Skateboarding is a popular action sport with massive popularity across the world, now one of the most recognised sports globally. At its essence skateboarding involves riding on a board and performing tricks. Skateboarding is a versatile sport that can be done by individuals of all ages and skill levels, making it accessible to everyone. If you would like to know more about its basics, history, skateboards and equipment and competition types you’ve come to the right blog!
What is Skateboarding all about?
Skateboarding involves riding on a board called a skateboard. The board consists of a deck and four wheels. Riders usually propel themselves on the board using their feet or by gravity, where they ride down a slope. Skateboarding involves performing tricks, which can range from simple ollies to complex manoeuvres such as kickflips and grinds. More on those later!
What is the History behind Skateboarding?
Skateboarding was invented in the 1940s by surfers in California, who wanted to experience the feeling of surfing on land. They created wooden boards and attached roller skate wheels to the bottom, which they used to ride down hills and perform simple tricks. This was known as sidewalk surfing. Skateboarding gained popularity in the 1960s, with the creation of the first skateboard competition in Hermosa Beach, California. In the 1970s, skateboarding became more organised, and skate parks were built across the United States, making it a legitimate sport. Skateboarding debuted as an Olympic sport in 2021.
World Skate is the governing body of all sports performed on skate wheels. It’s vision is to contribute to making the world a better place through promotion and development of sustainable, fair, inclusive, free, young and urban sports.
Skateboards and Safety Equipment
Skateboards come in various shapes and sizes, but the most common ones are made of seven layers of laminated wood. The trucks, which are attached to the bottom of the board, are responsible for turning and stability. The wheels, which come in different sizes and hardness, determine the speed and smoothness of the ride. Bearings are the small metal rings that are inserted inside the wheels, which allow them to rotate freely. Get started with a good quality, durable and value for money board like this; WhiteFang Skateboards for Beginners
Other essential equipment for skateboarding includes protective gear such as helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads. It’s important to wear protective gear to prevent injuries in case of a fall when performing tricks or riding at high speeds. A protective yet fashionable helmet is the INNAMOTO Adults & Kids Bike Helmets for Men & Women
How do Skate Competitions Work?
There are several types of skateboarding competitions, including street, vert, and freestyle. In street competitions, riders perform tricks on obstacles such as stairs, rails, and ledges. Vert competitions involve riding on a skate ramp like a half-pipe ramp and performing aerial tricks. Freestyle competitions involve performing creative, technical tricks without any obstacles on flat ground. This kind of skateboarding was intermittently popular between the 1950s and early 90s.
How do I win?
Skateboarding competitions are judged based on the difficulty, creativity, and style of the tricks performed, similar to surfing. Judges award points based on the execution of the trick, how well it’s landed, and the overall flow of the rider. The rider with the highest total score at the end of the competition is declared the winner.
Signature skateboarding tricks!
Ollie
The ollie is considered the most fundamental trick in skateboarding. It involves popping the tail of the board and sliding your front foot up the board to jump into the air before landing back on it. This trick is a basic building block to many more tricks in skateboarding.
Kickflip
The kickflip is a classic trick that involves flipping the board in mid-air, during an ollie, using the foot to create a 360-degree spin while jumping. It requires precise timing and control to flip the board and land back on it.
Heelflip
The heelflip is a variation of the kickflip, but instead of flipping the board with the toe, the rider uses the heel of their foot to create the 360-degree spin. It’s a challenging trick that requires practice and timing to master.
360 Flip
The 360 flip, also known as the tre flip, is a combination of the kickflip and 360-degree spin. It involves flipping the board with the foot while spinning it 360 degrees in the air before landing back on it.
Different types of Grinds
Grinding is a trick that involves sliding the trucks of the board along an obstacle such as a rail or ledge.
The 50-50 grind, where the rider grinds on both trucks, and the board-slide, where the rider slides on the bottom of the board.
The nose-grind is a type of grind where the rider grinds on the front truck of the board instead of the back truck. It requires good balance and control to maintain the grind and avoid falling off.
The Smith grind is a type of grind where the rider grinds on the back truck of the board while leaning forward over the front truck. It’s a challenging trick that requires precision and control to execute properly.
These are just a few examples of popular tricks in skateboarding. There are many more, and new tricks are being invented all the time as riders continue to push the boundaries of the sport.
Mastering skateboarding and it’s tricks is a great accomplishment for any rider. It requires practice, patience, and dedication to perfect. Remember whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, there’s always something new to learn in skateboarding. Always practice safely and wear proper protective gear, as it’s better to be safe than sorry and be able to skate another day!
If you want to learn more check out our article on Surfing, the parent sport to skateboarding! Or check out skate competition results here.
You can find our comprehensive list of sports explained simply by visiting our A-Z.
