can you get really good at sk8ing if you never film a clip

[fineslime]

I think it's a no-brainer to say that trying to film a clip or being in front of a camera can help make you a better skater by giving you an extra sense of determination to land a trick on film. There are tricks I've landed while being in front of a camera that I know for certain I would not have done had I not been trying to film it. I am a better skater because a camera was at some point introduced to my skating.

But what if you never become interested in trying to film? What if you don't have that extra piece of motivation that filming brings? I don't doubt that someone could get objectively, "good," at skating despite not trying to get clips, but can someone reach their maximum potential and skill level if they are never in front of a camera?

[mfweeno]

This is an interesting question, but I have to play devil's advocate a bit.
I can't be the only one who feels that filming can be a performance detractor from the actual skating sometimes.

Filming has always been a common practice in my skating experience, and I still film clips pretty regularly.

However I can recall plenty of times where having the camera on me made me more self-conscious about my movements and appearance at the expense of the "flow" state that a good session can spark on. The "flow" state seems to be an advantageous state for learning new tricks and skills in general, so is adding a variable like a camera that might interrupt "flow" actually beneficial?

I agree that having the camera on can give me a greater sense of urgency to land whatever I'm trying, but sometimes it can also increase the pressure I'm putting on myself and cause a negative feedback loop that affects my ability to focus on the trick/task at hand.

I'll admit that all of the points above might be the case because I'm a neurotic weirdo in general. Nonetheless, I personally think that focusing less on filming when I was growing up skating could have actually helped me progress more in the long run. At the end of the day, this really just boils down to "it depends on if the camera is having a positive or negative effect on you."

[caiiro]

filming is a good way to measure progress and review your technique so it can help improve your skating, but i imagine most people film themselves to post or watch down the line as they get better but not as a form of self-study

[spooky electric]

10000000% you can get really good without filming. i know a few socially anxious/possibly a bit autistic incredible skateboarders who could/could've been pro skaters at least in australia who don't have instagram and were never comfortable being filmed. i'm talking VERY good skaters. they just did it/do it for fun.

[Madam, I'm Adam]

That's a good question. I wish I had filmed more when I was younger. I didn't really film for the first 10 years I skated, I only did it like twice in that whole decade. Maybe a bit of progression could've occurred, but I think we all kind of hit our natural limit at some point.

[MC3]

I don't really film that often but every time I do I'm reminded how much better it makes me as a skater. Not only is it putting yourself on the spot, basically drilling something, but it also makes me hyper aware how I look/how I do my tricks, and I'm never really satisfied with the first time I land something, as I know I can do it better. I sometimes can get lazy or lax when skating, not really pushing myself or not actively doing tricks to the best of my abilities, but the camera doesn't hide anything, and really puts you on the spot.

[Banned from the room]

I just get upset when I'm actually trying to film more than like a 5050. I need help. Or like a tall tripod and an iphone.

Sometimes I will try a little harder. I really need a pard

[h00man]

no. you need to film your clips and post them online. if u dont, no one can criticize you and call you out on your fake/lame style. thereʻs no improvement without criticism. therefore, you will not get better.

[skippersoldballs]

The only clips of myself I like, are the ones I didn’t know were being filmed. Have not been a fan of filming tricks since I was a little shit doing flat ground lines in front of my moms house.

[Banned from the room]

The only clips of myself I like, are the ones I didn’t know were being filmed. Have not been a fan of filming tricks since I was a little shit doing flat ground lines in front of my moms house.

I full agree. All my best stuff is at skate park jams.

[Plan9Customs]

Both are correct. But personally, keep that fucking bail gun away from me.

[Yakusoku2]

Good point. I can’t talk about any experience because my group of friends or me didn’t have a camera and smartphones didn’t exist. Never saw myself on video or photos! But I can imagine myself skating while being filmed and I think I would bail more often. It sounds distracting and it could have the same effect than trying tricks to impress some girls. Slams are guaranteed 

[Ray C. Usery]

Some of the best skaters never film and most that do I wish never would

[sharkjumper]

This question definitely shows a generational divide.
For me, skating in the 90s, it was rare to have a camera around. Yet, me and my friends got better at skating. Even the early 2000s, one dude from the shop had a camera. So we would film when he was around. But otherwise we skated and progressed.

Now everyone has a 4k video camera in their pocket. So it’s easy to film and analyze. For sure it’s helped me figure something out a little quicker. But the old way worked too. More experimentation and relying on friends to analyze for you.

[DarkPools]

Definitely possible to never film and always progress. Effort to progress lies in your innate love and interest in skateboarding. Filming can either help or hinder your ability to progress.

For me, filming something challenging is something I don't wanna burden or waste my friend's time with if it doesn't come easily. Often, being in front of the camera, I become extra conscious of it and it can fuck me up. That's not everyone's experience because some thrive with the pressure

[Crust]

Definitely. Some rippers in my scene did not prioritise filming and enjoyed progressing for the stoke it brought them alone.

At the same time, many people push themselves further for filming, and commit to\land things they may have not otherwise.

Personally, filming has absolutely helped me become better than I would have otherwise. Knowing I'll be able to rewatch the trick after the battle, and then relive the stoke at another point in time is a great motivation to try something hard.

[Democratic Republic Of Mongo]

Yes, but if you film a clip in the forest and nobody hears it, are you really a tree? Perhaps.

[Fartknocker415]

I land tricks then go to film it and can’t land it so fuck filming it makes me skate worse lol