A good skateboarder is a smart skateboarder.

If you are just starting out skateboarding, you will need to know about the different gears you need in order to have a better skateboarding experience and prevent serious injuries.

Basically, you first need a skateboard. You can borrow it from a friend or you can purchase your own. Try to choose the skateboard that is designed for beginners. Also, you need to choose the skateboard that is comfortable for you to ride.

Once you have your skateboard, the next thing you need is a good pair of skateboard shoes. Although you can go skateboarding using regular shoes, you will find that skateboarding with special skateboard shoes will be easier. They have a large flat bottom for better grip on the board and also have reinforcement features in areas where they will likely wear down the fastest when you ride.

Skateboarding is a dangerous activity where a lot of people who try it sustain head injuries or head traumas. So, in order to minimize the frequency of the head injury or prevent it, you will want to get a helmet. Although you will see a lot of skateboarders not wearing a helmet, it doesn't mean that wearing one will make you look weak or stupid. Besides, most skate parks will require you to wear a helmet.

You can also wear protective pads, such as elbow and knee pads. If you are planning to do tricks with your skateboard in your driveway or in the street in front of your house, wearing an elbow pad is a good idea. However, if you are just hitting the ramps made of wood, knee pads will be able to do the trick.

You may also want to get wrist braces. This will prevent wrist injuries when you try to catch yourself with your hand when you fall off a skateboard. However, this doesn't mean that you should catch yourself with your hand when you fall. Avoid doing this as it will risk injuring your wrists.

These are the basic gears that you need when you go skateboarding. With these gears, you will be able to have a lot more fun skateboarding and also minimize the risk of sustaining serious injuries during falls. Having safety equipments is not nerdy rather it is smart. Ride smart, and you will definitely be able to have more fun skateboarding and avoid ending up in the hospital.

The vert ramp is one of the most popular courses played by skateboarders.

It is very challenging and it will also be able to provide skateboarders big air which will enable them to perform big tricks. If you are just a beginner at skateboarding, then you might want to steer clear of the vert ramp as it is very difficult and should only be attempted by experienced skateboarders and for people who knows how to skateboard well.

If it is your first time to try the vert ramp, you have to remember that you shouldn't go straight to the vert ramp right away. Try practicing on a mini ramp first to get the feel of the vert ramp without risking getting seriously injured.

In the mini ramp, you need to be able to perform tricks comfortably and with confidence and style. This will not only prepare you for the vert ramp and mix it up with the big boys, but it will also polish your skateboarding skills and get you to execute tricks comfortably.

So, if you want an enjoyable experience on the vert ramp rather than experiencing a painful stay at the hospital, practice on the mini ramp first.

If you are ready for the vert ramp, try to check out a few first in order to get used to the height. You may think that the vert ramp is low, but it looks higher when you are at the top than on the bottom. By getting used to the height of the vert ramp, you will be able to skate comfortably on your first run.

The vert ramp is a very risky game for skateboarders. So, try to make sure that you have all the necessary safety equipment and are wearing them. You have to remember that even professionals wear helmets, kneepads, elbow pads and other safety equipments. When attempting to skate the vert ramp, it is very likely that you will find yourself sprawling across the ramp especially on your first run.

Unless you are completely crazy, never start your first time on the vert ramp by leaping off from the top of the ramp. Start on the bottom and build speed and acceleration by pumping from side to side of the ramp. Keep doing this until you get comfortable enough to hit the top of the vert ramp and get down in one piece.

Now that you have the hang of going from side to side on the vert ramp, you may want to execute some small tricks until you are comfortable enough to get big air and do big tricks. Remember, practice will definitely improve your performance on the vert ramp. If you fall, try again. Everyone experiences falls on the vert ramp, even the pros.
 

While no one can stop you from learning any trick you want, it is better to start with the basic.

You probably know how to ollie or even how to kick or heelflip.

So if you want something for a change, then learn the 50-50. This is the first grind trick most skaters learn. The trick isn't too technical or complicated. (I didn't use the work "difficult" since what is easy and difficult differ from one person to another.)

The 50-50 is riding while grinding with both trucks, usually along edges such as rails, coping, and rails, instead of rolling with the wheels.

The name is derived from how it looks like, being half off the edge and half on. To perform this trick, you must learn first how to ollie. Get comfortable with the ollie and try the 50-50 later.

Choosing the right edge is important if you want to successfully do the trick. If this is your first time, choose a ledge instead of a rail so in case you fall off, you fall off softer. A lot of skate parks have well-constructed ledges you can use. Or, if you have the time, you can construct your own ledge in your garage.

Once you have found your spot, move a fair distance away from it and push your skateboard to a comfortable speed. Remember: the faster you go, the further your grind will be.

When you reach your top speed, assume the ollie position, front foot between the middle of the deck and the front truck and the ball of the back foot at the tail of the board.

As you reach the ledge, bend your knees and ollie. Keep your knees bent as you land with the center of your front and rear trucks sitting under the ledge. Your feet should be directly under the trucks (similar to the landing on ollie). Keep your balance. Relax your body and grind all the way down.

Prepare to pop out when you reach the end of the ledge or when your speed has slowed down.

Do not bail out. Grinding is one thing, landing is another. Give your tail a small pop and land on the ground. Aim to land on all four wheels with your feet standing directly on the trucks.

It sounds easy but you really have to have the guts to do it. Start at low ledges and move gradually from there.

It is important to know which one to use in order to get maximum comfort whenever you go skateboarding. To figure out which stance is comfortable for you, try some of these tips.

First of all, the goofy stance is where you place your right foot in the front. Regular stance is where you place your left foot forward and right foot at the back. Try some of these tips in order to know which stance you will be most comfortable with.

The first method is by getting a ball. Whichever foot you are comfortable kicking it with will likely be your back foot. You have to remember that the balancing foot should be on front and the kicking foot should be at the back of the board.

Next, try going up a staircase and observe which foot you use on your first step. Whichever foot you use will be your back foot on the skateboard. This means that if you use your right foot to go up the stairs first, you will likely be comfortable using the regular stance.

Another way to find out which stance you use is by getting someone to push you while you are standing still. This will get you off balance and whichever foot you use to catch yourself will be your back foot.

Like most people who are right handed, most skateboarders use the regular stance. This is why regular stance is called regular as it is used by most skateboarders.

There is really no right way to know what kind of stance you want to use. Try skateboarding using both stances. Whatever is more comfortable is the one that you should use. Whether it is regular or goofy stance, you will see that skateboarding is a lot of fun.

Remember these tips and you will be able to know which stance you will want to use. Although it doesn't necessarily mean that you should go and use regular stance if you kicked the ball with your right foot, it just basically means that it is a good way to find out what kind of stance you will most likely be comfortable with.

Whichever stance you use, always remember to be safe. Always use safety gear and you will see that skateboarding will be a lot more fun.

Although skateboarding may seem like just another sport that many teenagers get into, through the years, this sport has developed its own culture and skateboarders can be easily identified not just because they have skateboards, but because they have a lifestyle that can be easily seen through the clothes they wear and the things they do. Not only that, skateboarding is also an international sport in which numerous countries have their own representatives in international levels of competition.

Usually, the passion for skateboarding starts out at an early stage of a persons life, pre-teens have long known how to ride one and by the time they are in their teens, many have already mastered the skill and are able to do tricks and jumps. Some though have failed to pick up on the sport early on and may be intrigued with the skateboarding culture and would like to join as well.  If you are interested in being a part of this society, here are some tips to help you.

First, you will of course need a skateboard. Although most skateboards are basically the same, you need to find a skateboard that will represent your personality. A good and sturdy skateboard will be able to withstand most of the high impact it will receive when being ridden. You will have a board that you can be very proud of.

Make sure also to get effective safety gear. Knee and elbow pads are a must and most especially the helmet. Being a beginner, you will experience a lot of falls. And also, you don't really have to wear what most skateboarders wear. Just be sure to wear comfortable clothes that you can freely move in. Skateboarding is not just about wearing the right clothes or having the right shoes, although good gripping skateboard shoes can help with your balance.

If you don't know anybody who can teach you how to skateboard, try to observe first the other skateboarders in your area. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Advanced skateboarders know a lot of tricks and can share some of their tips. Learning the basics of skateboarding can be a time consuming process. Some take to it like fish in the water while there are some that just can't seem to find their balance. Just be patient and soon enough, you may be doing ollies on your own.

If learning how to ollie is hard enough, getting the height is even harder. This is the main problem of most new skaters.

So how do you make your ollie higher?

There are 3 reasons why your ollie is "low-llie".

Okay, I made that one up. Here are those reasons: (1) you are not fast enough or (2) you are not slamming the tail of your skateboard hard enough or (3) you are not bending your knees and putting your feet high into the air.

Obviously, if you are doing one of these three, all you need to do is to skate faster or slam your skateboard's tail harder or bend your knees more and put your feet higher. Right? Yes, but not exactly.

If you want to reach a good speed for a high ollie, you need to get comfortable riding fast first. Ride on smooth ground and practice with your speed. Then, if you are comfortable riding fast, pop and ollie. There is more to getting a good speed and doing the ollie though. Your shoulders should be centered, your knees should be bent, and your body should be in control. Go out and try doing these several times and then come back. If you have successfully made your ollie higher, congratulations! If not, read on.

Slamming the tail of your skateboard will make your ollie higher but since there are a lot of things going on when ollieing, you have to focus really hard. Bend your knees and slam the board's tail with your back foot as hard as you can. At the same moment, you jump. This takes practice and timing. If you can't do it the first time, it's perfectly okay. As the board slams to the ground, it will rebound up to the air. Put your feet as high as you can and catch the board when it reaches the apex. 

Getting your body and feet high, begins when you jump. Again, it is crucial to time your jump at the right moment but make sure that you jump as high as you can. You may have put your feet way up but if your body is not high enough, you end up losing your balance and control when you land.

The truth is, ollie is a very hard trick to learn. Even experts find it difficult to ollie at times. But if you know what the problem is, you can improve your ollie with practice.

Kickflip is probably the next thing you want to learn after getting comfortable with the ollie.

Here's how it's done.

1.    If you are doing it stationary, proceed to number 2. If you are performing it while rolling, get the speed you are comfortable in using the same forward motion you learn.

2.    Assume the ollie position with your front heel hanging slightly off the edge at the beginning.

3.    Bend you knees. Kick the tail off the ground with your back foot and slide your front foot forward and out of the note of the board. This move will make the board flip. Here's the tricky part. Do not flick the board too hard or too far out or you will end up landing on your feet and chasing for your board.

4.    Keep your knees bent while in the air until the board makes a full rotation.

5.    Catch the board with your both feet as it comes around. Make sure that your feet stand on both of the trucks of the skateboard to get stability when you land. Straighten your legs and land.

Remember: Don't bail out. Don't jump away. Catch your board with your feet. You may not get it the first time so be committed and try it again.

Two common problems with the kickflip trick is not getting the right spin and not being able to catch the board with your feet.

If the board spins too slow, you are probably not flicking it hard enough so the best way to remedy it is to flick it a little harder. If the board spins too hard then you need to flick the board softer. The best way to get the perfect spin is to observe how the board spins while doing the trick. Practice hard but do not get frustrated if you can't get a clean kickflip after a week. It will take a while.

If catching the board in the air is your problem, you're feet is probably too far out or too far down when you do the flick. This prevents you from getting your feet back to the board on time, thus, not completing the trick. Just use your toe to flick and not your whole foot.
Kickflip is a subset of ollie but that does not mean that you can easily learn the trick so practice hard.

After you learn how to ride your skateboard, it is time for you to learn some basic tricks. Ollie or ollieng can be a good choice for your first trick but if you want a less challenging one, I suggest the Manual.

The Manual is where the rider balances on his or her back wheels while rolling (similar to a wheelie on a bike).

It is an easy trick to learn. All it takes is good balance and a lot of practice. 

Performing the manual trick requires proper foot placement. Proper means the right positioning of the foot on the deck regardless of whether you prefer regular or goofy. When "manualing", place your front foot in the middle of the deck with your toe right behind the front trucks; and back foot on the tail of the board. This, however, is not the only way to do it. You know what position your feet are comfortable in. As long as you can perform the manual, you are good to go.

When doing this trick, you need a lot of ground to practice on. The ideal choice would be an empty parking lot, a skate park, or a sidewalk, just make sure the ground is smooth. Whenever you are ready, push yourself forward and get some speed. Get your feet into position. Balance!

Slowly shift your weight toward your back foot. As the nose of your skateboard rises, slowly maintain your balance by leaning slightly forward. Keep the nose of your skateboard hanging in the air while riding with the back wheels for as long as you can. Do it nice and slow. Do not shift your weight quickly or you will either lose your balance or make some scratches underneath the tail of your board. You can stick your hands outward to gain better balance. Slightly bend your knees while keeping your shoulders forward. This will help you to manual longer.

When landing, simply lean forward. Once you perfect this trick, you can mix it up with other tricks you want to learn.

Now, you may crash when doing this trick. If you do, you should learn how to fall safely. Never hesitate to bail off your skateboard while you still can. If it's too late to do that, do not use your hands to cushion your fall. Instead, fall with your shoulders absorbing the impact and roll over. This may be easier said than done but with practice, you can master it easily. One final tip: do not for get to pad up and wear your helmet when doing this trick or any trick for that matter.

Getting hurt while riding a skateboard is normal.

It might not be too comforting to know that a lot of people get injured when skateboarding; still we can say that it's part of learning the sport. However, your fear of getting hurt is yours to solve and you cannot blame the sport or other people if you happen to get cuts, bruises or broken bones while skateboarding.

The thing is, you need to overcome it. But how?

Overcome fear by getting enough confidence. The best way to do this is to pad up, seriously. Wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and gloves. You can also wear padded shorts if you want to. Don't worry if you look a bit ridiculous with these gears. As long as you are protected, you reduce the risk of getting hurt and you'll gain confidence.

Then, you have to practice. Start with the simplest trick. The ollie can be a good choice. Learning a trick or two will allow you to gain confidence. It may take you a few months or even years to learn just one trick so stay focused with your goal. A lot of newbie skaters give up skateboarding because they either get hurt or never learned a trick. Keep your interest high and fear will be a thing of the past.

You also have to ride with your friends. Riding alone in full battle gear will make you look like the mascot. I did not tell you not to gear up properly. What I mean is go out and make friends if you don't have any. Skateboarding should be fun. And although you cannot invite someone to ride with you on your skateboard, you can ride along with friends who don't ridicule you if you don't know how to do a single trick.

Finally, you just need to get hurt. But don't remove your gears. If you are padded up and you fall, it might not break any bones but you will get hurt a little. And when you do, your body learns how not to do it again. You gain confidence and overcome fear.

Accept this: skateboarding is a painful sport. Even pro skaters break a bone or two once in awhile. You will get hurt but if you ride with care, you can skate another day and improve your skills.
 

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.