picture of a girl holding a skateboard standing on a road near buildings
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Experience the Thrill of Skateboarding: Gear Guide for Beginners

Courage is important. And like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.

  • Ruth Gordon

There are no rules for how to skate or where you can do it, which is a big differentiation from professional sports. It leaves a lot of freedom for creativity and experimentation. Skateboarding allows you to continue playing even if you are no longer a child. Thus creating your skateboarding kit makes it far better to slowly but surely figure out what you like and don’t like. You’ll discover multiple aspects that you enjoy, and as parts wear out, you’ll simply need to spend on replacements. You will be continually working to improve your board by determining the wheels, trucks, bushings, and bearings you prefer to ride on. Once you’ve felt confident in your skating, you should start investing in these high-quality parts. If you already have a skateboard, inspect the bearings, wheels, trucks, and bushings to see if they are in good working order. If that’s the case, all you’ll need is a fresh deck.

Skate Decks & Wheels

picture of a men in white shirt holding a pink skate deck standing in front a gray wall
source: Maksym Zakharyak on Unsplash

On a skateboard, there are many various elements, but the skateboard deck is the most important one. When skateboarding, the skateboard decks are the flat board on which you stand. A shortboard, rather than a longboard or cruiser, is best for street skating and vert skating. It’s also the ideal option for doing tricks, whether you’re a novice or an expert. Once you’ve decided to build a whole skateboard, there are a few things to think about, and the size of the deck is the first of many decisions you’ll have to make. It’s also crucial to choose the right board shape. What you can perform on your skateboard is determined by the length, width, materials, and concave of your skate decks. You’ll need to change your skateboard deck every few weeks to a year, depending on how hard you skate. It’s time to start over with a new board if the sides, nose, or tail of your skateboard deck show indications of splitting. Riding in wet or cold conditions can also deform the curve of your board and cause your skateboard wheels to become uneven, so replace it if you see any of these indicators. It’s usual for the skating wheels to wear down unevenly because you presumably favour one side over the other. Depending on how often you ride your skateboard, you can change your wheels every 2 to 3 months. Rotating or switching your wheels will extend the life of your wheels and ensure that they wear down evenly.

Appropriate Skating Attire

picture of a girl standing on a road beside a mountain holding a skate deck
source: Hans Isaacson on Unsplash

Skateboarding, unlike most other sports, does not have a strict dress code. Anything from your closet that is comfortable and versatile will work. Here are a few pointers to consider some key skating attire ingredients if you’re just getting started. Keep it durable, whatever you decide to wear. Thicker fabrics, such as chino or types of denim, will allow you to land more repetitions without ripping or shredding your pants. Legwork is used in the majority of skate boarding’s key actions. Your clothes don’t have to be made of ultra-stretch fibers, but it does help to buy ordinary clothing that is flexible so that your body movements aren’t restricted. Cotton shirts, tanks, and hoodies are ideal. And that is where your style preference can come into play without affecting your performance. Skate shoes have many features designed specifically for use in skateboarding, including a vulcanized rubber or polyurethane sole with minimal tread pattern or no pattern, composition leather or suede upper, and double or triple stitching to extend the life of the upper material. While many non-skaters choose to wear skate shoes because they are fashionable, the design of the skate shoe includes many features designed specifically for the increased comfort of the skater. That is why a low, padded tongue is frequently incorporated. Skate shoes are distinguished by their flat bottoms, which allow the skater to maintain greater board control.

Don’t Leave Without Safety Gear

picture of a man skateboarding in a park wearing helmet
source: Jan Kopřiva on pecels

Skateboarding has an undeniable cool feeling about it. It is a dangerous sport and not everyone is willing to do it. Part of this danger is that skateboarding injuries do occur, especially when riders skate in an improper spot or don’t wear safety equipment. This is why you should choose a skateboard that is appropriate for your style or activity to stay safe while skating (for example slalom, freestyle, and speed). You’ll need a well-fitting helmet before going out to skate. It should be a skateboarding-specific helmet or a multi-sport helmet. If you’re going to ride a skateboard, be sure you’re wearing a helmet. Wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads are also your way for supporting the wrist during landings. As previously stated, closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles are essential. Some skaters also like to use goggles to protect themselves from bugs and bad weather. Riders must choose safe riding areas to avoid injury and obey traffic laws.

The emotional highs of starting a new hobby aren’t always enough to keep the emotions of fulfilment and delight going. If this is the case, consider engaging in a hobby that allows you to reward yourself. If you enjoy skating, for example, set out an hour each week to practice new moves; if you meet your goal, reward yourself with something pleasant. Begin recording your successes and failures, and keep in mind that the fact that skating isn’t easy, to begin with, is what makes the experience so thrilling.

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