenly crashed. Most people assumed that skateboarding was a fad that had died out, like the hoola hoop. Skateboard companies folded, and people who wanted to skate had to make their own skateboards again from scratch.
But people still skated, even though parts were hard to find and boards were home made. Skaters were using clay wheels for their boards, which was extremely dangerous and hard to control. But then in 1972, Frank Nasworthy invented urethane skateboard wheels, which are similar to what most skaters use today. His company was called Cadillac Wheels, and the invention sparked new interest in skateboarding among surfers and other young people.
In the spring of 1975, skateboarding took an evolutionary boost toward the sport that we see today. In Del Mar, California a slalom and freestyle contest was held at the Ocean Festival. That day, the Zephyr team showed the world what skateboarding could be. They rode their boards like no one had in the public eye, low and smooth, and skateboarding was taken from being a hobby to something serious and exciting (Read more about the history of Dogtown and the Zephyr team). The Zephyr team had many members, but the most famous are Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta.
But that was only the first big jump in the evolution of skateboarding - continue to the next page for the rest of the history...
From Steve Cave, Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Some big names and turning points in skate history
Skateboarding was first started in the 1950s, when all across California surfers got the idea of trying to surf the streets. No one really knows who made the first board -- instead, it seems that several people came up with similar ideas at the same time. Several people have claimed to have invented the skateboard first, but nothing can be proved, and skateboarding remains a strange spontaneous creation.
These first skateboarders started with wooden boxes or boards with roller skate wheels slapped on the bottom. Like you might imagine, a lot of people got hurt in skateboarding's early years! It was a sport just being born and discovered, so anything went. The boxes turned into planks, and eventually companies were producing decks of pressed layers of wood -- similar to the skateboard decks of today.
During this time, skateboarding was seen as something to do for fun after surfing.
In 1963, skateboarding was at a peak of popularity, and companies like Jack's, Hobie and Makaha started holding skateboarding competitions. At this time, skateboarding was mostly either downhill slalom or freestyle. Torger Johnson, Woody Woodward and Danny Berer were some well known skateboarders at this time, but what they did looked almost completely different from what skateboarding looks like today! Their style of skateboarding, called "freestyle", is more like dancing ballet or ice skating with a skateboard.
Then, in 1965, skateboarding's popularity suddenly crashed. Most people assumed that skateboarding was a fad that had died out, like the hoola hoop. Skateboard companies folded, and people who wanted to skate had to make their own skateboards again from scratch.
But people still skated, even though parts were hard to find and boards were home made. Skaters were using clay wheels for their boards, which was extremely dangerous and hard to control. But then in 1972, Frank Nasworthy invented urethane skateboard wheels, which are similar to what most skaters use today. His company was called Cadillac Wheels, and the invention sparked new interest in skateboarding among surfers and other young people.
In the spring of 1975, skateboarding took an evolutionary boost toward the sport that we see today. In Del Mar, California a slalom and freestyle contest was held at the Ocean Festival. That day, the Zephyr team showed the world what skateboarding could be. They rode their boards like no one had in the public eye, low and smooth, and skateboarding was taken from being a hobby to something serious and exciting (Read more about the history of Dogtown and the Zephyr team). The Zephyr team had many members, but the most famous are Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta.
But that was only the first big jump in the evolution of skateboarding - continue to the next page for the rest of the history...
Q. Why is Naming Skateboarding Tricks So Confusing?
Q. Why is Naming Skateboarding Tricks So Confusing?
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Do you ever get confused about what to call a certain skateboarding trick? To be honest, it happens to everybody. It can get frustrating, and people can even get angry about it. So why is it so confusing?
A. Skateboarding has its roots in surfing, and so a lot of skateboarding tricks borrow names from surfing - like "backside" and "frontside" turns. You ever get confused about which is which?
But, as skateboarding began to evolve on its own, piles of skateboarding-specific trick names rolled around. Take the "Ollie" for example, named after Allen "Ollie" Gelfand who invented it. A lot of skateboarding tricks got named after the skater who invented them, like Christian Hosoi's "Christ Air" or Steve Caballero's "Caballerial". The McTwist is after Mike McGill, who invented it.
Other tricks were named for what they looked like, like a "Kickflip" or a "Pop Shuvit" (you pop the board then shove it around...).
Nollie is an Ollie off the Nose. A 360 is when you spin 360 degrees.
So, the mix of skater invented names and names that make sense would be confusing enough, especially with skateboarding evolving all over the planet independently, but then you add in snowboarding. Snowboarding uses several of the same names, but differently.
For example, the Indy. I was recently corrected on this one - in Snowboarding, the Indy is the name of a certain grab, where you reach down with your back hand and grab the board between your toes. In skateboarding, an Indy looks exactly the same, but the name implies that you are spinning backside.
But, here's where it gets REALLY messy - what if no one you know knows that? So who tells you the real name then? What do you call the trick where you sail off a ramp, don't spin, and reach down and grab the board, just like in an Indy? Do you know? Most likely, you'll call it an Indy, and would you be right? Would you be mad if someone told you you were wrong?
Here's where skateboarding fights against itself a little - everything in skateboarding is about being free, independent, and without rules. There IS no ruling body for skateboarding. You can't call up the NFL of skateboarding and ask them questions. It's impossible to ever nail anything down "officially". As soon as one group says, "We're right! Listen to us!", a lot of skaters out there will turn the other way. We don't like being told what to do, including what to name things.
But on the other hand, we don't want to look dumb, and we also want to make sure we are naming tricks correctly!
So, what should you do? A lot of skaters I know get their trick names from two places - the X Games and video games. And when they disagree about the name of a trick, sometimes they fight over it. Truthfully, those aren't the best sources - sometimes they are wrong. But, if they are wrong, and then you run with what they say, and everyone says it, then are you really wrong anymore? Skateboarding is still changing - there is no immutable Holy Bible or Pope of skateboarding. At least not yet!
Really, it doesn't matter what the trick is called, so much as you have fun doing it. That's the deal. Once you're good enough, and everyone listens to what you have to say, then you can demand that your trick be called a "Bobbyflip", or whatever your name is. But for now, don't stress about it. As long as you and your friends have a name for it, you're good to go. Get out and skate!
From Steve Cave,Your Guide to Skateboarding.
Do you ever get confused about what to call a certain skateboarding trick? To be honest, it happens to everybody. It can get frustrating, and people can even get angry about it. So why is it so confusing?
A. Skateboarding has its roots in surfing, and so a lot of skateboarding tricks borrow names from surfing - like "backside" and "frontside" turns. You ever get confused about which is which?
But, as skateboarding began to evolve on its own, piles of skateboarding-specific trick names rolled around. Take the "Ollie" for example, named after Allen "Ollie" Gelfand who invented it. A lot of skateboarding tricks got named after the skater who invented them, like Christian Hosoi's "Christ Air" or Steve Caballero's "Caballerial". The McTwist is after Mike McGill, who invented it.
Other tricks were named for what they looked like, like a "Kickflip" or a "Pop Shuvit" (you pop the board then shove it around...).
Nollie is an Ollie off the Nose. A 360 is when you spin 360 degrees.
So, the mix of skater invented names and names that make sense would be confusing enough, especially with skateboarding evolving all over the planet independently, but then you add in snowboarding. Snowboarding uses several of the same names, but differently.
For example, the Indy. I was recently corrected on this one - in Snowboarding, the Indy is the name of a certain grab, where you reach down with your back hand and grab the board between your toes. In skateboarding, an Indy looks exactly the same, but the name implies that you are spinning backside.
But, here's where it gets REALLY messy - what if no one you know knows that? So who tells you the real name then? What do you call the trick where you sail off a ramp, don't spin, and reach down and grab the board, just like in an Indy? Do you know? Most likely, you'll call it an Indy, and would you be right? Would you be mad if someone told you you were wrong?
Here's where skateboarding fights against itself a little - everything in skateboarding is about being free, independent, and without rules. There IS no ruling body for skateboarding. You can't call up the NFL of skateboarding and ask them questions. It's impossible to ever nail anything down "officially". As soon as one group says, "We're right! Listen to us!", a lot of skaters out there will turn the other way. We don't like being told what to do, including what to name things.
But on the other hand, we don't want to look dumb, and we also want to make sure we are naming tricks correctly!
So, what should you do? A lot of skaters I know get their trick names from two places - the X Games and video games. And when they disagree about the name of a trick, sometimes they fight over it. Truthfully, those aren't the best sources - sometimes they are wrong. But, if they are wrong, and then you run with what they say, and everyone says it, then are you really wrong anymore? Skateboarding is still changing - there is no immutable Holy Bible or Pope of skateboarding. At least not yet!
Really, it doesn't matter what the trick is called, so much as you have fun doing it. That's the deal. Once you're good enough, and everyone listens to what you have to say, then you can demand that your trick be called a "Bobbyflip", or whatever your name is. But for now, don't stress about it. As long as you and your friends have a name for it, you're good to go. Get out and skate!
Skateboarding, from Father to Son
Skateboarding, from Father to Son
It’s a sunny weekend afternoon and a Memphis father wheels up in his Sonata to a newly paved, sloping parking lot to let his 11-year-old son, Connor try out some well-honed tricks on his skateboard. It doesn’t take very long for Dad David to give into the longtime itch to get out his board too, a mid 1980s model. That’s just one of his older models he keeps in addition to a Bahne ash board from the mid 1970s and a Gordon & Smith Fibreflex from the same period.
After all, this 51-year old has seen a lot of skateboarding seasons cycle through. Out of the four total waves of the skateboarding scene, he has skated in the last three and vaguely remembers the first wave from afar. That was the pre-urethene one with hardened clay wheels that followed the original metal wheels.
Both father and son have taken their scrapes with the dad winning the prize for bumming up the knees and elbows more than the son.
It was not long ago that he would also ride the skate parks too, but his wiser wife, Cathy, raises a concerned eyebrow about the prospect of missing work as an editor of a daily business newspaper. Rightfully so. Daughter Lawrence just likes going to see some of the skateboarders ride from time to time.
It will be many years and cycles of skateboarding before David even considers putting his board up for all time.
Ride, ride, ride – let ‘em ride…
That was from David Yawn - thanks for sharing that with us. David has been skating since clay wheels and is still riding today, and is sharing his passion with his son. There's absolutely no reason to stop skating for age, or any other reason, really. You can contact the author at ysanctus@aol.com.
Skateboarding attracts all kinds of people with interesting stories - Dean just started to learn to skate at 41 - read I'm Not Too Old to Skate! for his story. And Daredog, as she likes to be called, was blinded at a young age and picked up skateboarding at 20. Read Blind Speed for her story.
Got a great story of your own? Post a comment below, or e-mail me, or both!
It’s a sunny weekend afternoon and a Memphis father wheels up in his Sonata to a newly paved, sloping parking lot to let his 11-year-old son, Connor try out some well-honed tricks on his skateboard. It doesn’t take very long for Dad David to give into the longtime itch to get out his board too, a mid 1980s model. That’s just one of his older models he keeps in addition to a Bahne ash board from the mid 1970s and a Gordon & Smith Fibreflex from the same period.
After all, this 51-year old has seen a lot of skateboarding seasons cycle through. Out of the four total waves of the skateboarding scene, he has skated in the last three and vaguely remembers the first wave from afar. That was the pre-urethene one with hardened clay wheels that followed the original metal wheels.
Both father and son have taken their scrapes with the dad winning the prize for bumming up the knees and elbows more than the son.
It was not long ago that he would also ride the skate parks too, but his wiser wife, Cathy, raises a concerned eyebrow about the prospect of missing work as an editor of a daily business newspaper. Rightfully so. Daughter Lawrence just likes going to see some of the skateboarders ride from time to time.
It will be many years and cycles of skateboarding before David even considers putting his board up for all time.
Ride, ride, ride – let ‘em ride…
That was from David Yawn - thanks for sharing that with us. David has been skating since clay wheels and is still riding today, and is sharing his passion with his son. There's absolutely no reason to stop skating for age, or any other reason, really. You can contact the author at ysanctus@aol.com.
Skateboarding attracts all kinds of people with interesting stories - Dean just started to learn to skate at 41 - read I'm Not Too Old to Skate! for his story. And Daredog, as she likes to be called, was blinded at a young age and picked up skateboarding at 20. Read Blind Speed for her story.
Got a great story of your own? Post a comment below, or e-mail me, or both!
KICK OR SKATE YOUR WAY INTO THE MILLENIUM
KICK OR SKATE YOUR WAY INTO THE MILLENIUM
Paws Plus ... Inc. is proud to introduce three new products to all who enjoy Winter Sports! These new models arrive just in time for Xmas and Winter Family Fun!Worldwide shipping is available.
Transactions are in Canadian dollars! All sleds are F.O.B. and estimates are gladly given. Secure Online ordering available at our website. See you there!Do you want lots of exercise?
Look at *The Canadian Kicker* Y2K Model Sled.Do you love to skate? Look at *The Canadian Skater* Y2K Model Sled... you don't even have to know how to skate to enjoy the sport ... Have a seat and glide around in style (as long as you know someone who is willing to skate behind the seat to guide the sled, of course).
Do you have a dog that likes to pull or run in the snow? Look at *The Canadian Sled* Y2K Model Sled! This sled can be used as a Kick Sled (inspired by the Norwegian kick sleds of old) or pulled by one dog for recreational activities.These folding sleds are easily transported and stored.
Visit our website to find out how easy it is to get lots of mileage out of one of these sleds because of the interchangeable skis available!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Paws Plus ... Inc. 18959 South Branch Road, RR #1, Williamstown, Ontario, Canada K0C 2J0URL: http://www.pawsplus.net ; Email: pawsplus@pawsplus.netTel: 613-931-2408 Toll Free Order Line: 800-915-9767 (North America)Fax: 613-931-2079
Paws Plus ... Inc. is proud to introduce three new products to all who enjoy Winter Sports! These new models arrive just in time for Xmas and Winter Family Fun!Worldwide shipping is available.
Transactions are in Canadian dollars! All sleds are F.O.B. and estimates are gladly given. Secure Online ordering available at our website. See you there!Do you want lots of exercise?
Look at *The Canadian Kicker* Y2K Model Sled.Do you love to skate? Look at *The Canadian Skater* Y2K Model Sled... you don't even have to know how to skate to enjoy the sport ... Have a seat and glide around in style (as long as you know someone who is willing to skate behind the seat to guide the sled, of course).
Do you have a dog that likes to pull or run in the snow? Look at *The Canadian Sled* Y2K Model Sled! This sled can be used as a Kick Sled (inspired by the Norwegian kick sleds of old) or pulled by one dog for recreational activities.These folding sleds are easily transported and stored.
Visit our website to find out how easy it is to get lots of mileage out of one of these sleds because of the interchangeable skis available!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Paws Plus ... Inc. 18959 South Branch Road, RR #1, Williamstown, Ontario, Canada K0C 2J0URL: http://www.pawsplus.net ; Email: pawsplus@pawsplus.netTel: 613-931-2408 Toll Free Order Line: 800-915-9767 (North America)Fax: 613-931-2079
How To Assemble a Skateboard?
Things you will need:
1 Skate board deck
1 sheet skate board deck griptape
2 skateboard trucks
4 skateboard wheels
8 skateboard wheel bearings
2 risers1 set of mounting hardware
1 philips head screwdriver
1 skate tool
1 metal file
1 sharp razorblade
1. First apply the skate board deck grip tape.
By unpeeling the backing and then carefully stick the tape evenly on the top surface of the skate deck. File down the grip tape around the edges of the skateboard, and then carefully use the razorblade to slice off the excess grip tape that hangs over the edges on the skatedeck.
2. Next, attach your skate trucks to your skateboard deck.
Use one of the screws from the mounting hardware to poke a hole in the griptape. Then push the mounting hardware from the top of the skatedeck to the bottom.
3. Now slide the risers over the hardware.
Next slide your skate trucks on. Make sure that the bushings from the trucks point toward each other or face the center of the board. Tighten the nut with the skate tool until it's flush with the trucks. Warning: Do not over tighten; you can cause the wood to split.
4. Now press the bearings into your wheels using the skate tool.
Repeat this for all four wheels. If you do not have a skate tool. You can use your axe on the trucks by placing the bearing on the axel and then pressing the wheel into the bearing, causing the bearing to slip into the wheel. Warning: Be very carefull not to dent or pinch the metal seal around the sides of the bearing. This will ruin the bearings and cause them not to spin!
5. Once the bearings are in place, you can put the on the trucks.
Do not over tighten this will crush the bearing causing it not to role.
6. Now the board is ready to skate. You may need to fine tune the trucks to your liking by loosening them or tighten them. The looser the trucks the easier to carve.
7. Once you are done you can always customize your board with some stickers
Remember to skate safe and wear your pads when needed.
Fred Riehl has been surfing and working with Brave New World surf shops for 18 years!
The Tube Quest Continues at ... www.bravesurf.com
1 Skate board deck
1 sheet skate board deck griptape
2 skateboard trucks
4 skateboard wheels
8 skateboard wheel bearings
2 risers1 set of mounting hardware
1 philips head screwdriver
1 skate tool
1 metal file
1 sharp razorblade
1. First apply the skate board deck grip tape.
By unpeeling the backing and then carefully stick the tape evenly on the top surface of the skate deck. File down the grip tape around the edges of the skateboard, and then carefully use the razorblade to slice off the excess grip tape that hangs over the edges on the skatedeck.
2. Next, attach your skate trucks to your skateboard deck.
Use one of the screws from the mounting hardware to poke a hole in the griptape. Then push the mounting hardware from the top of the skatedeck to the bottom.
3. Now slide the risers over the hardware.
Next slide your skate trucks on. Make sure that the bushings from the trucks point toward each other or face the center of the board. Tighten the nut with the skate tool until it's flush with the trucks. Warning: Do not over tighten; you can cause the wood to split.
4. Now press the bearings into your wheels using the skate tool.
Repeat this for all four wheels. If you do not have a skate tool. You can use your axe on the trucks by placing the bearing on the axel and then pressing the wheel into the bearing, causing the bearing to slip into the wheel. Warning: Be very carefull not to dent or pinch the metal seal around the sides of the bearing. This will ruin the bearings and cause them not to spin!
5. Once the bearings are in place, you can put the on the trucks.
Do not over tighten this will crush the bearing causing it not to role.
6. Now the board is ready to skate. You may need to fine tune the trucks to your liking by loosening them or tighten them. The looser the trucks the easier to carve.
7. Once you are done you can always customize your board with some stickers
Remember to skate safe and wear your pads when needed.
Fred Riehl has been surfing and working with Brave New World surf shops for 18 years!
The Tube Quest Continues at ... www.bravesurf.com
Pro Skateboard Trick Tips - The 360 Flip
By Amy S
If you want to learn some skateboard trick tips that will have you looking like a pro without being featured on MTV's Scarred, read on.
The 360 Flip:
If you've followed the first of the skateboard trick tips and have learned how to do an Ollie, this trick will go more smoothly. This one is really cool, and looks impressive when you do it in front of your friends.
When you slam your back foot on the board just like when you do an Ollie, hit it extra hard in order to try and flip it. While you're doing this, allow your front foot to slide off the board and use your toes to flip it that way as well.
Be careful while you're doing this trick, because it's easy to get jumbled up and fall. After you've managed the flip, you want to catch the board with your feet and center it again.
Don’t forget to bend your knees no matter which of the skateboard trick tips you're doing. With all tricks, it will help you absorb the shock of the landing so you won't be injured. You can try and learn these tricks on a stationary board, as it may be easier.
Just place your board on grass or some other textured surface to keep it from moving. Once you've learned to do these tricks on a board that's not moving, you should practice them with the board rolling.
If you want to see some online instructional videos check out http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/ If you follow the skateboard trick tips above, you'll look like a pro in no time.
Amy S is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
If you want to learn some skateboard trick tips that will have you looking like a pro without being featured on MTV's Scarred, read on.
The 360 Flip:
If you've followed the first of the skateboard trick tips and have learned how to do an Ollie, this trick will go more smoothly. This one is really cool, and looks impressive when you do it in front of your friends.
When you slam your back foot on the board just like when you do an Ollie, hit it extra hard in order to try and flip it. While you're doing this, allow your front foot to slide off the board and use your toes to flip it that way as well.
Be careful while you're doing this trick, because it's easy to get jumbled up and fall. After you've managed the flip, you want to catch the board with your feet and center it again.
Don’t forget to bend your knees no matter which of the skateboard trick tips you're doing. With all tricks, it will help you absorb the shock of the landing so you won't be injured. You can try and learn these tricks on a stationary board, as it may be easier.
Just place your board on grass or some other textured surface to keep it from moving. Once you've learned to do these tricks on a board that's not moving, you should practice them with the board rolling.
If you want to see some online instructional videos check out http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/ If you follow the skateboard trick tips above, you'll look like a pro in no time.
Amy S is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
Pro Skateboard Trick Tips - The Ollie
By Amy S
So, you want to be able to do tricks with your board like the pros, huh? Most pros train for years before they can catch all that air.
However, Practice makes perfect, and once you get this trick down, your friends will flip out and be so jealous.
The Ollie:
The Ollie is the absolute most used skateboard tricks, and a lot of other tricks are based on this one. Most Skateboard trick tips will tell you how to do it, but they don't include the tips that make it easier.
You should be on your board with your back foot on the tail of the board. Your front foot should be in the middle of the skateboard, and you should have your knees slightly bent.
Don't ride very fast while you're learning to Ollie. You don't want to eat dirt before you learn this cool trick. Now, here is one of the neatest skateboard trick tips when you're learning to Ollie.
As you're riding, the lower you bend, the more air you will get. In fact, your hands shouldn't be too far from the ground.
When you're ready to do the Ollie, you want to jump high into the air by slamming your back foot on the tail of the board. You should hit the board with your foot as hard as you can, and when you go into the air, your board should follow.
In fact, if you want to see some pro skateboard trick tips in action check out http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Make sure that you stay in the center of your board to keep it balanced. Keep your knees bent so that you will absorb the landing better.
Just follow the skateboard trick tips above and you will be skating like a pro before you know it.
Amy S is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
So, you want to be able to do tricks with your board like the pros, huh? Most pros train for years before they can catch all that air.
However, Practice makes perfect, and once you get this trick down, your friends will flip out and be so jealous.
The Ollie:
The Ollie is the absolute most used skateboard tricks, and a lot of other tricks are based on this one. Most Skateboard trick tips will tell you how to do it, but they don't include the tips that make it easier.
You should be on your board with your back foot on the tail of the board. Your front foot should be in the middle of the skateboard, and you should have your knees slightly bent.
Don't ride very fast while you're learning to Ollie. You don't want to eat dirt before you learn this cool trick. Now, here is one of the neatest skateboard trick tips when you're learning to Ollie.
As you're riding, the lower you bend, the more air you will get. In fact, your hands shouldn't be too far from the ground.
When you're ready to do the Ollie, you want to jump high into the air by slamming your back foot on the tail of the board. You should hit the board with your foot as hard as you can, and when you go into the air, your board should follow.
In fact, if you want to see some pro skateboard trick tips in action check out http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Make sure that you stay in the center of your board to keep it balanced. Keep your knees bent so that you will absorb the landing better.
Just follow the skateboard trick tips above and you will be skating like a pro before you know it.
Amy S is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Skateboarding
By Marcus Peterson
Skateboarding has its own culture. Skateboarders, in general, have their own style. Their clothing is individualized. They may sport tattoos and piercings. They practice their craft on their favorite skateboards in shopping malls, on stairs, in their driveways. Some places have skateboarding parks where people who are passionate can practice tricks and socialize with their friends. Many are intrigued by the culture and want to join in but don't know how.
Well, if you want to get into skateboarding, the first thing to do is buy a skateboard. Pick a board that fits your own personal style, because that is a large part of what skateboarding is all about. You'll want to find a skateboard that you'll feel proud to own because it represents you as an individual. You should also pick up some safety gear; you'll probably fall a lot at first.
There is no dress code for skateboarding. Just wear something comfortable. If you want to get into skateboarding, don't feel as if you need to dress like a typical skater if that isn't your style. The point is to find a unique way to express yourself, not to fit into a group. People will respect you more for your individuality.
Next, you'll want to take your first ride. Get someone who's been skateboarding for a while to help you. It can take a while to learn how to balance on the skateboard and maintain that balance as you are riding. Once you master that, you can start to learn some tricks. You can either learn by trial and error or get someone to show you how. After that, you're on your way to being a pro!
Skateboarding provides detailed information on Skateboarding, Skateboarding Shoes, Skateboarding Tricks, The History Of Skateboarding and more. Skateboarding is affiliated with Skateboard Ramps.
Skateboarding has its own culture. Skateboarders, in general, have their own style. Their clothing is individualized. They may sport tattoos and piercings. They practice their craft on their favorite skateboards in shopping malls, on stairs, in their driveways. Some places have skateboarding parks where people who are passionate can practice tricks and socialize with their friends. Many are intrigued by the culture and want to join in but don't know how.
Well, if you want to get into skateboarding, the first thing to do is buy a skateboard. Pick a board that fits your own personal style, because that is a large part of what skateboarding is all about. You'll want to find a skateboard that you'll feel proud to own because it represents you as an individual. You should also pick up some safety gear; you'll probably fall a lot at first.
There is no dress code for skateboarding. Just wear something comfortable. If you want to get into skateboarding, don't feel as if you need to dress like a typical skater if that isn't your style. The point is to find a unique way to express yourself, not to fit into a group. People will respect you more for your individuality.
Next, you'll want to take your first ride. Get someone who's been skateboarding for a while to help you. It can take a while to learn how to balance on the skateboard and maintain that balance as you are riding. Once you master that, you can start to learn some tricks. You can either learn by trial and error or get someone to show you how. After that, you're on your way to being a pro!
Skateboarding provides detailed information on Skateboarding, Skateboarding Shoes, Skateboarding Tricks, The History Of Skateboarding and more. Skateboarding is affiliated with Skateboard Ramps.
Easy Skateboard Trick Tips - Rock to Fakie
By Amy S
Want to learn how to skateboard just like the pros? You need to learn the basics first. Here is the perfect trick to get you started.
Rock to Fakie:
This is one of the first skateboard trick tips that most people learn to do on a ramp. You should start off learning how to do this on a mini ramp.
This is the trick where a skater goes up one side of the ramp, parks for a second on the edge of the ramp (the coping,) and then rocks back down and goes down the ramp.
You want your feet positioned the same way that they're positioned for an Ollie, with your front foot a little closer to the nose of the board. Your back foot should be one the tail of the board.
While you're rolling up the ramp, just before you hit the coping, you want to stomp down just a bit on the nose of the board. This will park your board on the coping.
Allow gravity to catch up with you, and then you will pop the trucks of the board back over the coping so that you will ride back down the ramp.
If you follow the skateboard trick tips in this article, you will be learning some great tips, and in no time you will be able to move onto the more advanced tricks in no time.
Keep in mind while you're learning that skateboarding is hard, and you have to practice your butt off to get good.
You can do it, though if you have the proper drive and determination. If you want to see some more advanced skateboard tricks in action you can see some free videos at http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Amy J is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
Want to learn how to skateboard just like the pros? You need to learn the basics first. Here is the perfect trick to get you started.
Rock to Fakie:
This is one of the first skateboard trick tips that most people learn to do on a ramp. You should start off learning how to do this on a mini ramp.
This is the trick where a skater goes up one side of the ramp, parks for a second on the edge of the ramp (the coping,) and then rocks back down and goes down the ramp.
You want your feet positioned the same way that they're positioned for an Ollie, with your front foot a little closer to the nose of the board. Your back foot should be one the tail of the board.
While you're rolling up the ramp, just before you hit the coping, you want to stomp down just a bit on the nose of the board. This will park your board on the coping.
Allow gravity to catch up with you, and then you will pop the trucks of the board back over the coping so that you will ride back down the ramp.
If you follow the skateboard trick tips in this article, you will be learning some great tips, and in no time you will be able to move onto the more advanced tricks in no time.
Keep in mind while you're learning that skateboarding is hard, and you have to practice your butt off to get good.
You can do it, though if you have the proper drive and determination. If you want to see some more advanced skateboard tricks in action you can see some free videos at http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Amy J is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
Easy Skateboard Trick Tips - Indy Grab
By Amy S
So you want to learn how to skateboard like the pros? Well before you do that, you need to start with some basic skateboarding trick tips to help get you going.
The Indy Grab:
One of the easiest and most used tricks in skateboarding is the Indy Grab. This is where you see skaters catching air, bending down and grabbing their board. It looks really cool, and it's one of the first skateboard trick tips you should learn.
The first thing you want to do is learn how to do the Ollie. Once you know how to do this, you can incorporate the Indy Grab. While you're riding, you should have your front foot in the middle of the board, and your back foot on the tail of the board.
You will slam down on the board and with your back foot and jump at the same time. You will keep your body centered on the board so that it stays even. This is the basic steps of the Ollie. Once you have this down, you will reach down while you're in the air and hold onto the board between your feet.
Let go before you hit the ground, and always keep your knees bent so that it will absorb the shock of the landing. You can do this trick on a ramp, as you're coming off the flat edge, or you can do it on flat ground. One of the best skateboard trick tips is to try and get as high as you can. This will help you have enough time to pull off the Indy Grab.
If you want to see some more advanced skateboard tricks in action you can see some free videos at http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Amy J is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
So you want to learn how to skateboard like the pros? Well before you do that, you need to start with some basic skateboarding trick tips to help get you going.
The Indy Grab:
One of the easiest and most used tricks in skateboarding is the Indy Grab. This is where you see skaters catching air, bending down and grabbing their board. It looks really cool, and it's one of the first skateboard trick tips you should learn.
The first thing you want to do is learn how to do the Ollie. Once you know how to do this, you can incorporate the Indy Grab. While you're riding, you should have your front foot in the middle of the board, and your back foot on the tail of the board.
You will slam down on the board and with your back foot and jump at the same time. You will keep your body centered on the board so that it stays even. This is the basic steps of the Ollie. Once you have this down, you will reach down while you're in the air and hold onto the board between your feet.
Let go before you hit the ground, and always keep your knees bent so that it will absorb the shock of the landing. You can do this trick on a ramp, as you're coming off the flat edge, or you can do it on flat ground. One of the best skateboard trick tips is to try and get as high as you can. This will help you have enough time to pull off the Indy Grab.
If you want to see some more advanced skateboard tricks in action you can see some free videos at http://www.skateboardtricktips.net/
Amy J is creator of Skateboard Trick Tips. Visit and discover how to take your skateboarding level from poser to pro.
Skateboarding - Building a Jump Ramp in 10 Easy Steps
By Steve Batchelor
Whether you are into skateboards, bikes or in-line skates you really need a jump ramp to launch yourself into the air and perform all those crazy aerial stunts. You have probably been and tried out other peoples ramps but of course you want a better one in your own back yard. Read on and we'll tell you how to go about it....
Step one
Check out as many jump ramps as you can, it's the best way to find out what kind of ramp you want for yourself. When you find ones you like make a note of what you like about them so you can copy it for your ramp. You are interested in the height and transition; why not take a photo on your mobile to refer to when you're designing your own.
Step two
Collect together all your notes and photos and sit down and design your ramp on paper. Decide how high you want to go, don't go over board to start with if you're a beginner, you can always make a bigger ramp in the future.
Step three
When you have the design you want sketched on paper you need to draw the shape of the transition (sides of the ramp) on some plywood. The best way to do this is to lay a large sheet of plywood on the floor, tie some string about 8 feet long to a pencil, place the pencil on the corner of the plywood, stretch the string out along and extending past the shortest edge of the plywood and anchor the end of the string to the floor. You can then draw a curve keeping the string taut as you do it. You may need to play around with the length of the string and the anchor point to get the curve you want.
Step four
When you have sketched the curve you want on the plywood and you are happy with it, you can cut out the shape with a jigsaw. Make sure to get an adult to help you....
Step five
When you have cut the shape out get the edges nice and smooth with some sandpaper or and electric sander. Then you can lay it on another sheet of plywood, or if you had your head screwed on when you planned the ramp you might be able to get both sides of the transition out of one sheet of plywood. Trace around the first transition then cut and sand to suit.
Step six
Now you have two identical pieces which you should brace together with some 2" by 4" timber. Nail or screw a length at each corner. If you're clever you will make the ramp the same width as the material you are going to use for the curved riding surface of the ramp to save you cutting it.
Step seven
Fix more 2" by 4"s lengths between the curved sections of the transitions at 6" intervals. Make sure these are well fixed and your ramp will last longer. Screw from the outside in with at least two screws at each end for the best results. Pilot drill the holes for the screws to prevent splitting.
Step eight
Glue and nail a piece of flexible double ply to the riding surface; obviously you will have made your ramp the right width to accommodate this without cutting it...
Step nine
Fit a flat thin piece of metal at the bottom of the ramp to bridge the gap and give a smooth transition between the ramp and the floor. Make sure there are no exposed nails or screw heads on the ramp or your tyres and wheels won't last long.
Step ten
Hopefully you have finished up with a strong sturdy design. Test the strength of the ramp with your own body weight before you use it. It would be a shame to break your neck after going to all that trouble....
Steve Batchelor is a Extreme Sports enthusiast and the webmaster at http://www.extremesportguides.com/ where you can find some great information on many different extreme sports. He also recommends infogoldmine for more info on extreme sports as well as many other subjects.
Whether you are into skateboards, bikes or in-line skates you really need a jump ramp to launch yourself into the air and perform all those crazy aerial stunts. You have probably been and tried out other peoples ramps but of course you want a better one in your own back yard. Read on and we'll tell you how to go about it....
Step one
Check out as many jump ramps as you can, it's the best way to find out what kind of ramp you want for yourself. When you find ones you like make a note of what you like about them so you can copy it for your ramp. You are interested in the height and transition; why not take a photo on your mobile to refer to when you're designing your own.
Step two
Collect together all your notes and photos and sit down and design your ramp on paper. Decide how high you want to go, don't go over board to start with if you're a beginner, you can always make a bigger ramp in the future.
Step three
When you have the design you want sketched on paper you need to draw the shape of the transition (sides of the ramp) on some plywood. The best way to do this is to lay a large sheet of plywood on the floor, tie some string about 8 feet long to a pencil, place the pencil on the corner of the plywood, stretch the string out along and extending past the shortest edge of the plywood and anchor the end of the string to the floor. You can then draw a curve keeping the string taut as you do it. You may need to play around with the length of the string and the anchor point to get the curve you want.
Step four
When you have sketched the curve you want on the plywood and you are happy with it, you can cut out the shape with a jigsaw. Make sure to get an adult to help you....
Step five
When you have cut the shape out get the edges nice and smooth with some sandpaper or and electric sander. Then you can lay it on another sheet of plywood, or if you had your head screwed on when you planned the ramp you might be able to get both sides of the transition out of one sheet of plywood. Trace around the first transition then cut and sand to suit.
Step six
Now you have two identical pieces which you should brace together with some 2" by 4" timber. Nail or screw a length at each corner. If you're clever you will make the ramp the same width as the material you are going to use for the curved riding surface of the ramp to save you cutting it.
Step seven
Fix more 2" by 4"s lengths between the curved sections of the transitions at 6" intervals. Make sure these are well fixed and your ramp will last longer. Screw from the outside in with at least two screws at each end for the best results. Pilot drill the holes for the screws to prevent splitting.
Step eight
Glue and nail a piece of flexible double ply to the riding surface; obviously you will have made your ramp the right width to accommodate this without cutting it...
Step nine
Fit a flat thin piece of metal at the bottom of the ramp to bridge the gap and give a smooth transition between the ramp and the floor. Make sure there are no exposed nails or screw heads on the ramp or your tyres and wheels won't last long.
Step ten
Hopefully you have finished up with a strong sturdy design. Test the strength of the ramp with your own body weight before you use it. It would be a shame to break your neck after going to all that trouble....
Steve Batchelor is a Extreme Sports enthusiast and the webmaster at http://www.extremesportguides.com/ where you can find some great information on many different extreme sports. He also recommends infogoldmine for more info on extreme sports as well as many other subjects.
Skateboarding Tricks and Tips
By Chris Angelo
Skateboarding is a fascinating and fun sport that is growing rapidly.
To help you get the most from skateboarding, below are a few tricks and tips that can be very useful.
Here are a few skateboarding tips to get you started.
• Overcome the fear of having your back face the transition
• Learn how to stall properly
• Learn how to gain momentum
• Never let your edge wheels hang up
Here is a list of some of the most popular tricks.
• Stall
• Backside 50-50 on transition
• Frontside 50-50 on transition
• Frontside 5-0 on transition
• Ollie
• Kickflip
• Kickflip nose manual
One of the first things that a skateboarder needs to learn is how to stall. This needs to be done before you attempt to move on to other tricks. Stalling helps you to get familiar with your weight placement which aids in other tricks. Once you have accomplished this move you are ready to move on.
To perform a stall start off with a good amount of speed and as soon as the trucks on the back of the skateboard reaches the coping turn and make your heel edge wheel roll onto the top of the coping. Put your weight over the heel edge to help you get up on top of the coping. Once you have accomplished this, continue by setting your front truck down and finish off the stall by dropping back in, lift up your front truck then kickturn into a tranny. Avoid hang ups by putting weight on the toe edge.
The Backside 50-50 on transition is one of the first tricks that most skaters learn. Begin with more speed than you need to simply perform a stall. When you approach the coping turn slightly so you will be at an angle, this will allow you to ride the coping. The more momentum you have the further you will be able to go before dropping back in with the kickturn.
The Frontside 50-50 can be very intimidating for many skaters because your back is facing down the transition. However, once you get over this fear you will be amazed at all the tricks you will be able to accomplish. Gain momentum and go straight up the transition. When you near the coping turn because, instead of your heel edge wheel you want the toe edge wheel of the back truck to hook as far as possible over the coping. Begin with the back truck first and then set down on your front truck. You need to keep your weight mainly on the toe side of your skateboard.
To do a Frontside 5-0 transition you must get on top of the coping and scrape some metal. Get up as much speed as possible, turn putting your body weight to the front then lock your back truck onto the coping. After some practice and learning how to keep your balance you got it made.
The Ollie will be the next trick that you need to learn followed by the kickflip and the kickflip nose manual. As you may have noticed learning one trick will help you accomplish the next one.
For instance, knowing how to do the Ollie will help you accomplish the kickflip, which in turn helps you learn the kickflip nose manual. Take your time and learn one trick at a time. Before you know it, you will be a skating pro that knows all the tricks and tips to success.
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
Skateboarding is a fascinating and fun sport that is growing rapidly.
To help you get the most from skateboarding, below are a few tricks and tips that can be very useful.
Here are a few skateboarding tips to get you started.
• Overcome the fear of having your back face the transition
• Learn how to stall properly
• Learn how to gain momentum
• Never let your edge wheels hang up
Here is a list of some of the most popular tricks.
• Stall
• Backside 50-50 on transition
• Frontside 50-50 on transition
• Frontside 5-0 on transition
• Ollie
• Kickflip
• Kickflip nose manual
One of the first things that a skateboarder needs to learn is how to stall. This needs to be done before you attempt to move on to other tricks. Stalling helps you to get familiar with your weight placement which aids in other tricks. Once you have accomplished this move you are ready to move on.
To perform a stall start off with a good amount of speed and as soon as the trucks on the back of the skateboard reaches the coping turn and make your heel edge wheel roll onto the top of the coping. Put your weight over the heel edge to help you get up on top of the coping. Once you have accomplished this, continue by setting your front truck down and finish off the stall by dropping back in, lift up your front truck then kickturn into a tranny. Avoid hang ups by putting weight on the toe edge.
The Backside 50-50 on transition is one of the first tricks that most skaters learn. Begin with more speed than you need to simply perform a stall. When you approach the coping turn slightly so you will be at an angle, this will allow you to ride the coping. The more momentum you have the further you will be able to go before dropping back in with the kickturn.
The Frontside 50-50 can be very intimidating for many skaters because your back is facing down the transition. However, once you get over this fear you will be amazed at all the tricks you will be able to accomplish. Gain momentum and go straight up the transition. When you near the coping turn because, instead of your heel edge wheel you want the toe edge wheel of the back truck to hook as far as possible over the coping. Begin with the back truck first and then set down on your front truck. You need to keep your weight mainly on the toe side of your skateboard.
To do a Frontside 5-0 transition you must get on top of the coping and scrape some metal. Get up as much speed as possible, turn putting your body weight to the front then lock your back truck onto the coping. After some practice and learning how to keep your balance you got it made.
The Ollie will be the next trick that you need to learn followed by the kickflip and the kickflip nose manual. As you may have noticed learning one trick will help you accomplish the next one.
For instance, knowing how to do the Ollie will help you accomplish the kickflip, which in turn helps you learn the kickflip nose manual. Take your time and learn one trick at a time. Before you know it, you will be a skating pro that knows all the tricks and tips to success.
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
World's Longest Longboard Skateboard
By Lorenzo Green
Thanks to “Nervous Ned” on Silverfish I found someone who would actually road an 100 INCH beast. Ned said that it was in 2005 at the New Jersey Fatboy Garage Fest. So it’s no longer an 88 INCH record, we are up to 100 now.
A guy called George won the “longest board” contest by riding a homemade 100 inch board (carving, board walking, sliding, and racing), and i think he actually came in third place in the downhill race somehow. it was amazing watching him drifting 90 degree corners around the garage. he won pie that day.
Im sure this kid looks no older then 17, decent effort for the board! Congrats George!
After writing this post I found the official “Longest Longboard Skateboard World Record.
After the two previous Longboard Skateboard World Records I talked about were impressive and I thought they would not get any longer. But no! Here is the official longest longboard ever built! Longboard
Ever thought you had seen some longboards that are just to long? Well check out this one! It would sure make things interesting if you wanted to turn sharply on it. But would be the king of board walking kings!
Introducing the worlds Largest Longboard “Texas Rolling Thunder” - 80″A massive solid wood juggernaut - 80″ Long with dual tandem trucks Titanium bearings. Rock steady on downhill rolls. Comes complete with custom soul kryptonic wheels.
I tried hunting the “World’s Shortest Shortboard” but it seems no one has taken that title yet. I wonder how short it can get, you would probably end up looking like you just had rollerskates on. World’s Longest Longboard wins!
– If any one has a video of a mentally long longboard or a stupidly short shortboard, send them in here! http://skurfboards.com/
Thanks to “Nervous Ned” on Silverfish I found someone who would actually road an 100 INCH beast. Ned said that it was in 2005 at the New Jersey Fatboy Garage Fest. So it’s no longer an 88 INCH record, we are up to 100 now.
A guy called George won the “longest board” contest by riding a homemade 100 inch board (carving, board walking, sliding, and racing), and i think he actually came in third place in the downhill race somehow. it was amazing watching him drifting 90 degree corners around the garage. he won pie that day.
Im sure this kid looks no older then 17, decent effort for the board! Congrats George!
After writing this post I found the official “Longest Longboard Skateboard World Record.
After the two previous Longboard Skateboard World Records I talked about were impressive and I thought they would not get any longer. But no! Here is the official longest longboard ever built! Longboard
Ever thought you had seen some longboards that are just to long? Well check out this one! It would sure make things interesting if you wanted to turn sharply on it. But would be the king of board walking kings!
Introducing the worlds Largest Longboard “Texas Rolling Thunder” - 80″A massive solid wood juggernaut - 80″ Long with dual tandem trucks Titanium bearings. Rock steady on downhill rolls. Comes complete with custom soul kryptonic wheels.
I tried hunting the “World’s Shortest Shortboard” but it seems no one has taken that title yet. I wonder how short it can get, you would probably end up looking like you just had rollerskates on. World’s Longest Longboard wins!
– If any one has a video of a mentally long longboard or a stupidly short shortboard, send them in here! http://skurfboards.com/
Make a Skateboard
By Dash Hammer
It is very easy to learn how to make one with easy to find tools. Of course, many skateboarders have a dream of making skateboarding a profession instead of just something they do in their spare time. Once you learn the technique for making skateboards, assuming either you or a friend have any art talent, a logical next step would be to try to turn this into a business.
Before starting any business, you should first do market research. What this means is asking yourself if there's a market for your product - in this case, custom made skateboards. Skateboarding is a 2.5 billion dollar industry, and it's growing each year. I don't know about you, but a tiny piece of that pie would be very nice. So there is a market.
The next step is to determine if you can get people to find your business. The great news is that the Internet is an awesome tool for driving customers to your business, so once you have a cool website with a few different board designs on it, you can get customers to come to you without the expense of opening a traditional store in a strip mall. Again, if you have web skills with any design talents or know a friend who does, it should be fairly easy to make a killer website which will help drive sales.
Lastly, you'll need to figure out how to mass produce skateboards - maybe smallish quantities, but more than you could do with a wooden-block form and a shop vacuum. Fortunately, you can either make skateboard forms out of concrete or purchase them online (there are several suppliers). Then you'll just have to mount this form into a press (a hand-jack inside a custom welded frame will work until you can afford a hydraulic press) and start semi-mass producing boards. Maple veneer and epoxy are both readily available online, so this really is an easy startup compared to many other business.
Other things to remember, however, is that even though this business will relate to something you're passionate about, it will still be a business.
Most small businesses fail in the first year. This isn't because they didn't have a great product in most cases, it's because the owners didn't know how to run a business. In most towns in the US, there is a Small Business Development Center - if not an the town, nearby. They provide a free service to help small businesses succeed. I highly recommend visiting them early in the planning stage and anytime you run into a stumbling block. Any time you can find a free resource to help your business succeed, it's a huge plus.
So again, once you can make a skateboard, figure out if you can make it a business. It might not be enough to retire on, but you never know - you might be the next Paul Schmitt!
Dash Hammer is a rabid skateboarder who has been researching methods to make skateboards and skateboard related items. He enjoys the sport, and knows that skateboarding has great potential as a business. He hopes to be able to show you how you can turn it into more of a hobby, and perhaps even a business as well. Visit Dash's blog for more information on how to make a skateboard and how to develop a skateboarding business.
It is very easy to learn how to make one with easy to find tools. Of course, many skateboarders have a dream of making skateboarding a profession instead of just something they do in their spare time. Once you learn the technique for making skateboards, assuming either you or a friend have any art talent, a logical next step would be to try to turn this into a business.
Before starting any business, you should first do market research. What this means is asking yourself if there's a market for your product - in this case, custom made skateboards. Skateboarding is a 2.5 billion dollar industry, and it's growing each year. I don't know about you, but a tiny piece of that pie would be very nice. So there is a market.
The next step is to determine if you can get people to find your business. The great news is that the Internet is an awesome tool for driving customers to your business, so once you have a cool website with a few different board designs on it, you can get customers to come to you without the expense of opening a traditional store in a strip mall. Again, if you have web skills with any design talents or know a friend who does, it should be fairly easy to make a killer website which will help drive sales.
Lastly, you'll need to figure out how to mass produce skateboards - maybe smallish quantities, but more than you could do with a wooden-block form and a shop vacuum. Fortunately, you can either make skateboard forms out of concrete or purchase them online (there are several suppliers). Then you'll just have to mount this form into a press (a hand-jack inside a custom welded frame will work until you can afford a hydraulic press) and start semi-mass producing boards. Maple veneer and epoxy are both readily available online, so this really is an easy startup compared to many other business.
Other things to remember, however, is that even though this business will relate to something you're passionate about, it will still be a business.
Most small businesses fail in the first year. This isn't because they didn't have a great product in most cases, it's because the owners didn't know how to run a business. In most towns in the US, there is a Small Business Development Center - if not an the town, nearby. They provide a free service to help small businesses succeed. I highly recommend visiting them early in the planning stage and anytime you run into a stumbling block. Any time you can find a free resource to help your business succeed, it's a huge plus.
So again, once you can make a skateboard, figure out if you can make it a business. It might not be enough to retire on, but you never know - you might be the next Paul Schmitt!
Dash Hammer is a rabid skateboarder who has been researching methods to make skateboards and skateboard related items. He enjoys the sport, and knows that skateboarding has great potential as a business. He hopes to be able to show you how you can turn it into more of a hobby, and perhaps even a business as well. Visit Dash's blog for more information on how to make a skateboard and how to develop a skateboarding business.
Learning Tricks As A Beginning Skateboarder
By Jay Schmoker
So you want to learn skateboard tricks? Well, there is a lot more to it that simply wearing the clothes and trying to look like a skater. Yes, it's also fun to just skate around the neighborhood, but we all know that skateboarding is about doing some cool tricks.
There are all kinds of tricks that can be done on a skateboard; some probably haven't even been invented yet. Some tricks are fairly easy to do, and some are nearly impossible. So if you are just now learning to skateboard, how should you take your skating to the next level and start trying some of these crazy tricks? This article is a bit of advice for beginners.
First things first, make sure you get some good equipment. I suggest doing some research online and buying a board from a good skate shop instead of a department store. You get better quality skateboards from shops that specialize in skating, and you get better deals too. Also, even if you don't want to, you need to wear a helmet and other safety gear when you skate. If you don't, you might end up regretting it. I have seen too many people crack their head open while trying some trick they thought would be easy. You will be much happier in the future if you wear safety gear and try not to sustain any serious injuries, otherwise you might not be able to skate the same ever again. Safety equipment is especially important if you're a beginner or if you are trying a new trick for the first time.
When you pick out a skateboard you like, along with some skate shoes, and safety gear, then you can start practicing your balance and learning how to move around on the skateboard. It might be easy to balance on the board when it isn't moving, but it's a different story when it starts rolling. Start off slow, and gradually work your way up to a faster ride.
When you're able to roll around comfortable while standing up on your board, you can go to some of the local skate parks and try to learn some tricks. Try to learn just some basic tricks right at first when you start off. If you have some friends who are decent skaters, ask them to help you learn some stuff, or if you talk to someone nice at the skate park, maybe they will be willing to show you some tricks. Also, a lot of skate parks offer lessons to beginners.
For good skateboard information, visit http://www.skaterlegends.com/ Here is a list of Rodney Mullen tricks He is considered to be the most influential skater ever.
So you want to learn skateboard tricks? Well, there is a lot more to it that simply wearing the clothes and trying to look like a skater. Yes, it's also fun to just skate around the neighborhood, but we all know that skateboarding is about doing some cool tricks.
There are all kinds of tricks that can be done on a skateboard; some probably haven't even been invented yet. Some tricks are fairly easy to do, and some are nearly impossible. So if you are just now learning to skateboard, how should you take your skating to the next level and start trying some of these crazy tricks? This article is a bit of advice for beginners.
First things first, make sure you get some good equipment. I suggest doing some research online and buying a board from a good skate shop instead of a department store. You get better quality skateboards from shops that specialize in skating, and you get better deals too. Also, even if you don't want to, you need to wear a helmet and other safety gear when you skate. If you don't, you might end up regretting it. I have seen too many people crack their head open while trying some trick they thought would be easy. You will be much happier in the future if you wear safety gear and try not to sustain any serious injuries, otherwise you might not be able to skate the same ever again. Safety equipment is especially important if you're a beginner or if you are trying a new trick for the first time.
When you pick out a skateboard you like, along with some skate shoes, and safety gear, then you can start practicing your balance and learning how to move around on the skateboard. It might be easy to balance on the board when it isn't moving, but it's a different story when it starts rolling. Start off slow, and gradually work your way up to a faster ride.
When you're able to roll around comfortable while standing up on your board, you can go to some of the local skate parks and try to learn some tricks. Try to learn just some basic tricks right at first when you start off. If you have some friends who are decent skaters, ask them to help you learn some stuff, or if you talk to someone nice at the skate park, maybe they will be willing to show you some tricks. Also, a lot of skate parks offer lessons to beginners.
For good skateboard information, visit http://www.skaterlegends.com/ Here is a list of Rodney Mullen tricks He is considered to be the most influential skater ever.
Skateboard Protective Gear - Learn How To Pick The Right Skate Pads - Helmet
By Jim Bartlett
What Skateboard Protective Gear Do I Need?
1. A Good Quality Skateboard Helmet
The consequences of a serious head injury make skateboard helmet safety your first priority. Skateboarders fall a lot, especially as you learn new moves and tricks. Depending upon your speed, distance to the ground, ground hardness (a wooden ramp vs. a concrete barrier), and other factors, you can suffer a serious head injury.
Important skateboard protective gear notice: there is currently no US law that requires manufacturers to meet a specific safety standard for a skateboard helmet. The ASTM certification is voluntary, not mandatory. So, a skateboard helmet may or may not carry the ASTM certification.
If you are in the market for a skateboard helmet, look for these features:
Buy a helmet from a reputable manufacturer, such as Bell, ProTec, SixSixOne or Giro. The established companies have the resources to design and warrant their skate helmets.
Check to see if the helmet is ASTM F-1492 certified, as proven by an ASTM certification sticker on the inside of the helmet. Although not required, this is nice to have. For additional protection, you may want to look for a helmet that is dual certified to both the ASTM F-1492 skateboard and the CPSC bicycle standards.
Don't mess with skateboard helmet safety. Get yourself a good quality skateboard helmet. Make sure it fits well, feels good, and looks good. Then, WEAR IT!
2. Skateboard Knee Pads / Skateboard Elbow Pads
A good pair of skateboard knee pads and skateboard elbow pads will help absorb impacts and prevent nasty abrasions from sliding on rough surfaces. Skate Pads Combo Packs are an inexpensive way to outfit yourself with knee and skateboard elbow pads, and several also include skate wrist guards.
3. Skate Wrist Guards
Skateboard injury statistics show that wrist injuries are the most common skateboarding injury. When you fall, your natural reaction is to reach for the ground. This places large impact forces on your wrists and causes lots of injuries.
Good quality skate wrist guards will help prevent a wrist injury. The two basic types are:
Skate wrist guards with no fingers
Skateboard gloves with integrated wrist guardsBoth types have splints underneath the leather that absorb the impact and reduce the chance of a wrist injury.
4. A Pair of Padded Skate Shorts
Padded skate shorts help protect your butt, tailbone, hips, and thighs from impact and abrasions. Padded skate shorts are very popular with our customers, as they make falling much less painful and reduce soreness. Trust us, you'll really appreciate padded skate shorts after a day on the street or at the skate park! Plus, you can be covert and hide them under your shorts, so no one will know...
5. Skateboard Ankle and Shin Guards
If the plan is to ride hard at the park near rails, structures, or other inflexible objects, consider some ankle and shin guards to prevent big black and blue spots from appearing all around your lower legs.
This checklist will help you select the right skate pads and skateboard protective gear. Before you drop in...get protected!
Jim Bartlett is the president of XSportsProtective, a leading online retailer and expert on skateboard protective gear, including skateboard helmets, such as Bell, Giro, SixSixOne and ProTec skateboard helmets; skate pads, skate wrist guards and much more. Find out more at http://www.XSportsProtective.com.
What Skateboard Protective Gear Do I Need?
1. A Good Quality Skateboard Helmet
The consequences of a serious head injury make skateboard helmet safety your first priority. Skateboarders fall a lot, especially as you learn new moves and tricks. Depending upon your speed, distance to the ground, ground hardness (a wooden ramp vs. a concrete barrier), and other factors, you can suffer a serious head injury.
Important skateboard protective gear notice: there is currently no US law that requires manufacturers to meet a specific safety standard for a skateboard helmet. The ASTM certification is voluntary, not mandatory. So, a skateboard helmet may or may not carry the ASTM certification.
If you are in the market for a skateboard helmet, look for these features:
Buy a helmet from a reputable manufacturer, such as Bell, ProTec, SixSixOne or Giro. The established companies have the resources to design and warrant their skate helmets.
Check to see if the helmet is ASTM F-1492 certified, as proven by an ASTM certification sticker on the inside of the helmet. Although not required, this is nice to have. For additional protection, you may want to look for a helmet that is dual certified to both the ASTM F-1492 skateboard and the CPSC bicycle standards.
Don't mess with skateboard helmet safety. Get yourself a good quality skateboard helmet. Make sure it fits well, feels good, and looks good. Then, WEAR IT!
2. Skateboard Knee Pads / Skateboard Elbow Pads
A good pair of skateboard knee pads and skateboard elbow pads will help absorb impacts and prevent nasty abrasions from sliding on rough surfaces. Skate Pads Combo Packs are an inexpensive way to outfit yourself with knee and skateboard elbow pads, and several also include skate wrist guards.
3. Skate Wrist Guards
Skateboard injury statistics show that wrist injuries are the most common skateboarding injury. When you fall, your natural reaction is to reach for the ground. This places large impact forces on your wrists and causes lots of injuries.
Good quality skate wrist guards will help prevent a wrist injury. The two basic types are:
Skate wrist guards with no fingers
Skateboard gloves with integrated wrist guardsBoth types have splints underneath the leather that absorb the impact and reduce the chance of a wrist injury.
4. A Pair of Padded Skate Shorts
Padded skate shorts help protect your butt, tailbone, hips, and thighs from impact and abrasions. Padded skate shorts are very popular with our customers, as they make falling much less painful and reduce soreness. Trust us, you'll really appreciate padded skate shorts after a day on the street or at the skate park! Plus, you can be covert and hide them under your shorts, so no one will know...
5. Skateboard Ankle and Shin Guards
If the plan is to ride hard at the park near rails, structures, or other inflexible objects, consider some ankle and shin guards to prevent big black and blue spots from appearing all around your lower legs.
This checklist will help you select the right skate pads and skateboard protective gear. Before you drop in...get protected!
Jim Bartlett is the president of XSportsProtective, a leading online retailer and expert on skateboard protective gear, including skateboard helmets, such as Bell, Giro, SixSixOne and ProTec skateboard helmets; skate pads, skate wrist guards and much more. Find out more at http://www.XSportsProtective.com.
Old Fashioned Skateboards - Problems of Friction, Slow Speed, Weight and Control
By L. Winslow
Indeed, we can only imagine how hard the old fashioned early skateboard contraptions were to ride. Perhaps you have tried to ride such a contraption yourself? I can remember personally as a kid using old trucks off an old skateboard bought at a garage sale and attaching them to a board and rolling down a long driveway.
Of course at 7 years old you are not much of an engineer of anything you build or design, as it is generally perfected through trial and error or you crash and burn. I still remember what happened going down the driveway. I started to get the high-speed wobbles and eventually they got worse and worse and the whole thing dumped me onto the driveway and I crashed. Un-deterred I simply went back to the top of the driveway to try it again and again.
And what do they call the definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? The results were quite simple to see on my elbows and Hands. Back to adjust the trucks and use bigger nails because I had no screws and steal a little duct tape out of the garage too. Engineering indeed?
You can imagine how excited I was to get my first plastic skateboard with the urethane wheels. Of course the other kids with the more high-tech skateboards that were fully customized laughed at me, but you have to start somewhere and they also had to start with plastic boards. Where do what you think I got the old trucks and wheels to do my driveway experiments?
One of them sold them to me at his family's garage sale. You see the problem was not that the wheels or trucks were of poor quality, they worked fine on the old plastic skateboard, but not so well on a much longer board that was perhaps five times the weight.
Eventually, I figured out right away that, I had to tighten up the trucks and pay particular attention to my own balance and that helped a little until the wobbles started. Thus I can easily imagine the problems that the early kids between 1905 and 1950 had with their skateboard devices.
L. Winslow is a Technology Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.calling-plans.com/ - all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.
Indeed, we can only imagine how hard the old fashioned early skateboard contraptions were to ride. Perhaps you have tried to ride such a contraption yourself? I can remember personally as a kid using old trucks off an old skateboard bought at a garage sale and attaching them to a board and rolling down a long driveway.
Of course at 7 years old you are not much of an engineer of anything you build or design, as it is generally perfected through trial and error or you crash and burn. I still remember what happened going down the driveway. I started to get the high-speed wobbles and eventually they got worse and worse and the whole thing dumped me onto the driveway and I crashed. Un-deterred I simply went back to the top of the driveway to try it again and again.
And what do they call the definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? The results were quite simple to see on my elbows and Hands. Back to adjust the trucks and use bigger nails because I had no screws and steal a little duct tape out of the garage too. Engineering indeed?
You can imagine how excited I was to get my first plastic skateboard with the urethane wheels. Of course the other kids with the more high-tech skateboards that were fully customized laughed at me, but you have to start somewhere and they also had to start with plastic boards. Where do what you think I got the old trucks and wheels to do my driveway experiments?
One of them sold them to me at his family's garage sale. You see the problem was not that the wheels or trucks were of poor quality, they worked fine on the old plastic skateboard, but not so well on a much longer board that was perhaps five times the weight.
Eventually, I figured out right away that, I had to tighten up the trucks and pay particular attention to my own balance and that helped a little until the wobbles started. Thus I can easily imagine the problems that the early kids between 1905 and 1950 had with their skateboard devices.
L. Winslow is a Technology Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.calling-plans.com/ - all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.
How To Choose The Best Skateboarding Shoes For A Great Skateboard Experience
By Gregg Hall
Skateboarding is one of the United States’ most famous sports today. Many years have already passed and those who thought it wouldn’t last were wrong and the others were right. Even though skateboarding is nice it is dangerous as well. You should be careful when you start riding a skateboard.
Skateboarding is going to be a good thing for years to come because it only requires a skateboard and a paved surface. For safety many skateboarders wear pads and helmets but many do not and therefore they get hurt.
Many people would think that any sport shoes would go good for skateboarding. This however is wrong; when you skateboard you need ankle protection and foot protection so you are going to need a good sturdy shoe.
When you are buying skate shoes you need to be aware of a couple of things including grip fit and protection.
The most important thing right now is protection over the boarder. The shoes have to be able to withstand a lot of force and should be flexible to meet the boarder’s standards. Skateboarding shoes should give protection and should have a lot of grip for the boarder and board.
Just like any other type of shoe skateboarding shoes should feel good on your feet. They should give you stability and should feel good on the heels and sole of your foot. Shoes that don’t provide a comfort will cause blisters and sores on your feet and will cause you to not be able to skateboard for a certain amount of time.
Skateboarding shoes need special laces that don’t rip apart very easy. A normal pair of shoe laces would rip off after probably an hour of continuous skateboarding with a good skateboarder. These laces should be more durable than other types of shoelaces because of the grip on a skateboard is made if sandpaper. So they will just simply shred when a good rider does his tricks all day everyday.
The skateboarding shoe’s grip should be able to grip to the board good so that the rider can do as he wants and doesn’t lose the board. Shoes that the rider isn’t used to might cause him to slip off as well with shoes that are brand new and just don’t have any grip at all. The sole of the shoe should provide the foot to be able to grip the shoe to give the boarder room to do his tricks.
Even though some of these types of skateboarding shoes are expensive and pricey they are the only type of shoe for the job of skateboarding. If you do not have a pair of skateboarding shoes and you skateboard you need to get a pair before you hurt yourself.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about shoes as well as casual shoes at http://www.dressorcasualshoes.com/
Skateboarding is one of the United States’ most famous sports today. Many years have already passed and those who thought it wouldn’t last were wrong and the others were right. Even though skateboarding is nice it is dangerous as well. You should be careful when you start riding a skateboard.
Skateboarding is going to be a good thing for years to come because it only requires a skateboard and a paved surface. For safety many skateboarders wear pads and helmets but many do not and therefore they get hurt.
Many people would think that any sport shoes would go good for skateboarding. This however is wrong; when you skateboard you need ankle protection and foot protection so you are going to need a good sturdy shoe.
When you are buying skate shoes you need to be aware of a couple of things including grip fit and protection.
The most important thing right now is protection over the boarder. The shoes have to be able to withstand a lot of force and should be flexible to meet the boarder’s standards. Skateboarding shoes should give protection and should have a lot of grip for the boarder and board.
Just like any other type of shoe skateboarding shoes should feel good on your feet. They should give you stability and should feel good on the heels and sole of your foot. Shoes that don’t provide a comfort will cause blisters and sores on your feet and will cause you to not be able to skateboard for a certain amount of time.
Skateboarding shoes need special laces that don’t rip apart very easy. A normal pair of shoe laces would rip off after probably an hour of continuous skateboarding with a good skateboarder. These laces should be more durable than other types of shoelaces because of the grip on a skateboard is made if sandpaper. So they will just simply shred when a good rider does his tricks all day everyday.
The skateboarding shoe’s grip should be able to grip to the board good so that the rider can do as he wants and doesn’t lose the board. Shoes that the rider isn’t used to might cause him to slip off as well with shoes that are brand new and just don’t have any grip at all. The sole of the shoe should provide the foot to be able to grip the shoe to give the boarder room to do his tricks.
Even though some of these types of skateboarding shoes are expensive and pricey they are the only type of shoe for the job of skateboarding. If you do not have a pair of skateboarding shoes and you skateboard you need to get a pair before you hurt yourself.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about shoes as well as casual shoes at http://www.dressorcasualshoes.com/
The Skateboarder is a Unique and Fascinating Person
By Chris Angelo
Skateboarding has grown in popularity over the last several years and anyone that rides a skateboard can be called a skateboarder. Most skateboarders are males although a few females engage in the sport as well.
A skateboarder not only engages in the art of skating around on a board, they engage in a lifestyle. Where there is one skater there are usually more very close by, as they do skate together in groups.
Skateboarders can be seen everywhere from shopping mall parking lots to city sidewalks. This sport has grown so much over the past fifty years that it is now known worldwide. The first skateboarders had to make their own skateboards which was usually very simple and made from planks with wheels attached.
Eventually, some of the more enthusiastic skateboarders decided it was time to design, create and manufacture new and improved skateboards. Teens were greatly attracted to these news boards because it allowed them to learn more tricks and daring stunts.
By the end of the 1990’s many skateboarders became known as punkers. However, there are still many regular teens, Goths, nerds and even a few adults that love the sport of skateboarding.
All skateboarder’s regardless of how they view themselves is so in love with this sport that skateboarding is all they think about. All skateboarders get along and the more experienced skaters are always interested in helping beginners and giving tips. They enjoy socializing with each other and just generally having a good time. With the exception of competitions, skateboarders just love to hang out and ride together.
Still tricks and stunts is a big part of it and skateboarders have to learn and progress at their own pace. They learn to deal with the accidents and injuries that accompany this sport and learn how to push beyond their limits.
If you want to be a skateboarder it is very easy to do. Buy a skateboard or design your own to your taste and start practicing. As a skateboarder you also want to make sure you wear the right clothing and shoes while riding.
There are a lot of accessories available many of which you should consider using for safety reasons such as helmets, knee and elbow pads. Other accessories just look good and help to get you in the sprit of skateboarding like T-shirts, stickers, backpacks and more.
Skateboarders are normally in great shape because they really have to exert some energy to perform this sport. It’s fun, changeling, builds confidence and teaches persistence. What more could you ask for in a sport?
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
Skateboarding has grown in popularity over the last several years and anyone that rides a skateboard can be called a skateboarder. Most skateboarders are males although a few females engage in the sport as well.
A skateboarder not only engages in the art of skating around on a board, they engage in a lifestyle. Where there is one skater there are usually more very close by, as they do skate together in groups.
Skateboarders can be seen everywhere from shopping mall parking lots to city sidewalks. This sport has grown so much over the past fifty years that it is now known worldwide. The first skateboarders had to make their own skateboards which was usually very simple and made from planks with wheels attached.
Eventually, some of the more enthusiastic skateboarders decided it was time to design, create and manufacture new and improved skateboards. Teens were greatly attracted to these news boards because it allowed them to learn more tricks and daring stunts.
By the end of the 1990’s many skateboarders became known as punkers. However, there are still many regular teens, Goths, nerds and even a few adults that love the sport of skateboarding.
All skateboarder’s regardless of how they view themselves is so in love with this sport that skateboarding is all they think about. All skateboarders get along and the more experienced skaters are always interested in helping beginners and giving tips. They enjoy socializing with each other and just generally having a good time. With the exception of competitions, skateboarders just love to hang out and ride together.
Still tricks and stunts is a big part of it and skateboarders have to learn and progress at their own pace. They learn to deal with the accidents and injuries that accompany this sport and learn how to push beyond their limits.
If you want to be a skateboarder it is very easy to do. Buy a skateboard or design your own to your taste and start practicing. As a skateboarder you also want to make sure you wear the right clothing and shoes while riding.
There are a lot of accessories available many of which you should consider using for safety reasons such as helmets, knee and elbow pads. Other accessories just look good and help to get you in the sprit of skateboarding like T-shirts, stickers, backpacks and more.
Skateboarders are normally in great shape because they really have to exert some energy to perform this sport. It’s fun, changeling, builds confidence and teaches persistence. What more could you ask for in a sport?
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
Cheap Skateboards - Are They Safe and Economical?
By Roger Chapman
My kids are driving me nuts - they all want skateboards and not having a money tree at the bottom of the garden is big problem so my question is "Are Cheap Skateboards OK to Buy and Ride?"
Skateboarding is very popular and there are loads of cheaper skateboards out there. Some just look cheap, but some have trusted brand names, or even pro-skateboarder endorsements. So, how do you tell if a relatively cheaper skateboard that you've found at your local store, sports shop or even Ebay is a good skateboard or not?
From experience, it usually depends on how serious you are about your skateboarding. If you want to casually skate every once is a while, then some of these cheaper skateboards might work out just fine. However, it might be a false economy if you end up taking it more seriously, as you will almost certainly have to buy a second, pro-grade skateboard. In addition to this, you won't be able to blame your lack of progress on the board, (bad workman and tools comes to mind!)
Quality does make a huge difference. But how do you know if the cheaper skateboard you're looking at is garbage or not? Here are a few things to look out for:
Wheels - Take a look at the wheels on the skateboard. Are they plastic? If so, throw the board away and keep walking - plastic wheels will give you a horrible skateboarding experience. Skateboard wheels should be made of urethane. Plastic wheels won't grip the ground, and you will slide out of control, conversely rubber wheels will rip apart. As with a car the wheels are the footprint, and the only point of contact with the ground, so you want to ensure that these are of good quality.
Bearings - Make sure the wheels spin freely. If the bearings are stamped with any information, see if there is an ABEC rating. If there is, then they should be OK. If the wheels don't spin freely, or there's any grinding sound, then you will just end up replacing you skateboard bearings sooner rather than later if you buy this skateboard.
Trucks - or the "axles" of the skateboard. These should be made of a fairly sturdy metal. There should be rubber bushes inside the trucks - make sure they are rubber and not plastic. Try standing on the skateboard and leaning toe edge and heel edge . The board should flex a little each way, but not too much.
Deck - If you are inexperienced then this can be a difficult part to check. Basically, you want to make sure the deck is made from layers of wood pressed together, and that the edges are rounded and well treated. The graphics on the bottom can look cheaply painted on - that's not a problem! Look at the edges of the deck and make sure that it looks like the board is made from several layers (called "laminates"). You can also stand on the skateboard, put both feet near the middle, and gently bounce up and down (and I mean gently - if the board is garbage and cracks, you don't want to have to buy it because you broke it!). The board should flex under your weight, but not too much.
Price - Now this is the tricky one. If the cheaper skateboards you are looking at is under £15 or $30 US I would keep looking because quality skateboards are made from quality materials, and it's almost impossible to imagine a complete skateboard being made for less than that and there's a great chance you'll soon be replacing parts. However, if you're OK with that, then one of these cheap skateboards might be OK for you.
Good hunting and stay upright!
Cheap Skateboards - are they safe and economical? Well as a parent of three boys this is a very pertinent question so I decided to do some research and post my findings and humble advice which can be found at Cheaper Skateboards
My kids are driving me nuts - they all want skateboards and not having a money tree at the bottom of the garden is big problem so my question is "Are Cheap Skateboards OK to Buy and Ride?"
Skateboarding is very popular and there are loads of cheaper skateboards out there. Some just look cheap, but some have trusted brand names, or even pro-skateboarder endorsements. So, how do you tell if a relatively cheaper skateboard that you've found at your local store, sports shop or even Ebay is a good skateboard or not?
From experience, it usually depends on how serious you are about your skateboarding. If you want to casually skate every once is a while, then some of these cheaper skateboards might work out just fine. However, it might be a false economy if you end up taking it more seriously, as you will almost certainly have to buy a second, pro-grade skateboard. In addition to this, you won't be able to blame your lack of progress on the board, (bad workman and tools comes to mind!)
Quality does make a huge difference. But how do you know if the cheaper skateboard you're looking at is garbage or not? Here are a few things to look out for:
Wheels - Take a look at the wheels on the skateboard. Are they plastic? If so, throw the board away and keep walking - plastic wheels will give you a horrible skateboarding experience. Skateboard wheels should be made of urethane. Plastic wheels won't grip the ground, and you will slide out of control, conversely rubber wheels will rip apart. As with a car the wheels are the footprint, and the only point of contact with the ground, so you want to ensure that these are of good quality.
Bearings - Make sure the wheels spin freely. If the bearings are stamped with any information, see if there is an ABEC rating. If there is, then they should be OK. If the wheels don't spin freely, or there's any grinding sound, then you will just end up replacing you skateboard bearings sooner rather than later if you buy this skateboard.
Trucks - or the "axles" of the skateboard. These should be made of a fairly sturdy metal. There should be rubber bushes inside the trucks - make sure they are rubber and not plastic. Try standing on the skateboard and leaning toe edge and heel edge . The board should flex a little each way, but not too much.
Deck - If you are inexperienced then this can be a difficult part to check. Basically, you want to make sure the deck is made from layers of wood pressed together, and that the edges are rounded and well treated. The graphics on the bottom can look cheaply painted on - that's not a problem! Look at the edges of the deck and make sure that it looks like the board is made from several layers (called "laminates"). You can also stand on the skateboard, put both feet near the middle, and gently bounce up and down (and I mean gently - if the board is garbage and cracks, you don't want to have to buy it because you broke it!). The board should flex under your weight, but not too much.
Price - Now this is the tricky one. If the cheaper skateboards you are looking at is under £15 or $30 US I would keep looking because quality skateboards are made from quality materials, and it's almost impossible to imagine a complete skateboard being made for less than that and there's a great chance you'll soon be replacing parts. However, if you're OK with that, then one of these cheap skateboards might be OK for you.
Good hunting and stay upright!
Cheap Skateboards - are they safe and economical? Well as a parent of three boys this is a very pertinent question so I decided to do some research and post my findings and humble advice which can be found at Cheaper Skateboards
Skateboard Wheels that Improve Performance and Safety
By Johan Friedman
When choosing a skateboard, most people focus on the size, length, traction, and overall design. While these are all important factors, other details are often overlooked, such as the skateboard wheels. Wheels don't just keep your board rolling -- they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrains.
Most skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane, a type of hard rubber. They are designed to withstand high friction and contact with rough surfaces, such as dirt and concrete. They come in different sizes and hardness levels, and choosing the right wheel can greatly improve your performance.
Durometer
Wheel hardness is measured in the durometer A scale, from 75a to 99a. You may see skateboards marked 100a or higher, but don't be fooled – the A scale only goes up to 99. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. This makes it suitable for tricks and jumps. The same is true with vert wheels, which are mostly used on ramps, uphill, and upward curves. Softer wheels provide better maneuvering and speed control, making them ideal for slalom racing and longboards.
Size matters
Size is also an important factor when choosing skateboard wheels. As a rule of thumb, your wheels should be appropriate for your body size. For teens and children, the recommended wheel size is 52 to 55 mm. The size for adults should be 56 to 60 mm. The smallest wheels are usually the street wheel type,which measure from 48 to 55 mm. Vert and slalom skateboard wheels range from 56 to 75 mm.
Buying tips
Picky Guide has a complete guide to skateboard wheels. Picky Guide is one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.
When choosing a skateboard, most people focus on the size, length, traction, and overall design. While these are all important factors, other details are often overlooked, such as the skateboard wheels. Wheels don't just keep your board rolling -- they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrains.
Most skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane, a type of hard rubber. They are designed to withstand high friction and contact with rough surfaces, such as dirt and concrete. They come in different sizes and hardness levels, and choosing the right wheel can greatly improve your performance.
Durometer
Wheel hardness is measured in the durometer A scale, from 75a to 99a. You may see skateboards marked 100a or higher, but don't be fooled – the A scale only goes up to 99. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. This makes it suitable for tricks and jumps. The same is true with vert wheels, which are mostly used on ramps, uphill, and upward curves. Softer wheels provide better maneuvering and speed control, making them ideal for slalom racing and longboards.
Size matters
Size is also an important factor when choosing skateboard wheels. As a rule of thumb, your wheels should be appropriate for your body size. For teens and children, the recommended wheel size is 52 to 55 mm. The size for adults should be 56 to 60 mm. The smallest wheels are usually the street wheel type,which measure from 48 to 55 mm. Vert and slalom skateboard wheels range from 56 to 75 mm.
Buying tips
Picky Guide has a complete guide to skateboard wheels. Picky Guide is one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.
Skateboard Bearings
By Steve Valentino
Like any contraption with wheels, skateboards have bearings too. Although considered a professional sport, manufacturing skateboards and their parts are still largely influenced by street culture. The bearings are the metal inside the wheels that bear all the weight of the person and the skateboard combined but also provide for maximum movability. Good bearings are crucial for a good board.
There are no specific standard rating guidelines for skateboard bearings. By disparate comparison, expert skateboarders estimate the precision of the bearings and know that the good ones fall under 3 or 5, using the ABEC system of rating bearings used in machines. These bearings can give you a smooth ride but at the same time, they are strong enough to bear the brunt when you jump on your board. But not all manufacturers consider the ABEC when producing skateboard bearings. You wouldn’t really know their performance until you try them out yourself.
At the store, you may ask assistance in replacing the bearings on your skateboard. But the procedure is quite easy. There should be no problem if you do it yourself. You will need a skate key. If you don’t have one, a screwdriver will be fine. Next, using the screwdriver, pry out the old bearings from the wheels. Then, grab the new bearing and place it at the end of the skate key or screwdriver. Press the bearing into the wheel with even pressure. Do the same to the other wheel. Now put those on the tracks and you’re done.
Bearings provides detailed information on Bearings, Ball Bearings, Wheel Bearings, Skateboard Bearings and more. Bearings is affiliated with Rebuilt Carburetors.
Like any contraption with wheels, skateboards have bearings too. Although considered a professional sport, manufacturing skateboards and their parts are still largely influenced by street culture. The bearings are the metal inside the wheels that bear all the weight of the person and the skateboard combined but also provide for maximum movability. Good bearings are crucial for a good board.
There are no specific standard rating guidelines for skateboard bearings. By disparate comparison, expert skateboarders estimate the precision of the bearings and know that the good ones fall under 3 or 5, using the ABEC system of rating bearings used in machines. These bearings can give you a smooth ride but at the same time, they are strong enough to bear the brunt when you jump on your board. But not all manufacturers consider the ABEC when producing skateboard bearings. You wouldn’t really know their performance until you try them out yourself.
At the store, you may ask assistance in replacing the bearings on your skateboard. But the procedure is quite easy. There should be no problem if you do it yourself. You will need a skate key. If you don’t have one, a screwdriver will be fine. Next, using the screwdriver, pry out the old bearings from the wheels. Then, grab the new bearing and place it at the end of the skate key or screwdriver. Press the bearing into the wheel with even pressure. Do the same to the other wheel. Now put those on the tracks and you’re done.
Bearings provides detailed information on Bearings, Ball Bearings, Wheel Bearings, Skateboard Bearings and more. Bearings is affiliated with Rebuilt Carburetors.
All About Skateboard Wheels And Skateboard Trucks
By Dean Novosat
Skateboard wheels are designed in many different sizes and hardnesses. Skateboard wheels are made of a rubber-like material called urethane. The size and hardness of the wheels affect the smoothness of the ride on a skateboard, how well it handles, and its speed. Skateboard wheels are normally 52 mm to 60 mm and have their own ball bearings built in. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. Park wheels are usually made of a softer urethane for better bite and handling.
Modern skateboard wheels are bidirectional, meaning that they can be attached in either direction unlike the wheels on a car or the back wheel of a bicycle. This means that if the edges start to wear, you can flip the wheels and use them on the other side. Skateboard wheels are attached to the trucks by hex head axle bolts and ABEC (or another company's) ball bearings to provide the free-spinning movement of the wheels.
Skateboard Trucks
Trucks are axles attached to a baseplate. Most trucks are made from an aluminum alloy and they are very strong. Trucks come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Trucks are made from cast metal and allow the skater to turn the board. Depending how tightly the nut on the kingpin is secured, the trucks can be loose or tight just like the suspension on a car. The main purpose of having trucks that are not fixed is to enable you to turn or "carve" without lifting your front wheels off the ground. The looser your trucks are, the further you will be able to lean in one direction or the other.
Skateboard Wheels
Wheels don't just keep your skateboard rolling -- they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrain. Wheels attach to the axles of the trucks with a hex bolt and there are 8 bearings, two inserted into each wheel with a spacer between. The wheels come in a variety of shapes, from 50 to 55 mm, and different hardnesses. Most skateboard wheels, like mentioned above, are made from urethane, and have a hardness rating stamped on the wheel (for example: 95a, or 100a - always with an "a" after the number). The higher the number, the harder the wheel. For example, a 101a wheel is harder than a 95a. So a good choice for street riding might be a 100a or 101a. A 95a would do well on ramps and in a skateboard park.
So, a skateboard is made up of three main parts: the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. The deck is the flat part on top (or mostly flat) where you plant your feet. The trucks are bolted to the bottom of the deck. This is your suspension and axles for the deck and wheels. The wheels bolt onto the ends of the trucks and include wheel bearings so the wheels can spin. Wheels come in different sizes and hardnesses to help you custom tailor your ride.
Dean Novosat owns and operates http://www.1skates.com/
Ger free reviews, opinions, and reports on all things skateboard! Shoes, Decks, Wheels, and more on http://www.1skates.com/ and 1Skates.com
Skateboard wheels are designed in many different sizes and hardnesses. Skateboard wheels are made of a rubber-like material called urethane. The size and hardness of the wheels affect the smoothness of the ride on a skateboard, how well it handles, and its speed. Skateboard wheels are normally 52 mm to 60 mm and have their own ball bearings built in. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. Park wheels are usually made of a softer urethane for better bite and handling.
Modern skateboard wheels are bidirectional, meaning that they can be attached in either direction unlike the wheels on a car or the back wheel of a bicycle. This means that if the edges start to wear, you can flip the wheels and use them on the other side. Skateboard wheels are attached to the trucks by hex head axle bolts and ABEC (or another company's) ball bearings to provide the free-spinning movement of the wheels.
Skateboard Trucks
Trucks are axles attached to a baseplate. Most trucks are made from an aluminum alloy and they are very strong. Trucks come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Trucks are made from cast metal and allow the skater to turn the board. Depending how tightly the nut on the kingpin is secured, the trucks can be loose or tight just like the suspension on a car. The main purpose of having trucks that are not fixed is to enable you to turn or "carve" without lifting your front wheels off the ground. The looser your trucks are, the further you will be able to lean in one direction or the other.
Skateboard Wheels
Wheels don't just keep your skateboard rolling -- they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrain. Wheels attach to the axles of the trucks with a hex bolt and there are 8 bearings, two inserted into each wheel with a spacer between. The wheels come in a variety of shapes, from 50 to 55 mm, and different hardnesses. Most skateboard wheels, like mentioned above, are made from urethane, and have a hardness rating stamped on the wheel (for example: 95a, or 100a - always with an "a" after the number). The higher the number, the harder the wheel. For example, a 101a wheel is harder than a 95a. So a good choice for street riding might be a 100a or 101a. A 95a would do well on ramps and in a skateboard park.
So, a skateboard is made up of three main parts: the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. The deck is the flat part on top (or mostly flat) where you plant your feet. The trucks are bolted to the bottom of the deck. This is your suspension and axles for the deck and wheels. The wheels bolt onto the ends of the trucks and include wheel bearings so the wheels can spin. Wheels come in different sizes and hardnesses to help you custom tailor your ride.
Dean Novosat owns and operates http://www.1skates.com/
Ger free reviews, opinions, and reports on all things skateboard! Shoes, Decks, Wheels, and more on http://www.1skates.com/ and 1Skates.com
Skateboard Decks For Beginners
By Kum Martin
If you are new to skateboarding then you should know that a skateboard deck is the platform on which a skateboarder stands. If you are serious about skateboarding then you should spend enough time to pick out your skateboard deck.
Skateboard manufacturers offer many options. There is no hard and fast rule in selecting a deck. However, you should select one which you are comfortable with. Once you have sufficient skateboarding experience, you have your own preference and you should follow that.
The average length of a skateboard is around 28" to 32" and this is from tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. The average width of a skateboard deck is around 7.5" to 8.25". Remember, the width of the deck is based on the size of the skateboarder and the type of skateboarding you want to do. Bigger skateboarder and those attempting vert usually opt for wider decks. The wheelbase of a skateboard can be defined as the distance from one pair of inner mounting holes to the other pair of inner mounting holes. Invariably the wheelbase is between 13" to 15". The choice of wheelbase again depends on the height of the skateboarder.
You have to remember that the nose of your skateboard deck is the front end. The nose is just above the mounting holes. While the tail is the rear end of your deck and is directly behind the mounting holes. The tail of a skateboard deck is a little bit shorter and thinner than the nose. Mounting holes are nothing but pre-drilled holes where the trucks are attached. One set of mounting holes are near the nose and the other is near the tail.
Once you have selected and purchase your first skateboard deck, you will need to buy wheels, bearings, trucks and grip tape to finish the entire skateboard setup.
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If you are new to skateboarding then you should know that a skateboard deck is the platform on which a skateboarder stands. If you are serious about skateboarding then you should spend enough time to pick out your skateboard deck.
Skateboard manufacturers offer many options. There is no hard and fast rule in selecting a deck. However, you should select one which you are comfortable with. Once you have sufficient skateboarding experience, you have your own preference and you should follow that.
The average length of a skateboard is around 28" to 32" and this is from tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. The average width of a skateboard deck is around 7.5" to 8.25". Remember, the width of the deck is based on the size of the skateboarder and the type of skateboarding you want to do. Bigger skateboarder and those attempting vert usually opt for wider decks. The wheelbase of a skateboard can be defined as the distance from one pair of inner mounting holes to the other pair of inner mounting holes. Invariably the wheelbase is between 13" to 15". The choice of wheelbase again depends on the height of the skateboarder.
You have to remember that the nose of your skateboard deck is the front end. The nose is just above the mounting holes. While the tail is the rear end of your deck and is directly behind the mounting holes. The tail of a skateboard deck is a little bit shorter and thinner than the nose. Mounting holes are nothing but pre-drilled holes where the trucks are attached. One set of mounting holes are near the nose and the other is near the tail.
Once you have selected and purchase your first skateboard deck, you will need to buy wheels, bearings, trucks and grip tape to finish the entire skateboard setup.
Check Out More Articles :
Centering Your Breathing in Yoga, How To Build Wakeboard Slider, High School Basketball Christmas Tournaments
How to Buy a Skateboard
By Dean Novosat
The world keeps coming up with new ways of entertainment and enjoyment. The skateboard is one of the more recent additions to the fascination of the youth of the 21st Century. Most adolescents fall in love with a skateboard after watching the pros in action. The skateboarding is indeed very attractive to all young people because it is daring, it is creative and it definitely is full of action.
As soon as you find yourself in love with this new sport, you would definitely look forward to buy a skateboard for yourself. Most likely you would have a few friends along with you who would be able to guide you in how to buy a skateboard. In case you do not, there following few lines would be helpful since you would find here a mini guide of sorts:
1. Be ready for the cost - a skateboard - a quality skateboard - does not come cheap; and remember, cheap skateboard have no quality. Hence, if you want to have a good head start in this sport, be ready to loosen your purse strings and pay what it takes to get a good quality skateboard. You should expect it to cost something around US $100 for a decent board.
2. Choosing your deck the best choice here would be one without any logos or graphics, as these are usually coming from designer labels and accordingly the cost would be multiplied accordingly. As it is the designs would fade away pretty soon owing to the fact that a decent amount of skateboarding would scratch it off soon enough. You should buy 7 ply or 9 ply deck for best results (this means that there are 7 or 9 layers of ply respectively) and pay close attention to its shape. A good skateboard should be decently curved in the kicktails.
3. Pay Attention to the Trucks - this is a very important trait for the beginners. Pay close attention to the trucks. If these are not f good quality your skateboard would go for a toss the first time you really try something serious. Beware of the cheap imitation of skateboards. Always buy from reputed retail outlets after closely verifying the details.
4. The Importance of Bearings and Wheels - the bearing are very important in the way you would be able to master your skateboard. The speed of your skateboard is measured by a specific value - called the ABEC value. This lowest measurement here is the AA value - which indicates that the skateboard can hardly pull itself along. The minimum best would be ABEC 3 and it goes on with 5, 7 and 9. For a beginner the best would be to start with ABEC 3 (or maximum 5). This would ensure that the skateboard is free enough for you to practice some early tricks, while it would slow enough not to literally slip off from under your feet.
5. New Vs Used skateboards - though a new skateboard would be the best choice for everyone, sometimes it would be good if you buy one from a pro. The used and -broken-in - skateboard would not only be available at a bargain price, but also be excellent for you to practice on.
Dean Novosat owns and operates http://www.1skates.com Skateboard
Ger free reviews, opinions, and reports on all things skateboard! Shoes, Decks, Wheels, and more on http://www.1skates.com
The world keeps coming up with new ways of entertainment and enjoyment. The skateboard is one of the more recent additions to the fascination of the youth of the 21st Century. Most adolescents fall in love with a skateboard after watching the pros in action. The skateboarding is indeed very attractive to all young people because it is daring, it is creative and it definitely is full of action.
As soon as you find yourself in love with this new sport, you would definitely look forward to buy a skateboard for yourself. Most likely you would have a few friends along with you who would be able to guide you in how to buy a skateboard. In case you do not, there following few lines would be helpful since you would find here a mini guide of sorts:
1. Be ready for the cost - a skateboard - a quality skateboard - does not come cheap; and remember, cheap skateboard have no quality. Hence, if you want to have a good head start in this sport, be ready to loosen your purse strings and pay what it takes to get a good quality skateboard. You should expect it to cost something around US $100 for a decent board.
2. Choosing your deck the best choice here would be one without any logos or graphics, as these are usually coming from designer labels and accordingly the cost would be multiplied accordingly. As it is the designs would fade away pretty soon owing to the fact that a decent amount of skateboarding would scratch it off soon enough. You should buy 7 ply or 9 ply deck for best results (this means that there are 7 or 9 layers of ply respectively) and pay close attention to its shape. A good skateboard should be decently curved in the kicktails.
3. Pay Attention to the Trucks - this is a very important trait for the beginners. Pay close attention to the trucks. If these are not f good quality your skateboard would go for a toss the first time you really try something serious. Beware of the cheap imitation of skateboards. Always buy from reputed retail outlets after closely verifying the details.
4. The Importance of Bearings and Wheels - the bearing are very important in the way you would be able to master your skateboard. The speed of your skateboard is measured by a specific value - called the ABEC value. This lowest measurement here is the AA value - which indicates that the skateboard can hardly pull itself along. The minimum best would be ABEC 3 and it goes on with 5, 7 and 9. For a beginner the best would be to start with ABEC 3 (or maximum 5). This would ensure that the skateboard is free enough for you to practice some early tricks, while it would slow enough not to literally slip off from under your feet.
5. New Vs Used skateboards - though a new skateboard would be the best choice for everyone, sometimes it would be good if you buy one from a pro. The used and -broken-in - skateboard would not only be available at a bargain price, but also be excellent for you to practice on.
Dean Novosat owns and operates http://www.1skates.com Skateboard
Ger free reviews, opinions, and reports on all things skateboard! Shoes, Decks, Wheels, and more on http://www.1skates.com
The Skater Lifestyle
By Chris Angelo
What is a skater? A skater is anyone that loves the feeling of freedom they get when skating. Skaters come in all ages with all types of personalities. It can be the boy next door or the punk rocker down the street. It can be the nerd that never leaves his computer except for skating or the group of Goth kids that live in town.
Skaters love the feeling they get when they do an incredible jump perfect every time. They love the thrill of pushing themselves beyond their limits and climbing new heights and reaching new goals.
What types of skaters are there?
There are several different types of skaters and each type requires different equipment. The most common type of skater is the roller skater. This group includes kids and adults of all ages. Usually this type of skating is done at a skating rink and they either wear roller skates or inline skates. You can also purchase outdoor skates that you can wear anywhere.
Another popular type of skater is the ice skater. Ice skating is done by many just for fun in ice rinks located all over the world. However, it is also many professional ice skaters that perform in competitions for metals. Some of these have become quite famous. The performance that a figure skater provides is amazing and takes years of practice and patients. These skaters are to be greatly admired.
Skateboarders are another type of skater that has grown in popularity over the years. Skateboarders make up a unique group of people that love to have fun and spend time together. This type of skating requires skill and a desire for excitement.
Are there stereotypes about skaters?
The answer is yes. Unfortunately, there are many people that have the wrong idea about the skater lifestyle. This is especially true when it comes to skateboarders. Due to the fact that many of them roam the city streets and other areas searching for a place to ride others look at them in a negative way. They describe these skaters as dropouts and trouble makers. Many believe they are throwing away their life and that they have no respect for the law. Others look at them as being dirty and don’t want them in their neighborhood.
However, this is not normally the case. Most skateboarders are good, educated honest people that just enjoy having a lot of fun and socializing with others that enjoy the same things. They love the thrill of skating and take pride in what they do. They spend many hours practicing and learning new tricks and many skateboarders become extremely famous for their abilities as well.
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
What is a skater? A skater is anyone that loves the feeling of freedom they get when skating. Skaters come in all ages with all types of personalities. It can be the boy next door or the punk rocker down the street. It can be the nerd that never leaves his computer except for skating or the group of Goth kids that live in town.
Skaters love the feeling they get when they do an incredible jump perfect every time. They love the thrill of pushing themselves beyond their limits and climbing new heights and reaching new goals.
What types of skaters are there?
There are several different types of skaters and each type requires different equipment. The most common type of skater is the roller skater. This group includes kids and adults of all ages. Usually this type of skating is done at a skating rink and they either wear roller skates or inline skates. You can also purchase outdoor skates that you can wear anywhere.
Another popular type of skater is the ice skater. Ice skating is done by many just for fun in ice rinks located all over the world. However, it is also many professional ice skaters that perform in competitions for metals. Some of these have become quite famous. The performance that a figure skater provides is amazing and takes years of practice and patients. These skaters are to be greatly admired.
Skateboarders are another type of skater that has grown in popularity over the years. Skateboarders make up a unique group of people that love to have fun and spend time together. This type of skating requires skill and a desire for excitement.
Are there stereotypes about skaters?
The answer is yes. Unfortunately, there are many people that have the wrong idea about the skater lifestyle. This is especially true when it comes to skateboarders. Due to the fact that many of them roam the city streets and other areas searching for a place to ride others look at them in a negative way. They describe these skaters as dropouts and trouble makers. Many believe they are throwing away their life and that they have no respect for the law. Others look at them as being dirty and don’t want them in their neighborhood.
However, this is not normally the case. Most skateboarders are good, educated honest people that just enjoy having a lot of fun and socializing with others that enjoy the same things. They love the thrill of skating and take pride in what they do. They spend many hours practicing and learning new tricks and many skateboarders become extremely famous for their abilities as well.
Chris Angelo is a skating enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of skating, from Inline to Skateboarding. Get to meet and interact with skaters from all around the world NOW at http://www.skaters.com/
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