In order to become a great skateboarder, you must practice and practice.
Many people ask, “How long does it take to learn how to skateboard?” The answer depends on the person and their level of commitment.
Normally, it takes at least 6 months to 12 months to become good at skateboarding. In 6 to 12 months you’ll be able to learn to balance, push, carve, and a few basic tricks, but it takes years of practice to become a pro.
If you spend as much time as possible on your skateboard, the better your chances of becoming a skilled skater.
What you need to find is determination and a love of skating.
How Long Does it Take to Learn the Basics of skateboarding?
You can learn the basic concepts and skills of skateboarding in about an hour.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll be ready to enter a competition after 60 minutes, it takes practice and repetition to really master any skill. But if you’re patient and dedicated, you can definitely learn the basics of skateboarding in an hour or less.
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So What are the Basics of Skateboarding?
Here is
1. Standing and Balancing
First, you’ll need to learn how to stand and balance on your skateboard. You may think this is obvious, but it’s important to get your stance right before you start moving.
Start by placing your front foot in the middle of the deck, and your back foot slightly behind it. Bend your knees and lean forward, and you’re ready to go.
Once you’ve got your balance, you can start pushing off and cruising around.
2. Pushing
Pushing on your board is the most basic move in skateboarding.
To do this, put your back foot on the tail of the board and push off the ground with your front foot.
As you push, lean forward slightly and shift your weight to your front foot. This will help you gain speed and keep control of the board.
As you become more comfortable with pushing on your board, you can begin learning other moves such as turning and stopping.
Also Read: How Much Does a Good Skateboard Cost?
3. Next, How to Turn on Skateboard
This is where things can start to get tricky – but don’t worry, with a little practice you’ll be nailing those turns in no time.
Turning is key to maneuvering your board and allows you to change directions while skating.
How to turn on your skateboard: Here’s a step-by-step guide
- Place your skateboard on the ground in front of you. Make sure the wheels are facing forwards and the trucks are tightened.
- Place your front foot in the middle of the deck, and your back foot near the tail of the board.
- Bend your knees slightly and lean forward, balancing your weight on your front foot.
- Push down on your front foot to begin rolling forward. As you gain speed, shift your weight to the back foot and allow it to move smoothly along the ground.
- To turn, simply lean in the direction you want to go. The more pressure you put on one foot or the other, the sharper your turn will be.
4. Finally, You’ll Need to Learn How to Stop
A good way to do this is to lightly place your foot on the ground and let it drag. This method is called the footbrake and is a go-to for many skateboarders when they need to control their speed. Here’s how it works:
To do the footbrake, simply place your foot (whichever one you’re comfortable using) on the ground and let it drag behind you as you ride.
You’ll want to keep your center of gravity over your board so you don’t lose balance, but other than that, just let your foot do its thing.
The drag from your foot will act as a brake, slowing you down gradually.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Tricks on Skateboard?
In order to answer the question of how long it takes to learn skateboard tricks, you have to understand first the level of difficulty of the desired trick.
For example, an Ollie, which is a basic jump, can be learned in a matter of days or weeks with practice. However, more complex tricks like the 360 flip can take months or years to master.
The time it takes to learn a skateboard trick also depends on the person’s natural ability and previous experience with skating.
Those who have never stepped foot on a board before will obviously take longer to learn than those who have some skating experience.
However, even experienced skaters will find that some tricks are more difficult than others and will take longer to learn as a result.
In general, learning simple skateboard tricks can be quick and easy while more complex tricks will require more time and effort.
On the other hand
Your fitness level, coordination, flexibility, and how well you handle fear are all important factors in how quickly you will be able to learn new tricks.
However, the most important factor is probably how often you skate. The more you skate, the quicker you will be able to learn new tricks.
In my opinion, it depends on the individual and how much time they are willing to devote to learning. Some people might be able to pick up skating quickly and easily, while others may find it more difficult and take longer to see results.
Things to Consider Before Learning Skateboarding
Before you decide to learn skateboarding, there are a few things you should take into consideration.
1. Buy a Good Skateboard
In order to avoid wasting your money, it is important to consider a few things before buying a skateboard if you are a beginner.
First, you want to make sure that the skateboard is sturdy and won’t break easily.
Second, you want to get a skateboard that is the right size for you.
Third, you want to make sure that the skateboard has good wheels and trucks.
2. Wear Proper Protective Gear to Avoid Injuries
Skateboarding is a fun and challenging sport, but it’s important to wear proper protective gear to avoid injuries.
Wearing a helmet, knee pads, wrist guards, and elbow pads can all help reduce the risk of serious injury. So don’t forget to strap on your gear before you hit the streets.
3. Practice on a Smooth and Flat Surface
For newbies, it is best to practice it on a smooth and flat surface. This will help you become familiar with how the board moves and how it feels.
Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can then move on to more difficult terrain, such as skate parks, ramps, and skate pools.
Last Words
Lastly, if you’re thinking about picking up a skateboard, don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the hang of it right away. Don’t give up, just keep practicing.
Honestly, it takes a lot of practice and patience to learn how to skateboard. It is important to be consistent with your skating and have fun while doing it. With time and dedication, anyone can learn how to skateboard.
