Lessons
Ferndale skate park are currently looking into the development and addition of lessons, if you are intrested please contact the office, however in the meantime we have provided some content on skateboarding courtesy of hardcloud.com
Skateboarding Hints and Tips
Skateboarding has come on a fair way since its early start back in the
1950`s when it was first retailed as a plank of wood on a set of
roller-skate wheels. In fact, skateboarding has not only outlived its two
booted rival, but paved the way for a whole sub culture of board sports both
on land and in water.
Buying a Board
There are two main kinds of skateboards available: the `regular` board, and
`longer` boards. The regular variety is generally a better choice for
performing tricks and generally riding around where as the longer boards are
generally considered better for high speeds and long distances. Though the
styles of the boards may look similar to the untrained eye, there are more
differences than just length as they vary in how concaved the deck is too.
The depth of the curve is important for mastering tricks and ramps - a
deeper curve allows for more precision.
Regular or Goofy
It may sound like a peculiar choice but these terms simply refer to your
natural stance on the board. Regular riders stand with their left foot
forward and goofy riders with the right. The stance on the board is a vital
element to skateboarding; it`s important to feel comfortable but at the same
time a good balance needs to be maintained. One of the more common errors a
beginner will make is the positioning of their body weight when first
pushing off. The feet should not be level and the pushing foot should not be
behind the foot on the board. Instead, the pushing foot needs to be in front
just as though you were taking a normal step to walk.
Skateboarding Tricks
Skateboarding is much harder than it looks, which is why it is recommended
that skateboarders invest protective garments such as helmets, knee pads and
wrist pads, especially beginners who will need to get used to falling
correctly. However, once the basics have been mastered, why not try a few
simple tricks such as the `Ollie 180`? An Ollie is a jump into the air so an
Ollie 180 is where the rider and the skateboard turn 180 degrees in mid air,
effectively rolling in the opposite direction when they land. Kickflips are
another simple trick for beginners but primarily riders should get used to
balancing at speed before trying more. It might take a lot of practise but
it shouldn`t be long before you too can out more complex manoeuvres such as
the Ollie 360, Kickturns, Powerslides, Axle Stalls and Bert Slides.
Ramps
Whilst small and simple skateboarding ramps can easily be improvised, or
even bought in simple structures; more often than not you`ll probably find
you live much closer to a local skate park than you think. The rise in
popularity of the skating culture has been recognised by many local councils
who perhaps see skateboarding parks as a means of keeping young people busy
and out of trouble. Whatever the motive may be, there are usually a variety
of ramps to choose from where riders can build up momentum. Some riders may
prefer the more `urban` look and graduate from the wider, specifically
designed ramps to more imaginative obstacles such as staircase railings or
other public areas but it is important to remember that safety should come
first; not just to yourselves but to others too.
For more information on getting the right skateboarding look, see how Billabong can help.
|
