Skateboarding is a popular sport that has been around for decades. Skateboarders are known for their impressive tricks that require a combination of balance, skill, and practice. If you’re new to skateboarding, learning how to do skateboard tricks can seem daunting. However, with the right guidance and practice, you can master the basics and progress to more advanced tricks.
Before attempting any skateboard trick, it’s important to have a good foundation of basic skateboarding skills such as balancing, pushing, rolling, stopping, turning, and falling. Once you feel comfortable with these skills, you can start learning some beginner skateboard tricks. Some of the easiest skateboard tricks for beginners include the ollie, kickflip, heelflip, and pop shove-it. These tricks may seem difficult at first, but with practice, you’ll be able to master them in no time.
It’s important to remember that learning how to do skateboard tricks takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Keep practicing and you’ll eventually get the hang of it. In the next section, we’ll take a look at some resources that can help you learn how to do skateboard tricks.
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Skateboarding Basics
Skateboarding is a fun and exciting sport that requires skill, balance, and practice. If you’re new to skateboarding, there are a few basics you need to know before attempting any tricks. In this section, we’ll cover the essential elements of skateboarding, including choosing the right skateboard, safety gear, and precautions.
Choosing the Right Skateboard
Choosing the right skateboard is crucial to your success as a skateboarder. There are many different types of skateboards available, and each one is designed for a specific purpose. Before you buy a skateboard, consider the following:
- Deck size: The size of your skateboard deck is determined by your height, weight, and shoe size. A wider deck provides more stability, while a narrower deck is more maneuverable.
- Trucks: The trucks are the metal parts that attach the wheels to the deck. They come in different sizes and are designed to match the width of your deck.
- Wheels: Skateboard wheels come in different sizes and hardness levels. Larger wheels are faster, while smaller wheels are slower but more maneuverable. Harder wheels are better for smooth surfaces, while softer wheels provide better grip on rough surfaces.
Safety Gear and Precautions
Skateboarding can be dangerous, so it’s essential to wear the right safety gear and take precautions to avoid injury. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Helmet: Always wear a helmet when skateboarding. A helmet can protect your head from injury in case of a fall or collision.
- Pads: Knee and elbow pads can protect your joints from injury. Wrist guards can also prevent wrist injuries.
- Shoes: Wear shoes with flat soles and a good grip to prevent slipping off the skateboard.
- Practice in a safe area: Start by practicing in a flat, open area with no obstacles or traffic. As you become more confident, you can move on to more challenging terrain.
- Learn to fall: Falling is a part of skateboarding. Learn how to fall safely to minimize the risk of injury.
By following these basics of skateboarding, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the sport. Remember to start slow and practice regularly to improve your skills.
Fundamental Tricks
If you’re starting with skateboarding, it’s important to learn some fundamental tricks before moving on to more advanced ones. Here are three essential tricks to master:
Ollie
The Ollie is the most important trick in skateboarding, as it’s the foundation for many other tricks. It involves popping the skateboard’s tail while jumping with both feet, allowing the board to rise. The front foot is then slid towards the nose of the board, leveling it out in mid-air and landing back on the board with both feet. To perform an Ollie, follow these steps:
- Place your back foot on the tail of the skateboard and your front foot near the middle of the board.
- Bend your knees and crouch down.
- Pop the tail of the skateboard by pressing down with your back foot.
- Jump off the ground while sliding your front foot towards the nose of the board.
- Level out the board in mid-air by bringing your front foot back to its original position.
- Land back on the board with both feet.
Manual
The Manual is a basic trick that involves balancing on the back wheels of the skateboard while rolling forward. It’s a great trick to get to know your board and it’s perfect to combine with other tricks. To perform a Manual, follow these steps:
- Roll forward at a comfortable speed.
- Lean back and lift the front wheels of the skateboard off the ground.
- Balance on the back wheels while keeping your body centered over the board.
- Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you to maintain balance.
- Lower the front wheels back down to the ground to end the trick.
Kickturn
The Kickturn is a basic trick that involves pivoting the skateboard on its back wheels. It’s a useful trick for changing direction and avoiding obstacles. To perform a Kickturn, follow these steps:
- Roll forward at a comfortable speed.
- Lean back and lift the front wheels of the skateboard off the ground.
- Twist your shoulders and hips to turn the board in the direction you want to go.
- Use your back foot to push the tail of the board in the opposite direction of the turn.
- Pivot the board on its back wheels and land back on all four wheels.
Flip Tricks
If you’ve mastered the basics of skateboarding, it’s time to move on to some more advanced tricks. Flip tricks are some of the most popular and impressive tricks in skateboarding, and they require a lot of practice to master. Here are three of the most common flip tricks you can learn:
Kickflip
The kickflip is one of the most iconic flip tricks in skateboarding. To do a kickflip, start with your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail. Pop the tail down with your back foot, and as the board starts to rise, use your front foot to flick the board to spin it 360 degrees horizontally. While the board is spinning, jump up and catch it with your feet, then land back on the board with both feet.
Here are the steps to do a kickflip:
- Place your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail.
- Pop the tail down with your back foot.
- Flick the board with your front foot to spin it 360 degrees horizontally.
- Jump up and catch the board with your feet.
- Land back on the board with both feet.
Heelflip
The heelflip is similar to the kickflip, but instead of flicking the board with your toes, you use your heel. To do a heelflip, start with your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail. Pop the tail down with your back foot, and as the board starts to rise, use your front heel to flick the board to spin it 360 degrees horizontally. While the board is spinning, jump up and catch it with your feet, then land back on the board with both feet.
Here are the steps to do a heelflip:
- Place your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail.
- Pop the tail down with your back foot.
- Flick the board with your front heel to spin it 360 degrees horizontally.
- Jump up and catch the board with your feet.
- Land back on the board with both feet.
Varial Flip
The varial flip is a combination of a kickflip and a shuvit. To do a varial flip, start with your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail. Pop the tail down with your back foot, and as the board starts to rise, use your front foot to flick the board to spin it 180 degrees horizontally. At the same time, use your back foot to scoop the board around 180 degrees vertically. While the board is spinning and flipping, jump up and catch it with your feet, then land back on the board with both feet.
Here are the steps to do a varial flip:
- Place your front foot near the middle of the board and your back foot on the tail.
- Pop the tail down with your back foot.
- Flick the board with your front foot to spin it 180 degrees horizontally.
- Scoop the board around 180 degrees vertically with your back foot.
- Jump up and catch the board with your feet.
- Land back on the board with both feet.
Grind and Slide Tricks
If you want to take your skateboarding skills to the next level, you need to learn how to grind and slide. These tricks involve sliding or grinding on the edge of your skateboard while riding it. Here are some of the most popular grind and slide tricks you can learn:
50-50 Grind
The 50-50 grind is one of the easiest grind tricks you can learn. To do it, you need to approach the obstacle with some speed and pop an ollie. When you reach the edge, you need to land with both trucks on the obstacle and slide along it. Keep your balance and control your speed until you reach the end of the obstacle. Then, Ollie off and landed safely on the ground.
Boardslide
The boardslide is another popular slide trick that you can learn. To do it, you need to approach the obstacle with some speed and pop an ollie. When you reach the edge, you need to land with the middle of your board on the obstacle and slide along it. Keep your balance and control your speed until you reach the end of the obstacle. Then, Ollie off and land safely on the ground.
Noseslide
The noseslide is a bit more challenging than the other slide tricks. To do it, you need to approach the obstacle with some speed and pop an ollie. When you reach the edge, you need to land with the front truck on the obstacle and slide along it. Keep your balance and control your speed until you reach the end of the obstacle. Then, Ollie off and land safely on the ground.
Remember, learning how to grind and slide takes time and practice. Start with the easier tricks and work your way up to the more challenging ones. Use protective gear and skate in a safe environment. With patience and dedication, you can master these tricks and impress your friends with your skills.
Ramp and Vert Tricks
Skateboarding on ramps and in vert bowls is a thrilling experience that requires skill, practice, and courage. Here are some basic ramp and vert tricks you can learn to get started.
Drop-In
The drop-in is the first trick you should learn when skating on a ramp. To perform a drop-in, you need to start at the top of the ramp with your front foot over the edge and your back foot on the tail of the skateboard. Lean forward slightly and place your front foot on the board while pushing down with your back foot to gain momentum. Then, shift your weight forward and roll down the ramp.
Rock to Fakie
Rock to fakie is a trick that involves rolling up the ramp, doing a 180-degree turn, and rolling back down the ramp fakie (backward). To perform a rock to fakie, approach the ramp at a moderate speed, and ride up the ramp. As you reach the top, turn your shoulders and hips 180 degrees and lean back slightly to rock the board onto the coping. Then, shift your weight forward to roll back down the ramp fakie.
Axle Stall
An axle stall is a trick that involves stalling the board on the coping of the ramp with the front wheels over the edge and the back wheels on the ramp. To perform an axle stall, ride up the ramp at a moderate speed, and approach the coping at a slight angle. As you reach the coping, ollie and turn your board 90 degrees, so the front wheels land on the coping. Then, shift your weight forward to balance on the front wheels and stall for a moment before rolling back down the ramp.
Remember, safety is crucial when skating on ramps and in vert bowls. Always wear proper safety gear, such as a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads, and start with small ramps before progressing to larger ones. With practice and dedication, you can master these ramp and vert tricks and take your skateboarding skills to the next level.
