Illogical Skate Superstitions

[i halfcab board ledges]

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Don't we all pop our switch tricks from the nose?

Idk why I've always done this... skating regular my nose is on the front, skating switch my tail is on the front

[close]

2 main reasons I'd guess:

1. Most people learn fakie ollies before anything switch, and they use the tail for popping those because that's how they learned to ollie initially (and for us nerds: because fakie is supposed to be backwards). So they start riding switch with the tail in the front and just go with it.

2. The tail is in the front after landing most tricks a beginner would learn. 180s, anything to fakie... I'd wager that's how many people start riding switch in the first place rather than throwing down switch.

On topic: Not a superstition, but I make it a point to give props to anyone I'm skating with. I regularly skip my turn or abort a try because I don't want to miss a make.

[close]

It would also be stupid because you'd only use the tail and razor it down way faster otherwise. Which is one of the reason twin tails are the shit, even if you don't skate switch at all, you just doubled the life of a deck.

Also on your last sentence: I do the same because seeing a homie land something nice warms my heart and I'm super bummed if I miss someone finally landing their trick.

Possible superstition but actually just psychology and stoke: I'm 70% more likely to commit and land my trick after a homie landed theirs.

This is accurate as fuck!  I suck at committing and when i see a homie land some shit it makes me wanna commit and thats the only time I land tricks lol.

[m path]

Skateboarding as a group identity is kinda superstition-y.  The culture is dead af, that's a given at this point.  But the group identity part was always long-term detrimental generally while benefitting the power structure.  Means to an end.

[$$LESH]

my superstitions were so fucked when i was younger. still got em but not as bad.  if i get to a spot and walk up to the run up, if i turned around to my left or right i’d have to turn around that way every try. can never miss a step walking up stairs, even if i was rushing id have to walk up each individual step and count them in my head. every crack id have to step over with my right foot first and never step on one. if i did i’d redo the process. and before throwing down i’d have to whisper “yeah” to myself. i have no clue why i do these things.

also skating something with multiple people taking turns, if someone fucked up the rotation id have to redo the process. looking back on it i was probably such a fuckin nause to skate with.

[Sizzle]

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I hope they bring up the toothpick hazards every session because guaranteed you look like an asshole. You could always put their dicks in your mouth to soothe your oral fixation as well. Do you skate with a rolled up pack of cigs in your sleeve too?

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I compulsively grind my teeth, that's the reason why i have one, but you sure look like an asshole without anyone's help

Dude, mouthguard, fuck that is so terrifying to me

[DaleSr]

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I hope they bring up the toothpick hazards every session because guaranteed you look like an asshole. You could always put their dicks in your mouth to soothe your oral fixation as well. Do you skate with a rolled up pack of cigs in your sleeve too?

[close]

I compulsively grind my teeth, that's the reason why i have one, but you sure look like an asshole without anyone's help

[close]

Dude, mouthguard, fuck that is so terrifying to me

I don't wear a helmet, you think I'm gonna wear a mouth guard? No thanks

[skrub]

If the crows start going crazy at my park and it's empty, I go home. Crows know when things are about to get serious.

One time I was at the park alone crows suddenly started squaking and I was a little tired and tried something easy but I bailed fakie on some transition and my foot came down on the board which has never happened and shot out and all a sudden I had one foot on the ground forward, my back foot in front of my front foot, and a shit ton of backwards momentum. I could visualize my mom visiting me at the rehab home after my head slammed and to this day I still have no idea how i managed to merely eat shit and not die. It was definitely one where I stayed on the ground for a hot minute not from pain but from adrenallin.

When the crows now talk I listen.

[skrub]

If the crows start going crazy at my park and it's empty, I go home. Crows know when things are about to get serious.

One time I was at the park alone crows suddenly started squaking and I was a little tired and tried something easy but I bailed fakie on some transition and my foot came down on the board which has never happened and shot out and all a sudden I had one foot on the ground forward, my back foot in front of my front foot, and a shit ton of backwards momentum. I could visualize my mom visiting me at the rehab home after my head slammed and to this day I still have no idea how i managed to merely eat shit and not die. It was definitely one where I stayed on the ground for a hot minute not from pain but from adrenallin.

When the crows now talk I listen.

[finknoos]

If I break something serious im getting rid of that deck immediately, if i roll my ankle super hard or even break it i probably wont wear those shoes again either.

[scab]

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Don't we all pop our switch tricks from the nose?

Idk why I've always done this... skating regular my nose is on the front, skating switch my tail is on the front

[close]

2 main reasons I'd guess:

1. Most people learn fakie ollies before anything switch, and they use the tail for popping those because that's how they learned to ollie initially (and for us nerds: because fakie is supposed to be backwards). So they start riding switch with the tail in the front and just go with it.

2. The tail is in the front after landing most tricks a beginner would learn. 180s, anything to fakie... I'd wager that's how many people start riding switch in the first place rather than throwing down switch.

On topic: Not a superstition, but I make it a point to give props to anyone I'm skating with. I regularly skip my turn or abort a try because I don't want to miss a make.

[close]

It would also be stupid because you'd only use the tail and razor it down way faster otherwise. Which is one of the reason twin tails are the shit, even if you don't skate switch at all, you just doubled the life of a deck.

Also on your last sentence: I do the same because seeing a homie land something nice warms my heart and I'm super bummed if I miss someone finally landing their trick.

Possible superstition but actually just psychology and stoke: I'm 70% more likely to commit and land my trick after a homie landed theirs.

Agreed on everything. You're definitely on to something with your last point, momentum can carry over from homie to homie. Nothing better than getting hyped off of someone else's make and also landing your trick next try.

[wheelchair skitch]

If I'm filming a clip, I'll try to stand in the same 1sq meter every time I take off by using some visual marker on the ground.

[Sizzle]

I had a weird dream where this crackhead ran over and started fighting me while I was doing a blunt to fakie on a mini ramp and now every time I try one I get insane deja vu. Yesterday there was this really weird mentally ill lurker at the park that was half following me around, locked into one on my way out and my shit just started pumping adrenaline instantly

[sle_epy]

I count my pushes when I'm skating a spot and have a scale in my head for what counts as a full push, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 push. I even do it when I play sessions I can't help it. I think it's a piece of the puzzle for getting the same speed over and over on the approach when trying to get a trick. I even do it if I run and throw down; each step is equivalent to a push at the same scale. I thought everyone did it but every time I've ever told anyone they thought it was weird. I dunno how everyone else keeps track. I've tried to shake it and I just can't.

[Weeb_poser]

There is this Japanese snack that comes with hologram anime stickers and I have to have one on my board. Started off as a joke and now it's gone deep enough that the cooler the character I get means the board has more luck/is going to skate better.

[silhouette]

I count my pushes when I'm skating a spot and have a scale in my head for what counts as a full push, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 push. I even do it when I play sessions I can't help it. I think it's a piece of the puzzle for getting the same speed over and over on the approach when trying to get a trick. I even do it if I run and throw down; each step is equivalent to a push at the same scale. I thought everyone did it but every time I've ever told anyone they thought it was weird. I dunno how everyone else keeps track. I've tried to shake it and I just can't.

I don't know if that's weird but I think that's pretty sick, I don't really verbalize it the same way but I tend to do the same thing with counting pushes, as in I won't just settle for technically getting the right speed for the right obstacle but I'll also try and get it the 'right way', calculating how many full pushes I'm going to need for which distance and trying to eliminate weak ones. If anything that might just mean you're self-conscious about harmony, the way you describe the rhythm sounds a lot like music theory at an elementary level, I can dig that. For what feels like a similarly mythical reason I also never throw my board down, or at the very least I hate having to do that. I need to push or at least ride into whatever I'm skating. Which also means at skateparks I'll often only drop in on transition for speed when the park design seriously calls for it and pushing up to the obstacle would be positively inconvenient (for me and/or others).

[sle_epy]

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I count my pushes when I'm skating a spot and have a scale in my head for what counts as a full push, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 push. I even do it when I play sessions I can't help it. I think it's a piece of the puzzle for getting the same speed over and over on the approach when trying to get a trick. I even do it if I run and throw down; each step is equivalent to a push at the same scale. I thought everyone did it but every time I've ever told anyone they thought it was weird. I dunno how everyone else keeps track. I've tried to shake it and I just can't.

[close]

I don't know if that's weird but I think that's pretty sick, I don't really verbalize it the same way but I tend to do the same thing with counting pushes, as in I won't just settle for technically getting the right speed for the right obstacle but I'll also try and get it the 'right way', calculating how many full pushes I'm going to need for which distance and trying to eliminate weak ones. If anything that might just mean you're self-conscious about harmony, the way you describe the rhythm sounds a lot like music theory at an elementary level, I can dig that. For what feels like a similarly mythical reason I also never throw my board down, or at the very least I hate having to do that. I need to push or at least ride into whatever I'm skating. Which also means at skateparks I'll often only drop in on transition for speed when the park design seriously calls for it and pushing up to the obstacle would be positively inconvenient (for me and/or others).

Birds of a feather lol... I also hate throwing down or dropping in. I'm trying to throw down more tho, running and jumping on your board little kid style only works in so many scenarios, especially when skating street.