Skateboarders tend to stop progressing at a certain point. Your not getting better or learning new tricks. In most cases this is because the basics are getting skipped or you’re getting frustrated and not focusing.
If you want to get better at skateboarding its best to slowly build up and master the basics first. The muscles and brain need time to soak in information and by taking a break it can help improve your skills.
1. Getting back to the basics
Doing basic skateboarding like learning how to ride may not seem like fun but it’s helps you progress quicker. You should feel how your skateboard feels and behaves when you lean and carve. Its OK to go back to the basic stuff if your having a hard time progressing, getting the basics down is a good way to get creative and set the bar higher.
2. It starts with balance
Balance is the most important skill to learn in skateboarding. Once you learn how to balance your skills will progress faster. There are a few simple ways to improve your skateboard balance. Fill up an empty plastic bottle with water, Tape the cap securely and balance on top with your deck. Start leaning forward, backward, sideways etc.
3. Slowly build-up
If you feel that you’re not ready for that new trick you’re trying to accomplish you could be moving too fast. Tricks can be learned by simply building up to them. For example, drops are a trick you don’t have to commit to right away. All you need to do is push a mini ramp and once you get close to the coping give your tail a gentle tap. Not confident enough to use both feet when trying to learn a kick flip? All you need to do is land it on one foot, first use your front foot and then move on to your back foot. At some point just commit to it.
4. Stop obsessing and step away
After attempting something over and over and you can’t figure it out, just move on. Give your brain and muscles a breather so they can catch up. You will be surprised when you try it again the next day and somehow manage to achieve what your goal. Strange but it really works in some cases. Stepping away is a good way to learn new tricks!
5. Watch videos for inspiration
Watching skateboard videos is a great motivator. You may think you can’t get that kickflip down, but maybe you’re just not positioning yourself correctly. Using the right stance and techniques will make all the difference. Watching videos can help you see what other skateboarders are doing to accomplish that trick your learning.
6. Don’t ride mongo style
Your not able to get the stability you need to perform a trick when riding mongo. It takes some time to get back into a proper position to grind a rail or do board slides. Its important to take some time to learn how to push properly. Remind yourself every time you push mongo to push properly. It takes time to learn how to properly push, and after a few months you’ll be comfortable pushing.
7. Learning to ride fakie
If you have not learned to ride backward. It’s time to practice riding fakie. Opening up to comfortably riding faky opens a whole new range of new tricks. Fakie ollies, fakie shovits, fakie big spins, fakie whatever you can come up with. The range of tricks is seemingly endless and it will help you progress.
8. Start practicing switch stance
Kinda like a fakie, you should learn to ride switch. Once you understand how to ride switch stance you can combine all of your tricks repertoire and show off. Switch stance isn’t for everyone and you don’t need to skate like a pro. Try some fakie tricks and keep practicing until you feel like you can take on switch stance.
9. Learn from your peers
Skating with friends or a group of people is great for progression. You can learn from each others feedback. Don’t be scared to ask, skateboarders like to teach each other. Everyone started out as a newb and all skateboarders know this. Often skateboarders will come share some insights when you fail over and over again, listen to the feedback and learn. They’re just regular people like you and enjoy skateboarding.
10. Get those manuals down
Attach your trucks onto an old deck. Manuals are difficult at first but if you commit yourself you can master them. Learning manual is a great way to combine tricks. Ollie to manual, manual to ollie, kickflip manual, manual to kickflip, shuvits etc, it just looks noice. Don’t stop at regular manuals, start practicing nose manuals. It’s tough but a good way to get to know how your board behaves and rewarding once you can nail it for a couple of seconds.
11. Get out of your comfort zone
Whether its skating street or dedicating yourself to mini ramps, you need to get out of your comfort zone. Transitions skateboarding, bowl, vert, mini ramp, we all have our preferences but getting out of your comfort zone helps you to improve other skills. Its also a good idea to give those same muscles you have been using time to adjust.
12. Improve your style
Function over fashion but something does have to be said about style. Style is what makes a trick look rad or just meh. Use your phone to make a video while practicing. Sure, a rail grind is impressive but if it lacks style its just missing something. You should applaud anyone who is pulling off a great trick but you’ll applaud louder if its done with finesse.
13. Train your core
Balance and core strength is important in skateboarding. Try to exercise a little each day to increase your core strength. This will make you stronger and less likely to get injured. Skateboarding can be tough on your body and you need to be able to deal with the hits to your body, muscles and bones. Working out at home to increase your core strength with basic exercises. This helps you skate longer with more accuracy. Do some core training and do it for about 30 minutes each day.
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