Skateboarding, a thrilling sport loved by many, presents a unique challenge in mastering its techniques. The learning curve varies significantly, influenced by factors like age, physical condition, courage, and a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
While the basics of skateboarding are generally accessible, mastering advanced tricks requires dedication and practice. A common mistake for beginners is to rush into learning tricks before establishing a solid foundation in the fundamentals. Consistency is key; aim to skate at least twice a week to ensure progress.
I began my skateboarding journey by simply sitting on one knee and using my other foot to push. This is just one approach. To help you ease into skateboarding, here are some valuable tips to make the learning process smoother and more efficient.
skateboarder doing a drop in
15 Tips to Accelerate Your Skateboarding Skills
Eager to master skateboarding in less time? It’s definitely achievable. Begin slowly, focusing on riding properly before attempting tricks. Although there’s no fixed order for learning skateboard tricks, understanding how your board responds is crucial for building a strong foundation.
Don’t expect to start practicing kickflips on your first day at the skate park. It’s essential to establish a strong foundation of riding, balancing, and carving before moving on to complex maneuvers. Here are 15 tips designed to expedite your skateboarding journey:
1. Master the Fundamentals First
Many beginners hinder their own progress by immediately trying complex tricks. Skipping the basics will impede your progress later on. While landing a trick can be rewarding, you’ll progress faster by focusing on the fundamentals. Some tricks require time and building up gradually.
It’s also important to determine your preferred stance early on; do you ride goofy or regular? Knowing your natural stance is crucial for efficient learning.
Start by simply balancing and pushing. You need to become comfortable with pushing and understanding how your board reacts to your movements. Here’s a sample approach for your first day:
- Begin on grass or carpet where the board won’t move.
- Practice leaning forward, backward, and sideways to understand how your board responds.
- Find a clean and safe practice area without hazards or traffic. Empty parking lots are an excellent option.
- Rehearse your balancing exercises before starting to ride.
- Position your feet correctly and give your board a small push. Push once and ride it out, repeating until you gain control.
Once you can comfortably ride and carve, you can advance to the basics. I suggest spending a few weeks just riding your skateboard.
After you’re comfortable with riding, explore some basic tricks that still look impressive. Mastering these will make learning more advanced tricks like ollies and flips much easier.
2. Learn the Art of Falling
Falling is an inevitable part of skateboarding. It’s essential to learn how to fall safely to minimize injury. You can also check out my comprehensive guide on how to skateboard for beginners, which includes guidance on safe falling techniques.
The key is to either roll or slide upon impact. Sliding is recommended when using knee pads, while rolling is generally preferred when you’re not wearing protective gear.
It takes time to master safe falling and it might not always be comfortable. Even with proper technique, injuries can still occur, but this is all part of the process.
3. Gradually Advance Your Tricks
Most skaters focus on learning ollies early on, which is a foundational trick for many other techniques. It’s a great exercise to understand how your skateboard responds to your movements.
Start learning ollies step by step:
- Practice ollies while stationary (optional)
- Practice ollies while moving slowly.
- Increase your speed gradually while performing ollies.
- Attempt ollies over small objects.
- Ollie onto and off curbs.
- Progress to ollies over one stair and then more.
While some find it useful to learn tricks while stationary, it’s usually easier to learn them in motion.
The pace of learning ollies varies from person to person, which is entirely normal. Some may learn ollies faster than others.
Once you can do ollies, you can start learning manuals or vice versa. Combining the two by ollieing onto a manual pad adds even more complexity.
4. Practice Consistently
Like any skill, mastering skateboarding requires frequent practice. Many aspiring skateboarders get discouraged when they don’t see immediate results.
Repetition is key. Keep practicing that ollie, and mix in other tricks like manuals or shuvits. Focusing on one trick while including some variety will enhance your progress. Your brain needs time to adjust, and progress can sometimes be delayed. There may be days when a kickflip seems impossible, and then suddenly, it clicks.
Remember to take breaks. Your body needs to recover, and skateboarding can be physically demanding. Skate until you’re tired, take a break, and then get back out there.
5. Invest in Quality Equipment
A low-quality skateboard will significantly hinder your progress. Investing in a quality deck, wheels, trucks, and bearings will greatly accelerate your learning.
Cheap boards often have poor-quality wheels, delaminating decks, and trucks that break easily. Even the bearings play a critical role; if they don’t spin correctly, you’ll struggle with your speed.
Avoid cheap skateboards from big box retailers, and purchase your equipment from a reputable skate shop. It’s easy to get frustrated with poor equipment, so staying motivated with proper gear is critical. Those cheap boards can even be dangerous!
A good setup will cost between $130 (minimum) and $180. It’s important to be aware of some hidden costs. Buying a complete skateboard from a reputable brand is another option that can be more cost-effective.
6. Choose the Right Shoes
skateboard shoe
Wearing the right shoes is essential for skateboarding. Choose skate shoes or canvas shoes with flat soles. These will help you feel the board and maintain balance. Running or basketball shoes don’t offer the necessary board feel.
There’s a wide variety of skate shoes available, so check out my buying guide or my recommended skate shoes to help you choose.
7. Wear Protective Gear
helmet on a skateboard
I can’t stress enough how important protective gear is, especially for beginners. At the very least, wear a helmet when learning new tricks. Although many skaters don’t wear helmets, this trend is changing. It’s no longer unusual to see even pro street skaters using them.
Knee pads help absorb impacts, and your future self will thank you for wearing them. As an older skater, I can vouch for the importance of knee pads, as my knees are still in great shape, unlike some of my peers who didn’t wear them.
Consider elbow pads and wrist guards as well, particularly when starting, to prevent injuries.
8. Find a Suitable Place to Skate
It’s normal for beginners to feel self-conscious about skating in public. Don’t worry about what others might think. There are many locations to practice without being in the public eye.
Think about abandoned buildings, parking lots, your backyard, garages, or even tennis and basketball courts.
9. Skate With Others
Learning to skateboard alone can be much harder than learning with friends or others who share your passion.
Most skateboarders are happy to help others and give tips for improvement, provided you’re respectful. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice and learn the skateboard etiquette before visiting a skate park for the first time.
If you follow the rules and don’t get in the way, people are usually willing to help. Everyone starts as a beginner, and experienced skaters understand and respect that. They can see what you’re doing well and what you need to improve. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of adjusting your foot position.
Skating with others is incredibly motivating, and will push you to improve. However, be careful not to overdo it. If you’re not ready for a trick, wait until you feel confident.
Overconfidence can easily lead to injuries. The fear of skateboarding is normal; just don’t let it hold you back.
10. Film Yourself Skateboarding
Filming yourself with your phone is an effective learning tool. By watching the videos, you can identify mistakes and make adjustments. Sometimes, your balance might be off, which is easier to spot on video. You can also share your videos with others to ask for feedback.
Watching yourself skate is also a great motivator. You’ll be inspired to improve and try again. The best way to improve is by repeatedly practicing, and watching yourself is a valuable tool.
11. Seek Online Advice
There are numerous online forums where you can find advice. Reddit is a great place to ask for feedback. Ask questions about any challenges you face.
Many experienced skateboarders are happy to help. Many skaters share videos to demonstrate their techniques and receive constructive feedback. It’s also a great way to watch your progress.
Uploading a video is the best way to get detailed feedback. Make sure the video is good quality and includes your upper body, board, feet, and legs. This allows others to evaluate your posture and give tailored advice.
However, avoid asking general questions that are easily searchable, such as “how to improve my ollie,” as this has been asked many times before. There’s already plenty of information out there to learn how to ollie. However, people are still helpful and will offer relevant advice to help you improve your skills.
12. Consider Taking Lessons
While it may not be an option for everyone, a few lessons can help you avoid common rookie mistakes. Professional instructors can give you a head start by teaching you proper stance and balance.
If you can’t afford lessons, consider watching tutorial videos on YouTube. While YouTube is a great resource, it won’t provide personalized feedback on your specific technique. You can also ask around at your local skate park for someone willing to help.
13. Age and Fitness Level
Learning to skateboard is harder as you get older, particularly those over 30. Although many skateboarders begin at a very young age, you can still become a great skater later in life. If you exercise regularly, learning to skateboard will be easier compared to someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle.
If you’re not in great shape or haven’t done any sports for years, don’t let that discourage you. You don’t have to be an athlete to skate. Skaters come in all shapes and sizes, and some larger individuals can execute impressive tricks. Just cruising around is a great experience and a perfect way to learn how to ride.
Plus, skateboarding is a great way to burn calories. Start slowly and consider wearing a helmet and knee pads.
Skateboarding isn’t dangerous, but taking precautions is always a good idea. Once you’re comfortable riding, you can start learning tricks or become a dedicated cruiser. I enjoy cruising and own a few cruisers which you can check out here.
14. Watch Skateboarding Videos
Watching skateboarding videos is beneficial for seeing how it’s done.
Often, videos provide valuable insights into proper foot placement and body positioning on the skateboard.
There are many classic skateboarding videos to learn from, as well as great YouTube channels like Rad Rat, Ben Degros, VL-Skate, and NeverStopImproving. These creators offer excellent advice for beginners and advanced skateboarders alike.
15. Take a Break When Needed
I mentioned earlier that your brain and muscles sometimes need time to adjust before you master a trick. Taking a day or two off is not bad and can actually be helpful.
Sometimes your feet might hurt or you might feel sore. It may seem counterintuitive, but rest can really help you progress.
I remember trying to learn kickflips and feeling very frustrated. I decided to stop practicing for the day and focus on other tricks. The next day, I landed my first kickflip on my first try, followed by many more. Sometimes, taking a break is the key to unlocking new skills!
Summary
Skateboarding isn’t too difficult to learn if you focus on the basics. Learn how to ride and balance before moving to tricks, however tempting that might be. You will reap the rewards later on and progress at a faster rate.
Proper equipment is a game-changer. Cheap skateboards can lead to a frustrating experience, and many beginners give up because of that.
Skate with others, seek advice online and in real life, and don’t be embarrassed. Everyone starts as a beginner.
Ruben vee
Ruben Vee
I’m an experienced skateboarder and I still enjoy riding. I started skateboarding 25 years ago, and still ride to this day. I’m a huge fan of skateboard gear, and I like to test and share my knowledge.
By sharing you support this website
Our editorial process is dedicated to providing high-quality, fact-checked content, ensuring the best experience. If you spot any inaccuracies, please let us know (feedback@skateboardershq.com), and we will take immediate action.
SkateboardersHQ is an independent blog. We don’t accept paid product promotions or sponsored content. We are rebranding and moving to RippedLaces.
