How To Skateboard For Beginners

By: Gabrielle Talley

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Learning how to skateboard for beginners takes just a few moves to practice balance, stopping, and turning. Once you have mastered the basic skills, you can start practicing at the local skate park. Skaters learn these basic skills before moving onto tricks. Learning how to skateboard for beginners is easy and fun when getting into this popular sport.

In order to skateboard for beginners, you will need:

  • Helmet
  • Knee pads
  • Elbow pads
  • Skateboard
  • Tennis shoes or skate shoes
  • Loose clothing
  1. Balance on the board. Start learning how to skateboard for beginners by finding a soft area to practice. This can be grass or a carpeted area. Stand with one foot in the middle of the board. The other foot should be on the tail, turned slightly to the side. Try different positions for learning how to skateboard for beginners to get used to the board.
  2. Learn your footing style. Try putting your left and right foot forward, alternating to see which one feels more comfortable on the board when learning how to skateboard for beginners. The terms for these are regular with the left foot forward, according to Matt, and goofy for the right foot forward.
  3. Push the board. Move to an area with concrete either a driveway or a parking lot. Place your feet on the board in the most comfortable position with the left or right foot forward and the other on the tail of the board. Use the back foot and push off the concrete. Try balancing on the board by riding it around after pushing. Place the foot, according to Matt, back on the board for how to skateboard for beginners.
  4. Practice stopping. Use the back foot and drag it on the ground to come to a slow stop. If you remember how to stop when skating, the technique is the same only there are no rubber stoppers on your shoes.
  5. Practice turning. Leaning to the left and right with the upper body is the easiest way to turn when learning how to skateboard for beginners. Lean in the direction you want the board to turn and it will turn slowly. If you need a deeper lean, try bending the knees more and bend your body over them in the direction you want the board to turn.
  6. Practice makes perfect. Try practicing all of these steps everyday until you feel comfortable with balance, turning, and stopping. Once you are comfortable on the cement, you can start practicing at a skate park.

Tips:

  • Remember to keep your knees bent. Never lock out your knees.
  • Keep your weight on the front foot for balance.
  • Look straight ahead in the direction you need to go, not down at the board.
Posted on: May. 27, 2010