How to Ride a Skateboard for Beginners? – Tips & Tricks For Beginners

Are you young having a short height or overweight with a skinny body? No worries! It doesn’t matter how old you are and how is your physique, skateboarding is a fun activity to learn for all. If you are a beginner, you can start your skating journey with simple techniques.

Time, motion, and stability are all essential aspects of skating. Before learning more difficult tricks, you must first understand these three aspects of skateboarding. But very few people learn skateboarding on the first attempt.

Being a beginner, you will ask how to ride a skateboard for beginners. So, to start skateboarding, you can follow the steps given in this article. Buckle up your shoes and come with me!

How to Ride a Skateboard for Beginners – Learn Basics

What is Skateboarding?

Skateboarding is an activity where skaters use their skateboards to do stunts. Numerous skaters do a variety of tricks, including kickflips, grinds, rolls, and other specific moves. With thousands of games worldwide, skateboarding has become a well-liked activity.

Skateboarding is a difficult sport as not everyone can ride into a skatepark and maintain their position on it. This popular sport is simple to pick but stressful and challenging to learn.

Prepare Before You Ride

You will have to ensure that you have completed all necessary steps. You must be equipped with the appropriate protective clothing before you begin riding. You should have a high-quality skateboard, which is essential. Because a poor-quality skateboard might cause problems with your skating experience.

Get a Good-Quality Skateboard

Skateboards come in a variety of styles and shapes. Many people are unaware of the distinction between skateboards and fail to recognize it. Thus, the kind of skateboard you require is based on your desired use. Here are the best skateboards for beginners that are recommended by professionals.

It would probably be wiser to purchase a cruiser or longboard if all you need is to travel by board.

You should choose an electric skateboard if you’re extremely lazy or a little older. A particular kind of skateboard is needed for street skating. For small ramp and bowl skating, you’ll need something compact and quick.

Keep in mind to avoid getting a toy skateboard. To buy top-notch gear, go to your nearest skate shop. Also, you must take precautions because a cheap-made board can shatter quickly.

Safety Gears

For novices, it is crucial to remember that you always wear protective gear when skating. It is essential both for your safety and the well-being of others.

A helmet, knee pads, wrist guards, and elbow pads are necessary pieces of safety clothing. They can also assist you in eliminating your skateboarding issue.

Another crucial recommendation is that as a novice, you shouldn’t risk doing any stunts. It could result in a head fall. Head injuries are extremely risky and shouldn’t be ignored.

Get Proper Shoes

Investing in some good-quality footwear is the most crucial factor. You will require shoes with flat soles and impact absorption capabilities. You can have a severe heel injury that doesn’t heal quickly and keeps repeating. These types of shoes can help avoid shocks while skating.

Additionally, it is important that you can handle your board and your shoes are comfortable.

When purchasing footwear like the Nike SB line, use some necessary precautions. The reason is that some of these brands do little for the sport and are more stylish than effective.

Following are some names to look out for:

Vans, Emerica, Etnies, Lakai, etc.

When you start skateboarding for the first time, it is common to experience foot soreness. Ensure your shoes aren’t too stiff when you wear them.

Inspect Your Skateboard

Sharp edges, worn-out joints, cracked kingpins, and unsecured nuts are things that can cause accidents. If your skateboard is new, it will not be problematic. But checking your gear before you skateboard can help you avoid accidents. You must examine your bearings because a damaged one can restrict wheel motion.

  • Check that the wheels are securely fastened.
  • Check that the baseplates are stable.
  • Your deck’s rough edges can cut you severely.
  • Your hold will be reduced by worn-out gripping tapes.

Don’t Be Embarrassed

Every new skater experiences embarrassment. What are the people going to say? I appear foolish because I have no idea what I’m doing, people might scoff at me. This is very common, so don’t be afraid.

At some point, everyone had to learn how to skateboard. Strangers may comment on you, but who cares? You skate for fun, to develop new talent, and for yourself.

Try to find a quiet area, such as an empty car park, or utilize your garage if it is too much hassle for you.

Don’t Skateboard in the Rain

Skating in the rain is hazardous for your board and wheels. You can say, it is risky. You can fall if your tires lose traction. In the rain, your board will become wet, lack its bounce, and deform, and your gripping will become less resistant.

Even if it is only a little bit rainy outside, you shouldn’t do that because it will damage your gear. For rainy days, some skaters have a rainy board. Typically, this only refers to an old deck, old tires, ancient joints, etc. Just remember to look after your equipment at all times.

Find a Smooth Flat Surface

The leaves and tiny rocks on the ground will stop your skating and little pieces of glass are worse. By using larger, smoother wheels and less pressure on your front foot, you can avoid this.

Harder tires cause a problem. So, soft wheels are better than those wheels to get a smooth ride on a skateboard.

So, check the ground for rocks, leaves, and broken glass before you choose an area to skate. A smooth ground will assist you in avoiding unpleasant and unplanned falling.

Skate parks are the best place to practice. Because there are so many skaters there, going early in the morning is a smart option. It might also be more comfortable.

Don’t Spend Too Much on Your First Skateboard

For about $90-$100, you can purchase a fully professional skateboard. You should prevent toy stores and think about purchasing a full deck. A skateboard under $50 works fine for beginners.

Toy boards are hefty, feature cheap parts, and can easily break. As you learn, you might consider constructing a skateboard yourself using the parts you desire.

Respect the Skateboarding Culture

It is important to treat other skaters with respect. When you ask for help, skaters will be encouraged. Such as when you attempt to slide into a little slope for the first time, you will need help.

They will demonstrate how to perform it for you and also give you safety equipment. In my experience, no one will help you if you behave like a bully.

You can show appreciation by hitting your skateboard twice on the ground. Skateboarders applaud in this manner and get encouragement.

Don’t Expect to Learn in a Day

You can travel all day but it wouldn’t be very pleasant. You can start skateboarding quickly if you are already skilled in other activities. This means that you will be able to skate, but you won’t perform kickflips or other difficult stunts.

It can be more difficult if you are not particularly skilled in sports. It is all about enjoying yourself. So, you must try to practice it daily.

You can quickly learn the procedure in a few different ways!

  • To strengthen and fine-tune your foot motions, try to maintain balance on a skateboard.
  • By performing core workouts, you can strengthen your core.
  • Enhance your body’s mobility and flexibility while reducing responses.
  • You should practice every day.

How to Stand on a Skateboard and Maintain Balance?

Be careful to place your feet properly and get comfortable with using a skateboard. Don’t stand on a board when it’s moving because it will make you feel uneasy. Also, it will be a little frightening on your first attempt.

You can place your deck on a patch of grass or a piece of cloth to stop the board from falling away. In this manner, your skateboard won’t take off without you and you will be able to balance your board. Riding a skateboard on grass is not what you want to do but you will stay still and get to know the board with this.

After completing that, go outside and stand there with both of your feet on the board and your knees slightly warped. In this way, you will maintain your center of gravity near the surface.

Once you feel at ease and aren’t constantly losing your position, you should keep practicing it.

How to Ride a Skateboard for the First Time?

Have you learned the basics of skateboarding that have been described above? Now it’s time to ride on a skateboard. To improve your skills, try to skateboard at least three times every week. If you are teaching your kids to skate at home you, read these tips.

Choosing which foot to bring forward is the very first step you should take. Do you have a normal position or an awkward position? Everything will be challenging and unpleasant if you use the incorrect foot.

Skaters are usually pushed with their front foot, but doing that makes it more difficult to achieve a stable place.

Below are some instructions you have to follow;

  • You should run straight forward and illustrate sliding on a slick surface.
  • Now jump and strike quickly and put a foot forward.
  • Another option is to ask a friend to pull you while you’re sitting. In this case, your front foot will be used to skate.

Instructions for Riding a Skateboard

I am going to provide some advice to beginners on how to learn skating. Every skater has had a period of skating anxiety because they were unaware of what to do.

So, learning to skate involves these five main steps:

  • Maintaining Balance
  • Pushing the Skateboard
  • Turning the Skateboard
  • Stopping the Skateboard
  • Throwing down the Skateboard

How to Maintain Balance on a Skateboard?

Starting the skateboard practice can seem scary on the first attempt. Also, many people consider skating to be among the most thrilling sports.

Well, skateboarding is all about balance. That is why learning to control a skateboard is the first difficult task. You will know that it is a little bit difficult if you have ever attempted it.

Finding your favorite posture, placing your feet behind the screws, and attempting to balance while moving your body are some suggestions for achieving the right balance.

Finding your favorite skateboard position is important first. If you’re riding a skateboard, you should maintain this technique.

Regular Stance and Goof Stance are the two primary sitting positions. You should test both as a beginner to see which is more comfortable for you. You will be shocked to discover how simple it is to stand on the board after getting this technique.

How to Push on a Skateboard?

It is time to push the skateboard once you have learned the Position.

Let’s divide the pressing process into sequential chunks.

Step 1: Place your front foot forward and extend your knees.

Step 2: Give the board a push with your front foot.

Step 3: Grasp the board with your back foot.

Step 4: Put your front foot in the side position.

Step 5: You might need to practice this a few times before you start it.

How to Turn the Skateboard?

After that, you will have to learn how to turn the skateboard. For this, you will have to put both of your feet on the skateboard. By using your feet, you have to push forward and backward.

When you are satisfied, you should try it while surfing because you will see your skateboard respond to your motions.

On a skateboard, you can do two different rotations: a kick turn and a carving turn.

To lift your front wheels off the ground when performing a kicking flip, you must press your back foot against your rear. By pushing forward and guiding with your body mass, you can carve corners.

How to Stop on a Skateboard?

Here you are going to learn, how to stop the skateboard. The easiest approach to stop the skateboard would be to drag your rear foot with the surface. Also, you will have to provide gentle pressure. This will slowly lessen and stop the pace.

Experienced riders’ power-slide to control their boards, but for novices, it would be tough to achieve that. While doing so, try not to get anxious as this could make you trip and fall. And I hope you are wearing helmets if you rush into traffic for your safety.

How to Throw a Skateboard?

Skateboarding requires the ability to throw down your skateboard. This is the first technique you should learn after learning the fundamentals of riding. It allows you to begin moving quickly rather than dragging from a complete stop.

With the arm next to your front foot, grip the board’s head in place. If you are normal, grasp it in your left hand; if you are silly, grasp it in your right.

If you go forward with your presser foot by extending the arm, you can sag the boards in front of your front leg. You should use it to support it.

As you take your next ride, drop the boards beneath your back foot. So that you can convert them into your initial push. Without having to reposition your feet, you can begin riding.

Although it will initially feel awkward, you will feel comfortable once you learn it. So, you will be able to sit on your skateboard at high speed.

More Basic Skateboarding Skills

Although it is simple, it will help you obtain more confidence before you begin performing flips, spins, grinds, and slides. So, it is time to become familiar with the different skateboard riding techniques.

  • Regular/goofy stance
  • Fakie (riding backward)
  • Switch stance (the complete opposite of your normal stance)
  • Nose stance (less relevant)

Try Riding Backward

Skateboarding backward is essential to perform more tricks and develop your skating technique. Also, this is a great method to get to know your board. The best method to acquire fakie is to skate backward up a ramp.

You simply have to ride up and point your shoulders in the position you want to go (backward). Your back foot will remain on the tail in this scenario, so you don’t need to move them. This will enable you to become used to the fake stance before switching.

It can be challenging to ride up a slope, so, avoid leaning forward as this will cause you to lose your balance. Try to bend your legs and lean slightly backward.

If you are experienced in sliding in both directions upwards and backward, you are prepared to accomplish feats. You can ride up a ramp and slide down a fakie with this. For the first time, it will feel a little awkward.

Getting Back in Normal Position

It is crucial to understand how to maintain your posture after riding a fakie. To stay in a fakie stance, you will have to learn many techniques as it is a little tricky. So, how you can do this? By a 180-degree turn, you can stay in a fakie stance!

  • You will have to turn your head in the desired direction.
  • Maintain your center of gravity while using your shoulders and upper body to control the movement.
  • Put some force behind your tail.
  • When you turn, don’t put a lot of pressure on your legs.
  • Additionally, you will have to bend inward, which is a little trickier.
  • To rotate and squeeze your tail slightly, you will have to bend your shoulders and upper body inside.
  • Do it gently; if your body is in the correct position, your nose should rise above the floor, and your hips and legs will follow.
  • Stick your nose down, and there you have it!

Try a Mini Ramp

Once you feel comfortable with skateboarding, you can bring and mini ramp and try it. You just have to go backward and press a little with both of your feet to keep going. Then you have to take a knee and lean down close to the bends.

Your wheels and axle have an impact on how much force you apply. Compared to hard wheels, softer wheels need more pressing and force. This way, you should prefer the mid-range wheels that will not be too hard as well as soft.

In this way, you can learn more tricks using the ramp. Once you learn this skill, you can start skating like a professional.

How Can I Improve My Skating Skills?

You have to follow the steps given below to improve your skating skills;

Learn to Fall

Nobody has ever skated without falling off the boards. It can be frustrating. But you can avoid suffering serious injuries by developing proper fall techniques.

You must always use a helmet to protect your head and utilize wrist protectors to prevent the majority of falls. It will prevent the painful scratches that are common in the skating field.

The most frequent issue is stepping on tiny stones that block up the wheels or crashing into a fracture. So, it leads you to lose your position and balance.

While skating, you should pay great attention to the ground, but keep your eyes up to maintain as much stability as you can.

Skate with other Skaters

Similar to learning music or other sports, learning to skate has become easier by having skilled teachers. You must connect with more skilled skaters to observe all you can while getting tips and ideas.

You should be open and honest about your perspective when seeking advice. Don’t let someone convince you to try anything you’re not ready for.

If you are starting to learn how to halt without going down while skating with a group of guys downstairs, you can get severe injuries. Thus, you can also arrive by going slowly.

Watch lots of Skating Videos

The core of the skating industry is skating videos. Several videos and lessons can be found online for no cost. Along with impressive skating feats, you can discover beginner-friendly advice and suggestions.

For instance, the streams of Aaron Kyro and Andy Schrock provide helpful instructions and information. These videos can be used to learn more complex technical skills.

Try Skating Downhill

Beaming a more experienced skater requires the use of gravity. Riding with it and maintaining control of your board is a smart option. It is because the first time you start going downhill without pushing can be frightening.

You should lower yourself to the boards and use your arms to prevent tilting while maintaining balance. This is because smaller motions at faster rates produce larger swings. Also, it will increase the chances that you will lose your stability. So that keep your ankles as motionless as you can.

Try tricks when you are ready

When you will start skating comfortably and can manage the balance on the skateboard, you will easily start performing tricks and stunts. Also, this will allow you to skate like a pro after some time.

The most effective and simple tricks for newcomers are:

  • Ollie
  • Grinding
  • Shove-it
  • Kick-flip

Keep Skating

Be consistent and humble! It takes a lot of effort and time to become a good skateboarder. You won’t be able to learn it quickly overnight. But if you go carefully and practice as long as you can, you will get better and feel more at ease using the board.

Also, try not to lose hope.

FAQ’s

What do you need to learn to skateboard?

To start skateboarding, you must essentially do the following. Put the correct shoes on your feet, begin your push-hands training, and find out how to twist and take up fake riding. Thus, spending too much on your first skateboard is a bad idea.

What is the best way to push on a Skateboard?

Along with your back leg, you must take a long move to maintain stability while sitting on the skateboard. You must choose a smooth and plain surface for this. Also, you must make continuous pushes instead of quick tabs.

How to balance on a skateboard?

Skateboarding begins with maintaining balance on a skateboard. To ensure that the board stands still, put it on level and sturdy ground. The board will begin to move once you step up on it. Also, make sure your body’s direction meets the movement of your feet.

How to ride a skateboard?

You have to place your foot on the deck. By positioning your front foot on the side of the board, you can maintain your stability. You will have to put your front foot over the board’s front axle screws. Use your other foot to pull. Put your feet back on your tail and press with it.

Conclusion

Learning the fundamentals of skateboarding will take some time and effort. Have you done reading this article? If yes then you must be aware of how to ride a skateboard for beginners. This article has all the basic steps and instructions that you will need to follow.

Always keep in mind that skating is all about enjoyment. Learning stunts is different from learning flip riding. I am sure that now you can skate as a beginner and know how to do stunts with a skateboard.

Have a happy skate journey!

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Alex