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