whats your setup routine for tricks

[scab]

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^My routine's very similar. I'm not a Nike simp but "just do it" seems to work best for all my usual stuff.

When I'm learning something new and I'm starting to get close I try to focus on no more than 3 things per attempt. I can only consciously work on so many things at the same time, so whenever I try to adhere to more than 3 cues simultaneously I tend to not execute any of them properly. With any given trick there are lots of different things I need to do in regards to front and back foot placement, shoulder movement prior to and after the snap, pop, flick, rotation, and so on. Way too much stuff to consciously think of all of it at the same time, so I break it down to 3 cues per attempt until I've got those down and then move on to the next 3. Rinse and repeat until I've got the trick on lock.

[close]

Three cues sounds like a lot to me, would be very distracting, I legitimately have no idea how you can do that. To me learning new tricks always has been about simplifying analytic thought process to the max (by precisely identifying what matters) and either jettisoning it completely (once my basic technique is finally rich enough to afford doing), or solely focusing it onto one single aspect and moment. Like if any cue, then there has to be just one per attempt, and only once I can achieve the desired result to a point where it starts feeling natural (which doesn't necessarily mean landing the trick, could be e.g.. just managing to consistently lock in) then I move onto the next one and build up like that. Always worked for me, got that from the Mullen ON Video interview as a kid and it just stuck as the most optimal deconstruction of the process when nerding out on 'new' stuff. 'No thinking', 'blank out' approach on the other hand is apparent Penny mindset-inspired but that's for stuff I already know how to do.

Unless you count stuff like the positioning of each foot, or going at the appropriate speed, etc. as cues which I too consider as long as it matters (and it does) but also take for granted after a while and stop seriously thinking about as steps, and more like general practical standards. Breaking down skateboarding is super tempting and yet whatever happens just in the moment always wins.

It's pretty much this. I can work with 3 basic cues at different points of the trick, for example "1. place front foot, 2. find pocket with back foot, 3. lean back & pop". Anything more intricate than that, e.g. finding the right timing for the flick or something similar I need to work on individually.

I also agree that it's vital so see any progress as a success. As a kid I got discouraged very quickly because I felt like anything but a make was worthless. That held me back from learning new stuff for ages because I couldn't appreciate the process. Today it's the opposite and I'm better than I ever was despite a 17-year hiatus.

[silhouette]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

^My routine's very similar. I'm not a Nike simp but "just do it" seems to work best for all my usual stuff.

When I'm learning something new and I'm starting to get close I try to focus on no more than 3 things per attempt. I can only consciously work on so many things at the same time, so whenever I try to adhere to more than 3 cues simultaneously I tend to not execute any of them properly. With any given trick there are lots of different things I need to do in regards to front and back foot placement, shoulder movement prior to and after the snap, pop, flick, rotation, and so on. Way too much stuff to consciously think of all of it at the same time, so I break it down to 3 cues per attempt until I've got those down and then move on to the next 3. Rinse and repeat until I've got the trick on lock.

[close]

Three cues sounds like a lot to me, would be very distracting, I legitimately have no idea how you can do that. To me learning new tricks always has been about simplifying analytic thought process to the max (by precisely identifying what matters) and either jettisoning it completely (once my basic technique is finally rich enough to afford doing), or solely focusing it onto one single aspect and moment. Like if any cue, then there has to be just one per attempt, and only once I can achieve the desired result to a point where it starts feeling natural (which doesn't necessarily mean landing the trick, could be e.g.. just managing to consistently lock in) then I move onto the next one and build up like that. Always worked for me, got that from the Mullen ON Video interview as a kid and it just stuck as the most optimal deconstruction of the process when nerding out on 'new' stuff. 'No thinking', 'blank out' approach on the other hand is apparent Penny mindset-inspired but that's for stuff I already know how to do.

Unless you count stuff like the positioning of each foot, or going at the appropriate speed, etc. as cues which I too consider as long as it matters (and it does) but also take for granted after a while and stop seriously thinking about as steps, and more like general practical standards. Breaking down skateboarding is super tempting and yet whatever happens just in the moment always wins.

[close]

It's pretty much this. I can work with 3 basic cues at different points of the trick, for example "1. place front foot, 2. find pocket with back foot, 3. lean back & pop". Anything more intricate than that, e.g. finding the right timing for the flick or something similar I need to work on individually.

I also agree that it's vital so see any progress as a success. As a kid I got discouraged very quickly because I felt like anything but a make was worthless. That held me back from learning new stuff for ages because I couldn't appreciate the process. Today it's the opposite and I'm better than I ever was despite a 17-year hiatus.

Right, I see now, thanks for clarifying. No idea why but when writing that first reply I was mentally hung up on the idea of a ledge trick for some reason (maybe because I've been skating ledges a lot lately). For a trick on flat makes sense maybe not always analyzing but at the very least realizing what it is you're doing of course. Overthinking anything whilst approaching a ledge on the other hand to me resembles a metaphor for sudden death. Which I guess comes full circle and explains why it makes sense that in order to do tricks in and out of ledges, one really needs full control over those tricks on flatground already. If I tried double checking my foot positioning and questioning the direction of the wind whilst rolling up to a ledge I'd probably be lying down and inside the planter before I even know it. I guess that's also why skating a ledge you typically go by feel and any attempt that doesn't feel right as soon as the approach, you usually just don't even pop.

[PapaSquat]

I've found that the longer I take to setup for a trick, the more I fuck it up. My feet find their positions best when I hop into position without looking down. However, obviously this is a problem at high speeds.

[The Peoples Curb of Judea]

after always just being a pop, float, and stomp sort of skater with minimal change in foot position, in trying to learn 360 flips i feel like there is a massive amount of mind/body communication and proprioception necessary. Its like “ok back foot here, this far off the tail. Last three toe insertion points are pressing down with toes way off the tail. Flex back foot down/away from shin at ankle while also scooping backwards with eyes are on front foot/knee. Dont forget to jump up and let that front foot catch”

Its helpful at this point to close my eyes and watch/imagine myself doing it step by step. And, a few weeks in, i havent gotten it yet. So maybe im over thinking it it just seems like such a foreign trick to me

I'm totally borrowing your eyes on the front knee/foot tip for this, for next time I try in vain to learn 360 flips for a day or two before giving up again.

[The Peoples Curb of Judea]

...and to answer the OP question... 
it depends on the wind direction, level of confidence, etc, but I definitely fall into the trap of "Put feet in the right spot, then nervously hop them in the different spot right before popping for no good reason.... like it's a last possible moment version of the above mentioned 'pushing board out and jumping on it' feeling. And no, it's not really useful, and looks random/nervous.

[Goggzy60]

If I’m ever doing something even slightly scary or even trying a new trick anywhere that isn’t the flat ground at my house I always countdown 3,2,1. It’s like after that countdown I have no choice but too throw it down, it’s always why I end up with soo many injuries.