Skate Board – A Hobby Turn Serious
By: Alan Ross
Skateboard shed its transport equipment image of the late 40s and 50s to become what it is today, the recreational tool. The early skateboard championships were ‘soap box derbies’ held in cities during that era of crude skateboards, which sometimes used to double up as surf boards too.
Skateboards as Sports Gear
With mass production becoming a reality in the 1960s skateboards underwent a lot of transformation for better; from solid wood or metals to plywood for decks, flat no shape to concavity, clay composite steel wheels to polyurethane made ones and finally single action trucks (axles) to aluminum constructed two part trucks. There is so much more in the safety, comfort and durability departments that you need to look into when buying skateboards.
Well, how do these things help? At first, the question may strike an irrelevant chord, but not so when you see the difference. Just taste this for samples: Without that innovative concavity would it have been possible for those champion skateboarders to takeoff from flat ground? Forget that for a minute, speeding along the streets wouldn’t have been a reality but for the grip tapes now you find on the decks, which prevent you from slipping even as you takeoff.
Did you know, what helped easy turning at such high speeds? Of course you do your skillful ‘foot work’ but the rubber cushion in between the two part truck flexes when you turn by front foot while pressing by the back foot. It is this flexibility that gives you additional turn which was harder in older skateboards.
Skateboard Ramps
If you are not on the streets you are skateboarding on the ramps. Ramps are carpentry constructions made in plywood. As you are aware, there are just as many ramp plans as you like and the simplest one is the obvious bank plan (flat plan), half pipe, quarter pipe, pyramid plans etc, all of which are named after their shapes.
Then you have the ‘launcher’ ramp for the lion hearted guys and girls. Skateboarding over this launches you into the skies vertically. If you don’t want to fly, you still have an option that interests you. You can ride the walls with two identical ramps placed at a distance apart.
Skateboarding Championships
Championships have encouraged many aspirants to take-up the sport and excel there. Television coverage has catapulted skateboarding to top youth sport. The most famous competition are them all is the annual X-Game Skateboard Championships. Skateboarders from all around the world take part this is event to gain recognition and fame, not to mention lucrative sponsorships and turn this one time hobby to a serious career path.
About the Author:
Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites SkateBoard, Online Games and Research Hub
Ripstik
Ripstik
By Tom Cruz
If you are someone who has got bored with their skateboard and is looking for something that is going to give you a few more thrills. Then why not consider purchasing a Ripstik Caster Board.
This board will certainly help to provide you with a more extreme sport than you ever thought imaginable when you’ve been riding your skateboard. It is not only unique in design but also comes with its own set of unique movements as well. Where as a normal skateboard which is solid framed this particular model comes with flexible panels and move separately from each other.
Using this particular board a skateboarder can carry out 360 degree turns on just 2 wheels plus it allows them to move uphill easily also. In fact riding one of these is very similar to the way a person would ride a snowboard.
The Ripstik is the latest item to hit the world of skateboarding and allows you to combine the way you ride a skateboard with the way you would ride a snowboard. Because of the inclined casters on the board and the way that the deck is able to pivot and allows you to carve your way through traffic just like you would on snow on a snowboard.
Plus you can accelerate and turn the whole board without needing to push as you do with a skateboard. Plus the 2 decks of the Ripstik Caster Board are concaved which means the person using it has more foot control than they would normally associate with a skateboard. However these particular kinds of boards should only be used by children over the age of 8 and adults.
Although you may consider using a caster board wrong because it comes with just 2 wheels rather than 4 it can make the whole ride actually seem much smoother. Plus the way you actually ride a Ripstik Caster Board is completely different from any other kind of skateboard you have tried and used before.
No longer do you need to push in order to get your momentum rather you need to twist your body in a particular way which you can learn about from the DVD that is provided with this particular board when you purchase one. In the beginning if you are someone who has not ridden a skateboard much before you may find getting use to learning the technique in order to manoeuvre the board a little bit difficult, but for the more experienced skateboarders learning this should come quite naturally and easily to them.
To find out more about the Ripstik caster board visit www.ripstikreview.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Cruz
By Tom Cruz
If you are someone who has got bored with their skateboard and is looking for something that is going to give you a few more thrills. Then why not consider purchasing a Ripstik Caster Board.
This board will certainly help to provide you with a more extreme sport than you ever thought imaginable when you’ve been riding your skateboard. It is not only unique in design but also comes with its own set of unique movements as well. Where as a normal skateboard which is solid framed this particular model comes with flexible panels and move separately from each other.
Using this particular board a skateboarder can carry out 360 degree turns on just 2 wheels plus it allows them to move uphill easily also. In fact riding one of these is very similar to the way a person would ride a snowboard.
The Ripstik is the latest item to hit the world of skateboarding and allows you to combine the way you ride a skateboard with the way you would ride a snowboard. Because of the inclined casters on the board and the way that the deck is able to pivot and allows you to carve your way through traffic just like you would on snow on a snowboard.
Plus you can accelerate and turn the whole board without needing to push as you do with a skateboard. Plus the 2 decks of the Ripstik Caster Board are concaved which means the person using it has more foot control than they would normally associate with a skateboard. However these particular kinds of boards should only be used by children over the age of 8 and adults.
Although you may consider using a caster board wrong because it comes with just 2 wheels rather than 4 it can make the whole ride actually seem much smoother. Plus the way you actually ride a Ripstik Caster Board is completely different from any other kind of skateboard you have tried and used before.
No longer do you need to push in order to get your momentum rather you need to twist your body in a particular way which you can learn about from the DVD that is provided with this particular board when you purchase one. In the beginning if you are someone who has not ridden a skateboard much before you may find getting use to learning the technique in order to manoeuvre the board a little bit difficult, but for the more experienced skateboarders learning this should come quite naturally and easily to them.
To find out more about the Ripstik caster board visit www.ripstikreview.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Cruz
Online Skateboard Gear Shop Started By Eleven Year Old
By Dianne Anderson
The son of a skateboarder, Spencer Semien was on a skateboard himself by the time he was three years old.
“All of a sudden, skateboarding became his passion,” says his mother, Marla Sneed.
As any parent knows, a child’s passion can be quite expensive and Spencer needed a part-time job to support his skateboarding activities. He already had an interest in computers and, in fact, had built a personal web site, so building one devoted to skateboarding was the logical next step. With the help of his mother and a Denver-area skateboard shop, the 11-year old got his site up and running. The official launch date was Oct. 21 of last year.
First and foremost, the site markets skateboarding equipment to intermediate-level skaters and higher. Skaters can purchase pre-built complete decks (that’s a fully assembled skateboard) as well as individual parts and accessories, everything from wheels, to grip tape, (intended to give the skater a surer foothold on the board), to skateboard repair tools, to the latest in safety equipment.
And those that switch from skateboarding in the warm weather to snowboarding in the winter haven’t been neglected; the site also provides a snowboarding section with a selection of snowboards and protective gear.
In addition to serving as an equipment supply headquarters, the site provides a full range of skateboarding services. Site visitors can access a technical support page, which provides information on which skateboard might best serve their needs, or study (and purchase) plans for building a skateboarding ramp of their own.
Site visitors can access a technical support page, which provides information on which skateboard might best serve their needs, or study (and purchase) plans for building a skateboarding ramp of their own.
For today’s skaters, the site makes use of video technology. Video clips allowing aspiring skaters to study tricks performed by people Spencer has chosen as “worthy of being sponsored” by his website are represented. After many days of viewing “sponsor me” videos, a select few were chosen to receive recognition and free merchandise from this site.
The site also caters to visitors who aren’t skaters, such as parents of skaters or those who want to become more knowledgeable about a friend’s favorite pastime. A history section details the evolution of skateboarding, from the early 1900s to the present day, with the focus being on the evolution of the actual skateboard and skateboarding competitions, but also taking care to address the issues that have plagued the sport through the years, specifically, issues dealing with safety.
As hard as it might be for today’s corps of skaters to believe, there was a time when no one thought about putting on a helmet and protective padding before getting on a skateboard. And in the late ‘70s, many public skateboard parks were shut down because of liability issues. Rather than whitewash all these issues, the site points them out.
By perhaps clearing up some misconceptions about skateboarding, this site seems to be working to increase its bottom line, while embarking on enhancing the growth of the sport.
For this reason alone, the site is something Spencer Semien and his mother should be very proud of.
Visit http://www.allproskate.com for all of your skateboarding needs! With over 9000 products to choose from, Allproskate offers 100% secure online ordering as well as discounts and specials on brand name products such as Element, Girl, Flip, Habitat, Hookups, Independent, Mystery, Spit Fire, Zero, Zoo York and more. If you purchase $150.00 or more shipping is free! There are also many youth and adult skateboarding clothes available as well as discounted yearly subscriptions to the latest and most popular skateboard magazines like Thrasher and Slap.
Allproskate has its own Blog located at http://allproskate.blogspot.com/ offering information on the latest skateboard contests, news and events. Here you can post and view skateboard contests from around the world. While your there you can visit Allprokate's Daily Skateboarding News page located at http://www.allproskate.com/site/955556/page/479225 keeping you up to date on current skateboarding news. Allproskate cares about its customers and offers exceptional customer service. Check out Allproskate today!
The son of a skateboarder, Spencer Semien was on a skateboard himself by the time he was three years old.
“All of a sudden, skateboarding became his passion,” says his mother, Marla Sneed.
As any parent knows, a child’s passion can be quite expensive and Spencer needed a part-time job to support his skateboarding activities. He already had an interest in computers and, in fact, had built a personal web site, so building one devoted to skateboarding was the logical next step. With the help of his mother and a Denver-area skateboard shop, the 11-year old got his site up and running. The official launch date was Oct. 21 of last year.
First and foremost, the site markets skateboarding equipment to intermediate-level skaters and higher. Skaters can purchase pre-built complete decks (that’s a fully assembled skateboard) as well as individual parts and accessories, everything from wheels, to grip tape, (intended to give the skater a surer foothold on the board), to skateboard repair tools, to the latest in safety equipment.
And those that switch from skateboarding in the warm weather to snowboarding in the winter haven’t been neglected; the site also provides a snowboarding section with a selection of snowboards and protective gear.
In addition to serving as an equipment supply headquarters, the site provides a full range of skateboarding services. Site visitors can access a technical support page, which provides information on which skateboard might best serve their needs, or study (and purchase) plans for building a skateboarding ramp of their own.
Site visitors can access a technical support page, which provides information on which skateboard might best serve their needs, or study (and purchase) plans for building a skateboarding ramp of their own.
For today’s skaters, the site makes use of video technology. Video clips allowing aspiring skaters to study tricks performed by people Spencer has chosen as “worthy of being sponsored” by his website are represented. After many days of viewing “sponsor me” videos, a select few were chosen to receive recognition and free merchandise from this site.
The site also caters to visitors who aren’t skaters, such as parents of skaters or those who want to become more knowledgeable about a friend’s favorite pastime. A history section details the evolution of skateboarding, from the early 1900s to the present day, with the focus being on the evolution of the actual skateboard and skateboarding competitions, but also taking care to address the issues that have plagued the sport through the years, specifically, issues dealing with safety.
As hard as it might be for today’s corps of skaters to believe, there was a time when no one thought about putting on a helmet and protective padding before getting on a skateboard. And in the late ‘70s, many public skateboard parks were shut down because of liability issues. Rather than whitewash all these issues, the site points them out.
By perhaps clearing up some misconceptions about skateboarding, this site seems to be working to increase its bottom line, while embarking on enhancing the growth of the sport.
For this reason alone, the site is something Spencer Semien and his mother should be very proud of.
Visit http://www.allproskate.com for all of your skateboarding needs! With over 9000 products to choose from, Allproskate offers 100% secure online ordering as well as discounts and specials on brand name products such as Element, Girl, Flip, Habitat, Hookups, Independent, Mystery, Spit Fire, Zero, Zoo York and more. If you purchase $150.00 or more shipping is free! There are also many youth and adult skateboarding clothes available as well as discounted yearly subscriptions to the latest and most popular skateboard magazines like Thrasher and Slap.
Allproskate has its own Blog located at http://allproskate.blogspot.com/ offering information on the latest skateboard contests, news and events. Here you can post and view skateboard contests from around the world. While your there you can visit Allprokate's Daily Skateboarding News page located at http://www.allproskate.com/site/955556/page/479225 keeping you up to date on current skateboarding news. Allproskate cares about its customers and offers exceptional customer service. Check out Allproskate today!
How Skateboards Are Made - Custom Wooden Boards
By L. Winslow
Most skateboards are made of wood and there are certain woods that are preferred by skateboard manufacturers. One of the common types of woods used comes from maple trees. The wood is cut into very thin slices or veneers, which will be laminated together during the manufacturing process using glue very similar to how plywood is made.
The glue or adhesive is sandwiched between each thin-flat strip of wood and pressed together and allowed to dry. If the skateboards are to have kick-tails on them, the wood will be pressed into that particular shape with a bend in them. Next the skateboard will be cut out from the wood and holes drilled where the trucks will be mounted underneath.
Once this process is completed it is time to for the boards to be sanded and finished. Then various finishes will be applied and custom graphics. Then the coatings, graphics, silk screens will go through a drying process, generally in a big rack and for a specific time period. Last nose guards or other incidental extra features will be attached and then boxed and shipped to the retailer.
Many higher skill level skateboarders prefer wood boards to other types of skateboards. Of course generally a good wooden board will cost you quite a bit more. Composite boards offer riders some advantages too. Plastic Boards have an advantage due to their low cost and are favored for parents buying skateboards for children. What ever skateboard you buy, look for quality and look close, you can tell the difference.
L. Winslow is a Technology 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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._Winslow
Skateboarding - One of the Most Exciting and Skilled Board Sports
by: Ben Ruhland
If you’re looking to get into a board sport why not try out skateboarding? Let me guess you and your friends go out on weekends looking for something to do but you’re bored stiff. Well I can guarantee you skateboarding is a sport you’ll never be able to give up on once you get into it. It’s a board sport that can have a steep learning curve depending on the person but most people can pretty much master the basics within a couple of months.
Skateboarding has developed quite a bit in recent years. For decades when skateboarding was in its infancy, it was seen as an activity performed by youngsters, mainly rebel kids. In these earlier years skateboarders were perceived as outcasts who went around vandalizing other people’s property by skating on it. It is becoming more understood these days but it still has a long way to go before people will fully understand the skill and dedication that goes into this sport.
The basics of skateboarding like pushing yourself along the street are easy to learn but once you get into the tricks and manoeuvres such as the most basic trick, the ollie, it takes quite a bit more practice to master. You need to learn the ollie as it’s a fundamental move that is combined into the majority of tricks where the board leaves the ground. The ollie is what could be considered a “jump” where the skateboard and the rider leave the ground with the board under their feet. To really master this basic move it can take a natural skater up to a year to really get it down.
When learning to skateboard some protective gear can go a long way to ensuring your safety as you can expect to take many falls when first starting out. A decent helmet, some elbow pads and knee pads will give you the safety you’re looking for and a little extra confidence knowing you won’t get too hurt when you fall. You can buy this protective gear fairly cheap from most skate shops and even some general purpose stores.
It’s easy to get nervous when first starting out on a skateboard because your balance will most likely be very out of tune. But don’t worry, every single skater you see out there on the skate park doing all those big moves, grinding rails, doing big grabs on the half pipe, they were all just like you when they started out. It’s a sport that takes a lot of dedication, and it relies on practice. If you put in the hours you’ll be popping kick flips in a matter of months. So go out there and get practicing, it’ll keep you busy for many years to come.
About The Author
Ben Ruhland : If you’re looking for more informative articles checkout: http://www.choozle.com
If you’re looking to get into a board sport why not try out skateboarding? Let me guess you and your friends go out on weekends looking for something to do but you’re bored stiff. Well I can guarantee you skateboarding is a sport you’ll never be able to give up on once you get into it. It’s a board sport that can have a steep learning curve depending on the person but most people can pretty much master the basics within a couple of months.
Skateboarding has developed quite a bit in recent years. For decades when skateboarding was in its infancy, it was seen as an activity performed by youngsters, mainly rebel kids. In these earlier years skateboarders were perceived as outcasts who went around vandalizing other people’s property by skating on it. It is becoming more understood these days but it still has a long way to go before people will fully understand the skill and dedication that goes into this sport.
The basics of skateboarding like pushing yourself along the street are easy to learn but once you get into the tricks and manoeuvres such as the most basic trick, the ollie, it takes quite a bit more practice to master. You need to learn the ollie as it’s a fundamental move that is combined into the majority of tricks where the board leaves the ground. The ollie is what could be considered a “jump” where the skateboard and the rider leave the ground with the board under their feet. To really master this basic move it can take a natural skater up to a year to really get it down.
When learning to skateboard some protective gear can go a long way to ensuring your safety as you can expect to take many falls when first starting out. A decent helmet, some elbow pads and knee pads will give you the safety you’re looking for and a little extra confidence knowing you won’t get too hurt when you fall. You can buy this protective gear fairly cheap from most skate shops and even some general purpose stores.
It’s easy to get nervous when first starting out on a skateboard because your balance will most likely be very out of tune. But don’t worry, every single skater you see out there on the skate park doing all those big moves, grinding rails, doing big grabs on the half pipe, they were all just like you when they started out. It’s a sport that takes a lot of dedication, and it relies on practice. If you put in the hours you’ll be popping kick flips in a matter of months. So go out there and get practicing, it’ll keep you busy for many years to come.
About The Author
Ben Ruhland : If you’re looking for more informative articles checkout: http://www.choozle.com
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