Skateboarding, an exhilarating board sport, has its roots in surfing and emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
It is the pioneer of extreme sports and involves athletes performing various complex maneuvers on different terrains, surfaces, and specific facilities. Skateboarding has come a long way since its invention in the 1860s in California.
In 1981, the American Skateboarders Association and the European Skateboarders Association jointly organized the first World Cup Skateboarding Competition in former West Germany. Skateboarding became a competitive sport for the first time at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which marks a significant milestone in the sport's history.
Skateboarding is an extension of surfing on land, giving greater freedom to surfers who are limited by geographical and climatic conditions. The sport has evolved tremendously over the years, and today it is considered the coolest sport on the planet.
Skateboarding techniques such as The Aerial, The Invert, and The Ollie are some of the most important skateboarding maneuvers, apart from the clipboard.
Skateboarding has two major international organizations worldwide, namely the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SKATEBOARD COMPANIES (IASC) and the WORLD CUP OF SKATEBOARDING (WCS).
Skateboarding demands a high level of skill and carries a risk of injury. Beginners need to be mindful of several key points to ensure their safety. Before stepping onto the skateboard, engaging with foundational resources like videos and articles is recommended to gain a solid understanding of balance, including where to center your weight and how to position your feet correctly.
In instances where you find yourself losing balance, applying pressure with your feet to the board's end or tail can help you come to a quick stop. When faced with the likelihood of a fall, especially during complex maneuvers, it's advisable to lower your body, tighten your neck muscles, and extend your arms upwards to minimize the impact.
Wearing protective gear is strongly advised, especially for those new to skateboarding. This includes helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, which can significantly reduce the risk of injuries during falls or collisions.
Safety is paramount in skateboarding. Skateboarders usually wear protective equipment such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and palm pads, especially in U-pools.
However, since this equipment hinders movement, many street skateboarders do not wear it. Nonetheless, it is advisable to wear at least a helmet.
It is also important to avoid doing tricks that are beyond your ability and not make difficult moves in unfamiliar locations.
Checking the terrain before doing various tricks is crucial to ensure there are no dangerous objects nearby, such as broken glass, sharp fence tops, etc. It is also advisable not to carry sharp objects with you.
Having the right mindset is crucial in skateboarding.
Firstly, one needs to know that skateboarding has a certain degree of difficulty, and it requires a mindset that is open to challenges.
Practicing hard is also important, and the ground should preferably be flat without ribs and with high frequency.
Taking the initiative to say hello to people and meeting more friends who are also beginners is helpful since you can observe and learn from each other.
Beginners should not be afraid to lose face and concentrate on their practice. It is crucial to remember that skateboarding is a challenge to oneself.
While being praised for your style of movement is a good thing, using other people's opinions to determine how you feel about skateboarding can distract you from your original intention.
Finally, it is important to practice with your head and not repeat failed moves but improve them next time. This will eventually become a habit and be difficult to change.
