SKATEBOARD

There are 4 basic things to consider on buying a Skateboard:

Complete Skateboard

1.  Cost. A skateboard can be very expensive so the basic principle to remember is to settle for something functional -basic. Do not aim for the best board that will set you back a hefty 3-digit figure that does not even include bearings, trucks, and a set of wheels.

Any higher and you’ll be paying for something you don’t need; any lower and you’ll be paying for junk. The point is, you should buy an average beginner skateboard so when you realize that the sport is not for you or you happen to destroy your skateboard in the process, you have not spent your fortune for nothing.

2.  Trucks. There are different types of trucks suited for specific tricks and functions. While price is your main concern, always go for quality. Go to a proper skateboard dealer and seek advice or bring a friend who really knows what trucks are right for your skill level.

Deck

3.  Bearings and wheels. Bearings keep the wheels spinning when you stop pushing. Now, there are different ratings (measured in ABEC value) that determine the speed of the bearings. The slowest are the ‘AA’ bearings. While this will help you maintain a very slow speed downhill, it won’t give you that needed speed on flat surfaces.

‘AA’ is then followed by ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC 9. Beginners can go for ABEC 3 or ABEC 5 at the most. These bearings may not give you the best movement but going for the fastest bearings is not a good idea either.

4.  Deck. If you want to go for the best deck, choose the one without any graphics. Why? Brandings and designs are what make skateboard decks expensive. Aside from that, deck designs can easily scratch off with a decent amount of skating. Instead of focusing on the cool graphics, get a 7-ply deck and pay attention to the shape of the deck.

Therefore, your ideal beginner skateboard should consist of a 7-ply deck, durable tracks, and ABEC 3 or 5 bearings at a reasonable price.

Fractures, sprains, abrasions, contusions, and even head injuries are frequent among skateboarders. These can be prevented with the following safety tips:

Wear a helmet   21 percent of the total reported skateboard-related injuries are head injuries. So it makes sense to wear a helmet. Make sure that the helmet you wear has a chin strap and fits around your head perfectly.

Wear protective gear   Elbow pads, knee pads, wrist pads, and gloves may not fully protect you from fractures but it can reduce the severity of bruises and cuts.

Do not ride in traffic   While modern skateboards are designed for maximum control, it is not advisable to ride when crossing the street. Also, never attempt to “skitch” (or riding while holding on to a moving vehicle) on motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, or cars.

Skate on the right place   Many skateboard-related injuries are caused by skating in the street or in places with human or vehicular traffic. Go to parks, empty parking spaces, or indoor skate parks. It is equally important to skate on the grounds with smooth surfaces as small bumps, sticks, holes, and stones on the riding surface can cause falls.

Do not take chances   Learning new tricks is cool but you have to make sure that you perform it with caution and lots of practice. Never show off.

Never skate alone   Like swimming, do not attempt to skate alone. This way, when accident happens, there is someone to help you.

Learn to fall from the skateboard properly   Most injuries happen because the skateboarder losses his balance. Learning how to fall will reduce the risk of injuries. The best way to fall is to crouch down as it reduces your height and amount of impact during the fall. Try to relax your body rather than go stiff. Roll rather than absorb the full impact of the fall. And try to fall on the fleshy part of your body rather than absorb the impact with your arms.

Choose the right skateboard   Boards vary differently. Some are designed for speed while others are designed for freestyle or slalom. Choose a specific board that fits your requirements. If you did some serious skateboarding before, you should know. If you are buying for the first time, seek advice.

Head Turning Skateboard Trick. It is a fact that skateboard enthusiasts want to be like the pros. They want to execute different kinds of tricks and they want to do what their favorite skateboarders do in competitions.  If you want to be like Bam Margera or Tony Hawk, then you have a lot of practicing to do. Sure skateboarding can make heads turn, but if you really want to amaze people, you should learn how to properly execute the different tricks in order to avoid getting a mouth full of dirt and be the laughing stock of the neighborhood.

You have to remember that the ramps or the vert is one of the most difficult and also the most anticipated skateboarding activity.

This action will provide you with big air as well as enable you to perform different kinds of tricks.

If you are just starting out skating on ramps, you might want to start on a mini ramp and not on the real vert ramp. This will help you master the tricks you want to perform on the ramps and it is also the place to skate that will minimize injuries on huge falls.

To start out, you will first want to do the Rock to Fakie trick. This skateboard trick is what most skateboarders learn first on the ramp. It is easy and it is a very good way to start impressing people. This is also a great trick which will be a stepping stone to perform more elaborate tricks further on.

This particular trick is where the skateboarder will go to one side of the ramp and parks for a second on the edge of the ramp which is called the coping. Then, the skateboarder will rock back down the ramp.

The first thing you need to remember is that you should wear the proper safety equipment before you even start attempting this trick or any skateboarding trick.

Now that you are ready and you are now rocking back and forth the ramp, the next thing you need to do is position your feet the same way as you would when you will perform the Ollie. This means that your back foot should be on the tail of the board. The front foot should be a little closer to the nose of the board to perform the rock to fakie trick.

When you are rolling up the ramp, you need to stomp down a bit on the nose of the board just before you hit the coping. This will park your board on the edge of the ramp or the coping. Now, allow gravity to catch up with you and you should pop the trucks of the board back over the coping. This will allow you to ride back down on the ramp.

As you can see, this is a very simple yet very effective trick that you can do on the ramp. Just remember to wear the proper equipment to avoid serious injuries.