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twisted HOW TO BE A HARDCORE SKATER twisted
Lots of people look at Rodney Mullen and Daewon Song wishing they were just like that on a skateboard. While you can't be like them overnight, you can start now! Riding down a sidewalk with the wind in your hair is great, and flying over the curb, arms flailing because you hit a pebble is too. All you have to do is stand on a skateboard and roll, it's not brain surgery. This guide will help teach you some useful information on rolling.
BASIC STEPS
1) Decide if you really want to be a skater. Skateboarding is a very dangerous sport, and you can really get hurt. Always wear a helmet and if you're just starting out or you feel insecure, wear padding.
2) Get a board. There's no way you can be a skater, if you don't skate. Then you'd just be a poser. Go to a skate shop and get the clerk to help you get the right stuff.
3) See if you have it inside. A big part of becoming the style of a skater, is seeing if you have it or not. Skaters are usually very extroverted and don't care what people think of them. But, you can also be skater if you are ambiverted and moshing.
4) Listen to the music. Yes, there is music that can be seen as skater. You can mix in hip-hop, rap, rock, metalcore, metal, indie, emo, punk, punk pop, and old stuff together. Try bands like Greenday, Rancid, Linkin Park, and other music like that. Most of the stuff you already listen to could be considered skater, so if you like it, listen to it.
5) Learn the language .Every subculture has its own style of speaking. So try out these words and see if they fit.
>>Dude
A male.
"Dude, did you see that?"
>>Chick
A female.
"Did you see that chick?"
>>Rad
Awesome or cool.
"Dude, that was rad!"
>>Sweet
Awesome or cool.
"That was a sweet trick."
>>Sick
Awesome or cool.
"I heard the halfpipe there was real sick."
>>Sketchy
A skateboarding trick that is not landed nicely or not landed at all.
Not good, example: a dark man calling you into an alley.
"That trick was sketchy."
"Did you see that sketchy guy by the corner store?"
>>Shady
Same as sketchy.
"Man, he was shady..."
>>Clean
The opposite of "sketchy" and "shady".
"That was a clean landing."
6) Dress the part. Now that you've hopefully gotten into the part that counts, try dressing like a skater. Some good brands include Etnies, Element, DC, Circa, Quiksilver, Billabong, Vans, and Zoo York. You don't always have to have brand name things, though. Even second hand shops like Goodwill and Value Village have some nice things.
>>Pants:
# You can wear them tight or baggy, depending on what you like.
#Rips are really good, and they scream, "I can skate." Just don't make them yourself. Actually try skating and ripping them from shredding an awesome trick.
#Graffiti pants. Write, write, write all over your pants. Make sure you only do this to 1 or 2 of your pants.
#Skater shorts. If it's hot out, wear shorts with pockets.
Cargo pants/shorts are nice, too.
>>Shirts :
Any shirt is really good, doesn't matter if it's tight or baggy...Just don't match baggy things up too much, or you end up looking like a gangster.
>>Shoes
Skater shoes. These are usually the only shoes skaters wear, because they have flat bottoms and can grip to the board. Try DC, Vans, fallen or DVS .
>>Hair
Any color of hair usually works if it's long. Lots of skaters have curly hair, so don't bother buying a straightener unless you want to. Many skaters also have straight or wavy hair. Just go natural, man.
>>Hats
Flat brimmed hats usually end up making your head look wide and flat.
Any hat will really work, but only if it's a ballcap or toque. You don't see skaters walking around in cowboy hats and boas.
>>Belts
Skaters always wear belts to keep their pants from falling down when they are skateboarding.Shoelaces always work. Can't have the other skaters at the skate park seeing those tighty-whities.
7) Put-downs. It's time to see what you do about those put-downs. If someone calls your skating crappy or calls you a poser, try not to care. Most of them probably just think your style is too rad for them.
8 ) Your Put-downs. A lot of people at the skate park make fun of each other, but they are usually friends. If you go around making fun of everyone, you won't have any friends after a few months, and everyone will think of you as a jerk. Remember, never call anyone on a board a poser, no matter how bad they are. They're probably just beginning. You can't be a poser if you're trying!
TIPS
>>Ask for help if you need it.
>>Always, always, always wear a helmet. People may laugh, but no one will be laughing when you crack your head open and you're bleeding on the halfpipe.
>>If you're called a poser, try not to care.
>>It's okay to swear under your breath if you hurt yourself, but don't scream out all these swears unless you're seriously hurt, like a broken arm or cracked head.
>>You don't have to have brand name clothing, but you need a good board so it doesn't break or something.
>>Be nice. Just because you have nice clothes doesn't mean you're better than anyone else.
>>Treat the better skaters very nice, because if you fall and everyone starts laughing, they'll help you up and teach you the trick.
>>Don't try too hard to be a skater. Deep down, it only matters what we are inside.
>>Nobody likes people who throw their boards or get upset every time they don't land a trick. If you do this, you WILL get made fun of.
WARNINGS
>>You realy don't need a helmet if your doing street but for vert its a must.
>>Always, always wear a helmet. Always.
>>If you get seriously hurt, the best thing to do is call a parent or guardian.
>>Don't skate in a busy street.
>>Practice alot before attempting ramps and pipes.
>>Try not to get in fights.
>>Don't ride a broken board.
>>Don't get in the better skater's way.
>>Duct tape does not fix boards!!! Don't try it. Your board will break in half while you're riding it, and that's not fun.
>>A lot of kids, especially jocks and gangstas, hate skaters. Just try not to make enemies, but basic knowledge of how to defend yourself won't hurt.
THINGS YOU'LL NEED
.....Skateboard
.....Helmet
.....Skatepark or flat ground
.....Padding(Optional)
.... Money
.....Skate buddies
HOW TO SKATEBORD
1) Be genuine. Make sure you're in it for the right reasons. Don't skate just to be cool, or get sponsored and make a lot of money. You should skate because you love skateboarding. Other skateboarders may call you a poser if you aren't genuine. If you really enjoy it, everything else will follow.
2) Visit your local skate shop. This is a great way to see what works and what doesn't. Just by looking at others and asking them how their board, wheels, etc. hold up, you will learn what is worth buying; boards that cost more are not always better.Always make sure you buy new bearings every 6 months or so to keep your wheels rolling. They cost $10-$120.
3) Get the supplies. A skateboard can cost a lot, but buy something sufficient to last a while. Have a friend that is good at skateboarding suggest a brand to you. You then need comfortable clothing and a pair of sneakers. Skate shoes are a good idea, but as long as you can move your foot around easily, feel comfortable, and know they won't fall apart after just a few uses, they'll work perfectly.
4) Set aside a day or two to get comfortable on your board. Feel how it leans, and how the wheels spin. Skate around in your driveway and on the sidewalk. Just get used to the feel of the board.
>>Find a good place to skate like a level, concrete driveway.
>>Put your front foot about 2 inches behind the front trucks at an angle.
>>Put your back foot on the tail, and slightly at an angle.
>>Push off at a comfortable speed. This is done by putting your back foot towards where you want to go, putting it on the ground then pushing backwards.
>>Bend your knees. If you bend your knees, your center of gravity is closer to the ground, and you can turn and balance better.
>>Balance yourself and try not to fall off.
>>Turn by shifting your weight to one side of the board, in the direction you want to go.
>>When you are ready to stop, put your back foot on the ground and stop or (not suggested) push up the nose of your skateboard and scrape the tail against the ground, which is more dangerous and can cause wear on the board over time.
5) Practice. For tips on how to do moves, you can always watch a move in a video in slow motion and pay attention to the foot movement. Sequence photos are another great way to learn. But basically, the more you practice, the better you will be. Don't get discouraged because you can't land a trick the first or second try. Just practice and have fun, and you will get the trick eventually.
6) Get someone you know that's good at skateboarding to teach you. Your dad probably can't pop shove it or anything, so ask someone from a local shop or park if you can watch them. Bring some beginners and ask if what he's doing is intermediate to advanced skating, if it is, perfect. You have a teacher.
7) Try riding switch. This is with your feet in the reverse position that feels comfortable (with your back foot in front and vice versa.) This comes in useful when you try a halfpipe.
8 ) Learn how to manual. Put one foot on the tail and one just behind the front bolts. Apply pressure to the tail, causing the front wheels to rise off of the ground. Practice this. It is not easy to manual for long distances.
9) Ollie. This is the most vital of all skateboarding tricks. Place one foot on the tail, and one just behind the bolts. Some people will say put your front foot in the middle of the board, but it is harder to learn this way. That is for when you have ollies down pat and are going for sheer height. Now release all of the pressure on your front foot, causing your back to fly towards the ground. Just as it hits the ground, give a quick - the key here is quick - jump with your back foot. Jump as high as you can. As your board hops up, use the griptape by your front foot to drag it up further. Level out your feet in midair and stomp it down with your feet over the bolts. Now ride away cool.
10 ) The most important thing to remember is to land with your feet over the bolts and knees bent, this improves your chances of rolling away successfully and keeps the board from breaking as often.
11) Go skate! Find some other skaters to skate with. It helps you to learn from their styles or different skill levels. If you don't know anyone, just talk to some other skaters at the local skate park. They are usually friendly, and will help you out. Experiment, make a higher ollie, read about how to do another trick, whatever your heart desires. Your teacher is more a friend than an instructor now, share skills with him, and anyone else you want to show off to.
12) Learn to pop shove it. Do an ollie as high as you can, then as you level off your feet, give a nudge with the front foot on the board so it spins 180 degrees. You may want to use a little "scoop" motion with the back foot to make it spin easier.
13) Learn to kickflip. Do the same thing as a pop shove it, except when you nudge the board, kick the little area where the side of the board rises. Try out a few different motions until you get it to spin. This is not an easy trick, so practice and don't give up.
14) Learn to grind. Start with a fairly low rail (equal to or less than one foot.) This is not easy, so take it in steps. Start out simply rolling up to the rail, then jump off of your board and land with just your feet on the rail, letting the board roll away. Next, practice popping the board up as you jump, but don't worry about where it goes after that. Just make sure that your feet land on the rail. Now it's time for the real thing. Ollie as high as you can, in the direction of the rail. Land with your feet on the bolts and the board balanced on the rail. Once you get to the end of the rail, turn the board around (so it faces the right direction) and land over the bolts. This is called a boardslide.
15) Learn to drop in. Dropping in takes guts, but it's worth it. Start with your tail on the coping (the metal on the top of the halfpipe) and your foot just behind the bolts, but far enough back to balance. Put your front foot over the bolts, and slam the board down. Don't hesitate, or you will fall. It takes confidence and power. Don't worry about coming down on the other side, just hop off of your board at the top.
16) Do some Liptricks. Some good ones are a Rock to Fakie, Axle Stall, and Nose Stall. These look impressive, but are not that difficult to learn if you have several months of experience.
17) Grab tricks are cool. Try grabbing the sides and front of your board. Ask around to find some fun ones.
THINGS YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE TO DO
>>know how to land when you fall. It even helps to practice falling.
>>Don't worry. Other people will always progress faster or tell you what to wear. Skateboarding is only about you and your board. Just have fun. At the end of the day, a different t-shirt brand won't help you skate any better than blue hair.
>>Give way to pedestrians and if you are told to leave a spot, then leave. If security or police come, the skate session is over. Move on. Try to skate in a safe and legal spot if possible but if it doesnt kill anybody go ahead!
>>Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move around. You don't have to follow the latest trends but skateboard shoes are a nice idea.
>>Skate on smooth areas. ( i.e. Garage floor if you're learning a trick)
>>Good tricks like Tensor, Independent, Thunder, Grind King, royal, etc.. allow you to turn easier (more control). Good wheels like Darkstar, Ricta, Autobahn, Spitfire etc... and good bearings like Bones Swiss, Rockin' Rons, Ninja etc... allow you to get up to speed quickly and maintain that speed. Good decks like Mini Logo, Mystery, Almost, Black Label, Element, Real, Girl or Chocolate etc... allow for more control, feel and durability.
>>Get a good deck you don't want to be trying to ollie and you accidentally land in the middle and snap it right in half! So get a Flip,Enjoi,Plan B,Baker, and many other brands but also make sure you get a concave that is comfortable for you not just by the brand or how it looks you want your feet to be comfortable while your riding and learning.
DEADLY WARNINGS
>>Wear protective gear. Knee pads can be restricting but are essential for skating vert.
>>Wear a helmet. You may not think it's cool, but it will save your head from getting cracked.
>>Find supportive shoes that protect your feet. And make sure you'll willing to wear them all the time. Even when you're not skating.
>>Don't do what other people do just because they're doing it. Only do what you feel comfortable with.
>>Always be aware of your surroundings.
>>Best to do it in groups and friends. if something happens, you got your back covered.
>>Don't get angry when you fall off, get up straight away. It'll build your street cred and confidence. Stressing out makes you look ridiculous.
>>Keep going! Don't quit because it's hard. Anything worth doing will be hard at first.
>>Don't throw your board when frustrated, as this can often cause irreparable damage.
>>Practice makes perfect, don't give up.
Don't give up skateboarding because other people say so or because you can't do a trick. Just keep trying and then you will be a pro.
ITS HARD BUT ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENG, REMEMBER SKATEBORDING IS BY LIFE I LIVE FOR THIS blaugh cool
 handsum l-jay · Fri May 29, 2009 @ 04:55am · 0 Comments |
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