bunch of blogs: Sports

First things first: there is no quick and painless way to become a good skater. Improving your skateboarding techniques requires constant practice and determination to outdo yourself each day. You may fall several times or may even cut or bruise yourself - that is part of the learning process. However, if you want to improve your skating techniques, here are the things you should remember:
Skate with an expert
You don’t need Greg Lutzka to teach you a new trick. Any of your friends is good enough. Hang out with skaters that are better than you and learn from them. Be a good student and learn only the things that can do well for you. Also, read articles about skateboarding tricks to learn proper execution. Do not adapt bad skating habits.
Be Safe
It is useless to practice and master all the tricks in the book in one day and not be able to skate for another day. Skateboard-related accidents happen to beginners and even to experts. Wear protective gear including helmet, elbow caps, knee pads, wrist pads and gloves. Use the right equipment, wear proper shoes, and execute tricks with caution. Do not attempt to be the daredevil. Even Tony Hawk wears protective gear when he skates so why wouldn’t you?
Set a goal
Improving your skateboarding techniques will be easier if you have a set goal for the day. For example: today you will start learning to “ollie” and perfect it the next several weeks; next, learn how to heelflip or backflip; after mastering those tricks, learn how to grind, and so on.
Practice right
Right practice makes perfect so if you want to improve your skateboarding techniques properly, do tricks the right way. If you are not able to master a trick in a day or in a week, do not get frustrated. Be patient. Constant practice will get it done.
Make it Fun
It is important to have a set goal but do not put too much pressure on yourself when learning new and harder tricks. Skateboarding should be fun. If you were not able to learn a trick in one day, that’s okay. No one does. The good thing is that you still have tomorrow to practice. After all, skating is not all about the tricks. It is more of the fun and discipline you experience in the sport.

Today’s skateboards are made more durable but that does not mean that you can do anything you want with them. When used improperly, the deck can snap in half, wheels can wear fast, and mechanical parts can break. Here are the things that can definitely put an end to your skateboard’s life.
Braking
Powerslides. Powersliding is cool especially if you are the only one in the group who can perform it. But with all the fame you get, your wheels receive the beating. As the wheels grind against the ground especially on rough terrains, it loses its grip and shape. They will wear fast and you may need to buy a whole new set sooner than later.
Heel brake. When doing the heel break, you wear down the soles of your shoes or the tail of your board, or both. Excessive heel braking causes the kicktail to get thinner and eventually break, requiring you to buy a new deck. If you want to stop using the heel brake, at least put a guard underneath the kicktail which will take the grinding off the deck. A plastic cap will do although it will limit your ability to do some tricks successfully.
Landing
Landing with your feet in the middle of the deck is an effective way to break the deck in half. If you don’t want that to happen, do not place your foot in the middle of the deck. Let the trucks absorb your weight by stepping above them when landing.
Freestyling
Truckstand spin, truckstand hops, pogo spin, and pogo hops can definitely ruin your tail. Grinds can scratch the bottom of the deck. Some tricks can bend your deck undesirably. Well, skateboarding should be fun and skateboarders live to experiment on new tricks. If you can afford to buy a new skateboard, feel free to do these tricks.
Maintenance
Bearings and wheels must be cleaned periodically to extent their life and spare you from buying a new set. Maintenance is very important to keep your wheels rolling smoothly. This will enhance the riding experience. But if you don’t want to clean it, it is all up to you. Just be sure that you are prepared to pay the price.
You can either put a sorry end to your skateboard or extend its life and sparing yourself from buying a whole new set. The choice is yours. Tricks can and will definitely wear out your skateboard but if done correctly, the wear will slow down.

Although it looks easy, dropping in on a ramp in a skateboard park is not a very easy thing to do. If you haven’t done drop ins before, try attempting them and you will see how difficult they are to do and there is a high chance that you will just end up with your body sprawling down below with your skateboard flying off across the ramp.
So, if you don’t want to make a fool out of yourself or worse, spend time in the hospital, you will want to know about the basics for doing drop ins properly.
First of all, you need to remember that safety is everything. Always wear your safety equipment whenever you are skateboarding. Even pros wear safety equipment.
The drop in doesn’t necessarily take a lot of skill. However, beginner skateboarders will tend to get nervous whenever they attempt to drop in on the ramp. This means that their body will tense up which will force them to shift their weight and eventually fall.
Drop ins are basically what skateboarders do to enter bowls or the vert ramp. This will allow the skateboarder to instantly gain a lot of speed and get big air to perform their tricks.
If you are just a beginner, you first need to get comfortable riding your skateboard by riding on the ground around the park.
Dropping in won’t necessarily mean that you need to know a few skateboard tricks, but it just means that you should know how to ride your skateboard comfortably and with proper balance.
You have to remember that once you’ve dropped in, there is no turning back. You will gain a lot of speed at a very fast rate. So, you will need to know how to be comfortable riding your skateboard.
To drop in, the first thing that you need to do is check out the ramp. If it’s too big, start off with mini ramps. This will not necessarily give you a lot of speed, but it will be good for practicing.
After checking out the ramp, set the tail of the board on the coping which is the edge of the ramp. Hold the board with your back foot by stepping on the tail. If you are ready to go, place your front foot just behind the nose or just above the front trucks of the skateboard. Then shift your weight forward and stomp your front foot and let gravity do the rest.
As mentioned before, there is no need for you to know different tricks when dropping off a ramp. Just get good balance and you will also need a bit of guts and will.

Most beginners overlook the importance of learning how to stop the skateboard. The common notion is: if you know how to get going, you are good to go. Braking? Leave that to the friction of the wheels as they will likely stop (Thanks to inertia!). This belief will likely bring you laying on your back either on the pavement or in a hospital bed. Bottom line: learning how to brake is as important as learning how to push forward.
There are different ways to stop your skateboard: heel drag, foot braking, power slide, and bail.
Heel drag. While this may not be the first thing you will learn, it is probably one of the better ways to stop your skateboard. To heel drag, place your back foot at the back of your skateboard (let your heel stick out off the kicktail). Lean back so that the tail of the board and your heel are pressed against the ground, the nose of the board will come up into the air. Take note that scraping your kicktail against the ground will make it thinner and may require you to replace it after some time. If you want to protect the kicktail, install a plastic or rubber guard underneath it.
Foot braking. This can make you look like a beginner but so what? Foot braking is the easiest way to stop your skateboard and you must learn how to do it before you need it. To foot brake, turn the toes of your front foot so that it will point towards the nose of the board. Then, transfer your weight to your front foot while lowering your back foot (the other foot) to the ground. Keep your back straight when doing this. Do not bend forward or backward. Then, bend your knees and press your back foot against the ground with the sole of your shoe until you stop.
Power slide. This is more advanced but the coolest way to stop. Basically, you will need to place your front foot close to the front bolts and your back foot to the back bolts. Push your back foot forward or backward and slide the rear wheels on the ground.
Bail. If everything else fails, you have one arsenal left, bail. Slightly bend your knees and jump off your board. If you are jumping forward, the board should stop. This should not be hard but remember to take caution. Treating a broken arm and a broken leg is more expensive than a buying a new board.

Buying a skateboard for your son may seem hard at first but once you know what to do, the process is just like a trip the grocery store.
First, consider the price.
Price of a skateboard can go from extremely cheap to outrageously expensive. If you are thinking of buying the cheapest skateboard in your superstore, think again. You son will hate it, hate skateboarding, or might even get hurt while riding. You will just waste your money. You don’t have to buy the most expensive either. Go for the skateboard that runs from $50 to $80. This might seem high compared to the $20 skateboard with the Spiderman logo. After all, if you want to encourage your son to become a good skater, you need to make a little investment on the board. And take note: you are not paying just for the board but also for the safety and enjoyment of your son.
Now, know the size.
Different boards are made for different types of riding (ex. slalom, speed, and freestyle). This determines the size of the board. Some are rated according to the weight of the intended user. If it is your son’s first board, the basic factor you have to consider is the length of the board. While it is not a hard rule, the height of your son can easily determine how long will his board be. If he is under 4 feet, 29″ board or shorter is good; if he is 4′ - 4′10″, a board that is 29″ - 30″ long is okay; if your son is 4′10″ - 5′3″, go for 30.5″ - 31.5″ long board. Most boards are 7.5″ to 8″ wide but for smaller rider, it can be narrower. Choose one that can accommodate the feet of your son comfortably.
If this is his first board, buy a complete skateboard. It is already assembled and ready to go. If your son has made some serious skating before, skateboard kits that he can assemble is better.
And finally - the gears. Having a good skateboard is not enough. Buy a compete set of safety gears including a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and gloves. These protect your son from any possible injuries that might happen while skating. Remember, it is no good to buy him a good skateboard and rush him to the hospital the same day. Don’t take chances.

So you finally have your own skateboard. What should you do next? You have probably watched your friends riding their boards, have played skateboard video games, or have watched pro skaters on TV, but how do you get started? The very first thing you should do is get the basic gear. Shop online or at your local sports store. And before you step on to your skateboard, get the following gear:
Shoes. While you can skate with regular shoes on, it is advisable to wear skateboarding shoes. Regular shoes can sometimes limit your movement and even impose danger. Specially designed shoes for skateboarding on the other hand have wider flat bottoms which maximize your control on the board. Skate shoes are also reinforced in parts that are more likely to wear down while riding and performing tricks, a feature you cannot expect in a regular pair of shoes.
Clothes. Fashion is an essential part of skateboarding whether anyone wants to admit it or not. Rugged and worn out shirts and pants, Chuck Taylor Converse or Low-top Classic Vans, optional pair of socks (preferably black), baseball hat worn backward, or anything that would resemble the punk or hip-hip skater look is the most common. However, what you wear is entirely up to you. Just make sure that you are comfortable and ready to go.
Pads. Elbow, wrist, and knee pads protect parts of your body from injury, cuts and bruises. It’s suggested that you pad up when you skate. Some may say that pads limit their movement. But what the heck? It is better to compromise your movement and guarantee safety than be free and risking it all.
Helmet. If you are a beginner and you skate anywhere near a teenager or anyone who is more advanced than you are, wearing a helmet makes you look un-cool, weak, or stupid. But don’t worry about it. Being safe is not a showing of weakness or stupidity. After all, what’s the use of your skateboard if you are lying in a hospital bed with a head injury that was caused by falling while riding your board?
Once you have all these, it is time for you to go out and practice your moves. But remember, ride safely. Learn the basics of skating. Know how to push, glide, brake, and fall properly. Have fun!

The Ollie is the most common trick that a skateboarder should know. By knowing how to Ollie, you will be able to perform a lot of variations of it as well as other tricks, such as grinding on ledges or rails, or do other technical tricks.
The Ollie is the basic trick that you need to learn when you are skateboarding.
However, you need to understand that learning to do the Ollie can be difficult. And, you might want to expect a lot of mistakes when you are trying it out for the first time. Also, expect some wipeouts or falls as well as bruises when learning how to skateboard. The tricks involved, are commonly associated with falls and pain.
One mistake is called the Chickenfoot. This is where you perform the Ollie but when you land, your feet will land on the ground and not on the board. This is a very common problem. It’s either you are doing the trick wrong or you are plain scared to get back on your board. To help you with this problem, try to land at least one foot on the board. Choose which foot you want to land on the board and make sure that it does land on the board. Keep practicing the trick and you will be able to overcome your fear of falling when you land after an Ollie and you will also be able to do it effortlessly.
Spinning is another problem for skateboarders when they do the Ollie. Normally, a skateboarder doesn’t know what is causing this because they are making a mistake unconsciously. To fix this, lean forward when you Ollie. Make sure that you lean on the direction you are skating. This will be able to cut down the spin. You can also try shifting your foot placement.
Low Ollies are also a common problem among beginner skateboarders learning how to do the trick. This mainly happens because you are not crouched low enough or you are not pulling your leg up high enough. Try to do this:
When you are getting ready to pop up, crouched as low as you can that your hands will be able to touch the ground or pavement. When you pop up, get both your knees to touch your chest. This will solve your low Ollie problem.
These are some of the problems that you can experience while ollying. Always remember that practice is the key to master any trick in skateboarding. Don’t be afraid to fall as it is part of the sport.

First off, you have to fully understand that using skateboard ramps is highly dangerous and the event of an injury is likely. But because most skateboarders live for the thrill of doing tricks and catching big air, skateboard ramps are essential in any skateboard park and there have also been many skateboard ramps that have been homemade and used on their own property.
Ramps for those that are newbies to skateboarding, although it is unlikely that a person who wants to go skateboarding hasn’t seen or heard about one, are sloping, usually wooden, objects that allow a person to ride a bike, skateboard or such to give them leverage when they do leaps. In buildings, ramps are used for easy access to those who are disabled.
As mentioned, ramps are great obstacles in a skateboard course which can allow a person to do jumps and to perform tricks after taking off. Some ramps are also used for taking off to allow a skateboarder to gather momentum easily. Skateboard ramps that don’t have a sloping or curving surface are called wedge ramps. They look like triangles and have a straight line going up.
Using the internet, you can purchase ramps and avoid having to build one your own. Many websites offer large and small ramps and some of them even offer free shipping and delivery. All you have to do is find the right one for you. Factors that determine which type of ramp you will need will include the space you have where you will place the ramp. Take into account the obstacles that are lined up near the allotted space.
Another factor to consider is your skateboarding skills and abilities. If you are a new to using ramps, then you may want to stick with the smaller ramps first. Practice with the small ramp then as you get used to doing jumps and other tricks, you may move on to larger ramps.
For the do it yourself kind of guy, there are skateboard ramp plans available for download on the internet. Some plans can be downloaded for free, but for the more comprehensive plans, you may purchase them for a low fee.
But always remember, when it comes to skateboarding, like in other different types of sport, safety is the main issue. Don’t forget to wear your safety gear and don’t get over eager.

You basically have 2 choices when buying a new skateboard: buy a complete skateboard (the one that is assembled for you) or buy parts and assemble them together to create you own skateboard according to your personal preference. Now, buying a complete skateboard is simple. Go to a sports store, choose the board you want and ride it home. Building your own skateboard is a bit complicated. You have to carefully choose your parts to enjoy the ride. So before you start shopping, focus your attention on the two of the most crucial skateboard parts: the deck and trucks.
Deck. When choosing one, take note of the size as it will definitely affect the way you ride. Thus there are specific sizes for each skateboarding activity. If you skate more at skate parks and pools, go for the board 7.87″ to 8.25″ in width. The 7.5″ to 7.87″ wide board is ideal for street skating and doing technical tricks. The length of the board should be based on your height. If you are over 6′ tall, 32″ or longer boards are better. If you are 5′3″ to 5′8, go for 31.5″ to 32″ long boards. If you are 5′3″ and below, choose a board that do not go beyond 31.5″ long. Graphics may influence your decision but prioritize on the size first before anything else.
Trucks. You need 2 of them. Match the truck width to the width of your deck. Sizes of the trucks are 5.25″, 5.0″, and 4.75″. Obviously, match the size of the trucks with the size of your deck. Consider the brushings, those that look like rubber donuts inside the trucks. Their purpose is to cushion trucks during turns. Stiffer brushings are more stable. This is recommended for beginners. Softer brushings make easy turns but make tricks difficult to perform. For more experienced skaters, medium brushings are a perfect choice. Truck height is important. Higher trucks allow you to use larger set of wheels, and are ideal for speed and distance. Lower trucks are good if you want to use smaller wheels. They are more stable and make flip tricks easier. Medium trucks are recommended for beginners.
There is no hard rule on the ideal size of the deck and trucks that you should buy. These are just guides to make your selection easier. If you beg to differ, it’s okay. Feel free to get the parts you are comfortable riding with.

Learning how to skateboard is quite painful. You will experience falls and quite a lot of bruises and even broken bones are not uncommon for skateboarders. This is why you need to know how to properly execute the trick you want to do in order to minimize injury, avoid humiliating yourself and hospital time.
Performing the tricks properly will mean impressing the crowd and you will also feel quite good about yourself.
One trick that you will definitely want to learn is the 50-50 Grind. This particular trick is where the skateboarder will ride along curbs, benches, railings, coping and other ledges. In this trick, the skateboarder will use the trucks instead of the wheels or deck to ride along the ledges.
It is called the 50-50 Grind because half of the board will be on the edge and half will be off with both trucks even.
Before you attempt this trick, you will first need to learn how to Ollie. If you don’t know how to Ollie, then you will not be able to perform this trick as you will never be able to know how to get up the railings or coping to perform the grind.
To start learning, you obviously need to put on your helmet and pads. You wouldn’t want to hear that eerie crack when you hit your head hard on the pavement, would you? So, wear your helmet or what you probably know as the “brain bucket”.
When learning to grind, you might want to start off with a small ledge. The skill implemented on the ledge when you do the 50-50 Grind is basically the same when you do it on the rail. However, it is very easy to fall of a rail than on a ledge.
If you can’t find a good ledge to grind on, you can try your local skate park. There are ledges here that are specifically designed for grinding.
Once you find a ledge, you can try waxing it. It will allow a smoother and faster grind.
If you are ready, move a fair distance away from the ledge. Then, ride your skateboard with your feet in an Ollie position.
When you are about a foot away from the ledge, Ollie up into the ledge you are trying to grind. The hard part is letting your skateboard land on the ledge in the center of your trucks. This will take some time to practice. When landing on the ledge, bend your knees. Try to do your best to land on the ledge with your feet still in the Ollie position. This will make it easier for you to pop off the ledge you are doing the 50-50 Grind on.
When grinding the ledge, keep yourself balanced. Never lean back if you don’t want to hear that skull cracking open. Use your arms to control your balance and lean a bit forward.
When nearing the end of the ledge, pop off by doing the Ollie again but smaller. Also, pull to the side a little.
After that, you can simply ride away and hear the crowd behind you go wild.