Choosing the Best Skateboarding Shoes for a Better Skateboarding Experience

In extreme sports, skateboarding is perhaps the most popular in the United States. If you love skateboarding, and you want to skate like the pros, then you need to understand that the board itself and your skills are not the only things that are important in this sport.

A lot of people think that skateboarding is done by just using regular sports shoes. However, you need to remember the fact that skateboarding will also require you to have a good pair of shoes that are specifically designed for skateboarding. They will be much more comfortable, and they will also be able to minimize injuries.

Although it is true that you can still skate using just about any shoes or even flip flops, you have to remember that when you are skateboarding, you will increase the risk of injuring your ankle.

Skateboarding shoes are designed to provide adequate protection to your ankles. These will be able to protect your ankle and prevent any serious foot injuries whenever you experience falls which is very common.

When choosing a pair of skateboarding shoes, here are some of the things that you need to remember in order to choose the right ones for a better and safer skateboarding experience.

The first important factor is that the skateboarding shoes you choose should be able to withstand a lot of force and should also be flexible enough so that you can execute tricks.

The grip is also an important factor. The skateboard shoes you purchase should be able to grip the skateboard to avoid slipping off from the board and falling.

Just like choosing any types of shoes, you have to remember that the skateboarding shoes you choose should be comfortable on your feet. The shoes you choose should feel good when you walk and when you skate, and they should be able to give you stability.

Shoes that are not comfortable will only result in giving you blisters and sores which will force you to give up skateboarding for a certain amount of time because of the pain.

The shoe laces are also important. You have to remember that skateboarding will require you to move your feet a lot and it will also let the shoes take a lot of force. Make sure that you get shoe laces that don't easily rip apart. Get a pair of special skateboarding laces, which are more durable than ordinary laces that will be able to withstand the roughness of the sandpaper like surface on your skateboard.

These are just some of the things that you need to remember about skateboarding. Always remember that the right shoes for skateboarding will make all the difference.

How to Land with Your Feet on Your Skateboard?

After you learn how to ride the skateboard, you are perhaps trying out new tricks like ollie or flips. But the problem is, instead of landing both your feet on the board, your feet land on the ground, thus not completing the trick you've started. How do you solve this problem?

There are probably 2 reasons why your feet land on the ground instead on the board: you are either scared or you are doing the trick the wrong way.

Being scared is perfectly okay. This means that you are taking skateboarding seriously and you are aware that you might get hurt if you do something stupid. But, you have to overcome this fear in order to perform the tricks. If you can't land with both of your feet on the skateboard, start with one foot.

It doesn't matter if it is your left or right foot. What matters is that you are determined to do the trick right. The key here is practice. After you can land on one foot, try landing on both feet. If the other foot still refuses to land on the skateboard, then there must be something wrong either with the execution of the trick or the form of your body. If you are not comfortable doing tricks while rolling on a concrete ground, it is okay to practice on the grass or carpet. As long as you are determined to do it right, you'll be okay.

Read articles and watch videos of the skateboarding trick you are trying to learn. You will learn quickly if you learn from the experts, or at least, people who know what they are talking about.

Now try the trick again and be determined to land both of your feet to the board. If you still can't, I suggest that you get someone to help you determine what's wrong with your execution, someone you trust and understands about skateboarding, someone who is willing to help you improve your skill. Do the trick again. Practice until you get it right. If you are still having problems with one or both feet, practice harder and don't give up.

It can be frustrating but skateboarding should be fun. So relax and keep practicing. Sooner or later you will get it right. And once you do, practice even more.

Learning How to Do This Impressive Skateboard Maneuver

Knowing how to go back and forth on a skateboard is one thing. However, you also have to remember that there is more to skateboarding than just riding it forward, stopping, and then riding back to where you came from.

If you know how to ride the skateboard comfortably, then it is time for you to learn about the different basic maneuvers that you can do with your skateboard.

One basic skateboarding skill is Kickturning. This particular skill can be easy to look at but it is rather complicated or confusing to do it. In this skill, you will need to have good balance on your skateboard.

Kickturning is basically where you will balance your back wheels for movement and swinging the front of the board to go in a new direction. This takes some practice to master and a lot of balance.

Before you start, make sure that all you are wearing all of your safety skateboarding equipments are to prevent injuries during falls when practicing.

The first thing you need to learn is how to balance your body and skateboard on two wheels, particularly the back wheel. Try to practice it on the carpet or on the grass outside to prevent it from rolling too much which can send your skateboard flying off and land your bottom on the pavement.

To balance the skateboard on two wheels, you need to get your back foot across the tail and your front foot just behind the front trucks. Try imagining your foot when you are going to attempt an Ollie. This is the same stance that you need to have to attempt Kickturns.

Keep your knees bent and relaxed. Your shoulders should be level to the skateboard deck.

Then shift your weight to your back foot. Just a bit of weight shift is good. Now, lift your front foot just a little. This will make the front of your skateboard pop up. To turn to the direction you want to go to, just rotate your back foot to the left or right along with your body.

Try practicing the duckwalk with kickturns. This will be like shifting the board from left to right with the kick turns. This will improve your balance and enable you to practice your kickturns.

You should also practice the tic tac. This is where you combine the left and right kickturns. Try doing a little kickturn to the left and another to the right. Do this continuously and you will be able to a great skateboard maneuver.

You may fall when attempting to do kickturns on the first few attempts but this is natural. Almost everyone falls when practicing this move. By knowing how to kickturn, you will be well on your way in becoming a good skateboarder.

Places where you can have a Great Skateboarding Vacation

For skateboarding aficionados, there is nothing quite like getting away from it all and spending time on their skateboards. Because of the popularity of skateboarding, there are now skateboard vacation getaways available for avid skateboarders.

The name says it all. A Skateboarding travel getaway is all about skateboarding and of course, vacationing. This will involve places where skateboarding parks and other skaters loom. The great thing about these places is that you can learn a lot from other skateboarders and get some tips to improve your own skating skills.

Because skateboarding is extremely popular today, there are numerous places that you can go and have some great skateboarding fun. There are places though that rise above from the others and these are the places that you will want to go. You don't have to go too far, here in America; there are lots of places which can be considered as a Mecca for skateboarding, and if you live near these places, then you are quite fortunate.

American skateboarders have it quite good because they don't need to go far to go on a skateboarding holiday. With numerous choices, you may experience a hard time choosing where to go. If you are near California, you may want to check out the Simi Valley Skate Lab or the Diamond Bar Skate Park. Here you will find numerous challenging skate parks and fully practice and develop your skills. There are also a lot of pro and semi pro skaters which hang around these areas so you will certainly see some great skating.

If you're from the other end of the country, you can go and check out Florida and their skating parks. Notable parks include Lakeland Adair Skate Park. The park doesn't only offer great fun for skateboarding enthusiasts, but there are also different amenities which other people can enjoy. For indoor skateboarding, The Tampa Skate Park would be your destination of choice.

If you are able to have the resources to go on an international holiday, then going down under to Australia is a safe bet. Go to Melbourne and go directly to the Riverslide Skate Park. Here you will find some of the greatest skateboarding on this side of the globe. When in New South Wales, you may also want to check out the Cardiff Skate park.

Not only will you be able to experience fantastic skateboarding fun on this type of holiday getaway, but you will also be able to relax and suck in a new atmosphere.

Skateboard Safety Equipment

Skateboard injuries are very common, especially to those who are just learning the sport. However, this doesn't discount the possibility of injuries to those who have been riding skateboards for years. So whether you are a novice or an expert, a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads, and gloves are a must.

Here's your guide on selecting skateboard safety equipment:

Helmet

When buying a helmet, select the one that fits your head perfectly (too large and it will loosely move when your head moves; too tight and it will limit your head movement). It must have a buckle and a strap that can be fastened and secured around your head. Helmets must be replaced after every impact.

An average helmet costs at around $30 while high-end helmets cost as high as $500, usually made for professional skateboard athletes.

Knee pads

Knee pads absorb most of the impact of the fall and protect your knees from possible cuts and bruises. Thus, knee pads must be fastened securely around the legs. Choose the pads that fit perfectly to your size as they vary from small, medium, to large.

Knee pads cost between $10 and $100 depending on the brand, quality and design.

Elbow pads

Like knee pads, elbow pads absorb most of the impact of the fall and protect your elbow from cuts and bruises that are caused by such fall. Elbow pads should also be fastened securely around your elbows. Elbow pads with hard plastic caps are better choice.

Elbow pads usually cost around $30 per pair although you can buy a set of elbow and knee pads at a cheaper price.

Wrist pads

The perfect wrist pads should not only fit perfectly on your wrists but also would not limit the range of your movement. Thick wrist pads are okay but remember that they should be comfortable when worn.

A pair of good wrist pads can cost between $15 and $30.

Gloves

When falling, the skateboarder has the tendency to use his hand to break the fall. When not protected, breaking the fall may cause cuts and bruises or even fractures to the hands. Thus it is important to wear protective gloves when riding. When buying, choose gloves that perfectly fit the size of your hand. Skateboard gloves can be made from synthetic fiber, leather or hard plastic. Each gives their own level of protection. Choose one that will benefit you most.

A pair of gloves can cost at around $45.

Skateboarding Alternatives

No, I'm not telling you to stop skateboarding and switch to another sport. What I mean with skateboarding alternatives is the things you can do with your skateboard when it is wet, raining, cold, and snowing.

First, a skateboard should not be kept in your house until spring or until the weather permits. There are lots of activities you can do with your skateboard aside from going out and hitting the sidewalks and parks.

Indoor skateboarding Do not ride your skateboard and chase your cats, dogs, and brothers around the house. That's not what I meant. What I mean is you can practice your tricks inside your house, in your room or on the carpet of your living room. You can practice your balance, kickflips, kickturns, ollies, and other freestyle tricks without going out of your house. Be careful though. You don't want to annoy your mom and dad with broken glasses, and windows.

Garage skateboard If your house is not good enough, you still have your garage. Clear out the cars and boxes and you are good to go. Transform your garage into your personal skate park. Construct a mini ramp and short rails. Skating in your garage is the best way to beat the rain, snow, and cold.

Indoor skate parks If you are doing all your skateboarding on the street and parking lots, then you may have forgotten all about indoor skate parks near you. Here, you can improve your skateboarding techniques regardless of the weather. It might cost you some money, but if you can afford to buy wheels and trucks, you can definitely afford to pay for the use of the park. After all, you are just paying here to survive over the winter months. When spring comes, go back to your favorite skate spot.

Snowboarding It's winter and the snow is falling. You can't roll but you can definitely slide. So, grab your snowboard and head to ski parks. If you don't have the money, your neighborhood is all yours. Remember this: many skateboarding tricks are derived from snowboarding so you can definitely improve your riding when you get back to your wheels in the spring.

Being a couch potato when you can't skateboard outside is really up to you. But if you want to improve your skills, be creative. Use every available space you have and get better each day.

Tips That Will Allow You to Easily Do This Trick

Everyone who knows how to skateboard or is just starting out to skateboard wants to learn the tricks that the pros do. It is very impressive to look at and it can also entertain a lot of people.

If you want to do what Tony Hawk or Bam Margera can do, then you will want to first learn about the basics and practice a lot. Skateboarding tricks are not learned overnight and it will take you quite a few falls and some bruises before you perfect the trick you want to learn on your skateboard.

So, before you start attempting to do any tricks, you might want to start off by wearing the necessary safety gears in order to minimize injuries and avoid the hospital with a skateboard related injury.

One trick that most skateboarders first learn is the Indy Grab. This skateboard trick is very simple but very stylish. This trick is basically one of the most used skateboarding tricks today and it is very effective for entertaining crowds.

In this trick, you will see skateboarders doing it by catching air, bending down and grabbing the board with their hand. It looks very cool and it is also a trick that you should definitely learn how to do.

If you already know how to do the Ollie, then it will be easy for you to do this trick. However, if not, you will need to learn how to do the Ollie first as this trick is one of the many variations of the Ollie.

Basically, this trick will require you to do the Ollie first and while you are in the air, incorporate the Indy Grab.

To execute this trick, ride the board with your front foot in the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail. Then, slam down on the board with your back foot and jump at the same time. What this will do is it will keep your body centered on the board and make it stay even. This is the Ollie. To incorporate the Indy Grab, you need to bend or reach down while you are in the air and hold onto the board between your feet.

Moments before landing, you need to let go of the board and always make sure that your knees are bent in order to absorb the shock of the landing. This trick can be done on ramps, flat ground, or when you leave a flat edge.

This skateboard trick is much more effective if you have big air. Try slamming on the board as hard as you can to get more air.

These are the tips that you need to remember whenever you plan on performing the Indy Grab on your skateboard. As you can see, it is very easy to do and it will also be very effective in impressing the crowd as well as other skateboarders.

Understanding and Learning the Basics

Sure you know how to ride a skateboard at high speed comfortably. But, have you ever considered the fact that you also need to know how to stop? Try to imagine cruising down the street with your skateboard at high speed and suddenly a car pulls out from a garage. Surely you wouldn't want to humiliate yourself by jumping off your skateboard or sprawling on the side of a car like that Garfield doll sticking on the car windshield with your skateboard still going at high speed down the street.

So, learning how to stop is also important but of course you want to do it like a pro in order to avoid looking stupid.

So, here are the basics of using the skateboard footbrake.

The first thing that you need to do is take your front foot and turn your toes so that they face the nose of the board. You also need to turn your chest and let it face forward as well. After that, transfer all your weight on the front of your foot as you swing your back leg out and lower it to the ground. Try to keep your weight centered on the front foot and always remember to keep your back leg straight as you lower it to the ground. Never lean back or forward when performing the skateboard footbrake.

As you lower your back leg to the ground keeping it straight, try to apply light pressure to the ground with the sole of your shoe and continue to gradually increase the pressure if you need to slow down faster. Try to remember that you should do it nice and easy.

When the skateboard comes to a complete stop, just place your back foot on the ground.

Although this action seems easy to do, it takes some time and a lot of practice to get it right. Always remember that like all other skills on skateboarding, you need to practice, practice, and practice some more.

Now that you know how to footbrake on your skateboard, you will now be able to avoid that car that suddenly pulled out from the garage and avoid injuring yourself and paying for the damages you do to the car when you crashed into it.

Remember these tips and you can be sure that you will be able to go skateboarding a lot safer. Always remember that skateboarding is not just about going fast and doing tricks, it is also about knowing how to stop.