I bought a skateboard

[fustercluck]

Inspired by that other skating thread. Always wanted to learn how to skate. So I bought a $10 board...even though I'm pretty old to be starting. I feel like I'm going to break it everytime I step on it - It's only a matter of time I suppose.

I have no idea how to ride this thing...I got the stance down but that's it. No clue how to turn...or any techniques beyond that :x - Tips or advice? No? That's ok too. I'm sure there's a wealth of information on youtube/google. I may quit after 3 weeks anyways.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Hah you got one, good for you! The cheapy board will only be good for learning the basics like stance and balance. If you want to get into doing some tricks you'll definitely want to upgrade pretty soon, but you've only put down $10 so it's not like you'll lose a big investment if you decide to take if further. I learned the basics by searching Youtube and it helped me a lot. Have fun!

 

[Goosemaster]

have fun

 

[RESmonkey]

Dude, go on your roof and try grinding on the edge. Then try to jump off. TRUST ME, it's worth it. Have friends record such stunt and post on youtube.

 

[deftron]

$10 skateboard?

Just pray the wheels turn and it doesn't break in the middle when you try to ride it.

 

[cheezy321]

Dude a $10 skateboard will result in more frustration than you want. I would go to a skateshop. They could set you up with a decent board for $70. Or just look on eBay and get something like this

It will become very frustrating very quickly if you have a really heavy board with bad hardware.

 

[DayLaPaul]

I was on the fast track to becoming the next Christian Hanoi until my mom ran over my skateboard.

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: cheezy321
Dude a $10 skateboard will result in more frustration than you want. I would go to a skateshop. They could set you up with a decent board for $70. Or just look on eBay and get something like this

It will become very frustrating very quickly if you have a really heavy board with bad hardware.

Word. I remember 10 years ago when I started that virutally no learning took place until I actually bought a quality board and hardware. It made HEAPS of difference coming from a $20 Walmart board.

 

[fustercluck]

Not going to spend $40+ on a skateboard to find out I don't like it. Like Godless said, it's just for learning the basics and if I have fun with a crappy board like mine I'm going to want to upgrade to a good board so I can really start learning. On the other hand if I end up not liking skateboarding I'm only out $10

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: fustercluck
Not going to spend $40+ on a skateboard to find out I don't like it. Like Godless said, it's just for learning the basics and if I have fun with a crappy board like mine I'm going to want to upgrade to a good board so I can really start learning. On the other hand if I end up not liking skateboarding I'm only out $10

Their point is that the hardware is so shitty that it may ruin skating for you when a real board might have given you what you were missing. I used to skate as a kid and a good board goes a long way. Your bearings and wheels are so terrible that you'll have to pump and pump and pump like mad to keep your speed, when with a real board you get a few good pushes and you're at speed for a decent distance.

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: fustercluck
Not going to spend $40+ on a skateboard to find out I don't like it. Like Godless said, it's just for learning the basics and if I have fun with a crappy board like mine I'm going to want to upgrade to a good board so I can really start learning. On the other hand if I end up not liking skateboarding I'm only out $10

Their point is that the hardware is so shitty that it may ruin skating for you when a real board might have given you what you were missing. I used to skate as a kid and a good board goes a long way. Your bearings and wheels are so terrible that you'll have to pump and pump and pump like mad to keep your speed, when with a real board you get a few good pushes and you're at speed for a decent distance.

Exactly. It's like smoking bad weed for the first time and not knowing that better stuff is out there. After 12 hits you're still not getting anything in return. Pick up the good stuff and you'll be feeling good after 2.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
The cheapy board will only be good for learning the basics like stance and balance. !

Stance of Dominance?

 

[MrPickins]

Buy some pads/wrist-guards. You're going to fall a lot at first.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Originally posted by: RESmonkey
Dude, go on your roof and try grinding on the edge. Then try to jump off. TRUST ME, it's worth it. Have friends record such stunt and post on youtube.

This

 

[SunnyD]

I can't even stand on one of those damn things. Never understood why people found it "cool" either.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Get off my lawn?

 

[cheezy321]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I can't even stand on one of those damn things. Never understood why people found it "cool" either.

I never found it "cool". Its a very fun sport that requires a lot of balance, skill and guts. The skills also translate into a lot of other sports. Because of my skateboarding I easily picked up other sports like snowboarding and wake boarding.

It also develops your core muscles and gives you insane balance and body control that not many other people have.

All this talk makes me wanna go tear it up again. Ive moved to bikes now

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: cheezy321

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I can't even stand on one of those damn things. Never understood why people found it "cool" either.

I never found it "cool". Its a very fun sport that requires a lot of balance, skill and guts. The skills also translate into a lot of other sports. Because of my skateboarding I easily picked up other sports like snowboarding and wake boarding.

It also develops your core muscles and gives you insane balance and body control that not many other people have.

All this talk makes me wanna go tear it up again. Ive moved to bikes now

The skill really does translate well. I had no problem getting up and riding a wakeboard on my first try, and I hadn't even skated in years.

 

[BZeto]

I found snowboarding to be much different. I suppose the balance skills learned from skating transfered over but nothing else.

 

[Saint Nick]

Thats awesome man. I used to skate between '99 and '05. I almost got sponsored but ended up going to college and lost interest. Have fun with it...and don't be afraid of falling.

 

[Fritzo]

You don't need to skate, just LOOK like you do:

Wear dirty black clothes
Wear a belt with studs
Dye your hair black, let half of your bangs grow long, and dye it red.
Wear high top canvas Converse shoes
OPTIONAL: wear black eyeliner

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
You don't need to skate, just LOOK like you do:

Wear dirty black clothes
Wear a belt with studs
Dye your hair black, let half of your bangs grow long, and dye it red.
Wear high top canvas Converse shoes
OPTIONAL: wear black eyeliner

How does that equal looking like a skater?

 

[fustercluck]

I think he's thinking about Goth or Emo. Honestly I probably couldn't tell the difference.

Hmm...if I could only buy one piece of safety equipment, what should I get? Helmet? Knee Pads? Wrist pads (as mentioned earlier but I don't know if I've ever seen those)?

 

[cheezy321]

Originally posted by: fustercluck
I think he's thinking about Goth or Emo. Honestly I probably couldn't tell the difference.

Hmm...if I could only buy one piece of safety equipment, what should I get? Helmet? Knee Pads? Wrist pads (as mentioned earlier but I don't know if I've ever seen those)?

For starting out? I would say wrist pads? I never used safety equipment

The board is going to fly out from under you a lot, and you will catch yourself with your wrists. Might as well protect them. Your shins are going to the body part that is will hurt the most once you start doing flip tricks and ollies.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Fritzo
You don't need to skate, just LOOK like you do:

Wear dirty black clothes
Wear a belt with studs
Dye your hair black, let half of your bangs grow long, and dye it red.
Wear high top canvas Converse shoes
OPTIONAL: wear black eyeliner

How does that equal looking like a skater?

lol. FAIL. :laugh:

OP, you're better off getting a blank deck (complete set) from CCS Mailorder or something. Those cheapo boards are fucking garbage and not worth the money.