| Over the last couple of weeks I've been trying to do | | | | things, and that is not to think ollying is what you |
| at least an hour of skateboarding after work each | | | | have to learn first. Instead, over the coming weeks I |
| day. The road outside is smooth and flat, very good | | | | will be writing a series of 'lessons' starting today with |
| for practicing flatland stuff. The kid two doors down | | | | the most basic thing you can do - ride your |
| from me, Jake, joins in sometimes too, and as he's | | | | skateboard. |
| about the same level we get on well and push each | | | | Your only aim for now is going to be getting |
| other to do better. | | | | comfortable just riding up and down your street, |
| All this regular skateboarding has started to attract | | | | trying to get to a decent speed and to be able to |
| the interest of several kids that want to begin | | | | turn your skateboard as and when you need to. |
| skateboarding. Jake, being a fairly typical teenager, | | | | Forget about ollying and all other tricks! |
| doesn't have the time of day for them, but I find it | | | | SET UP YOUR SKATEBOARD |
| quite interesting trying to teach them. | | | | Get your skateboard sorted out. If you don't know |
| That got me thinking about the absolute basics and | | | | what the different bits of your skateboard are called |
| how to go about learning them. The problem with | | | | then start here and read from there. |
| these kids is they want to run before they can walk. | | | | The chances are that the one you've got is pretty |
| They haven't yet got the dedication to learn how to | | | | slow, with Abec 'A' bearings and a thick, heavy deck. |
| ride properly, because they always want to learn | | | | Your deck won't have much concave (meaning it |
| what I'm doing instead (which at the moment is a | | | | won't be very curved) but this type of board is less |
| kind of 360° railstand). | | | | likely to slip away from you. However, bear in mind |
| Even though skateboarding is a very individual sport, | | | | that you will at the very least want new bearings in |
| or art, if you're an absolute beginner and you've | | | | the near future, and try and budget for this (or start |
| never set foot on a skateboard before then there is | | | | badgering your parents now)... |
| probably a certain way you should go about doing | | | | |