The Getting Started thread

[Mr. Stinky]

So I have some nephews, 11 to 13, who are getting interested in skateboarding. Naturally, I’m stoked about it and want to try to help give them the best possible introduction. I have some old gear I’m happy to part with so they’re not rolling around on garbage completes, but apart from that, not sure how to start besides just getting them out and encouraging them to just get minimally comfortable with their push and cruising around before trying anything that will be frustrating or painful (e.g., ollies, etc.).

Anyone who's been in a similar position got tips they want to share? In the alternative, kook me (optional) and post a link to a thread for this that already exists. Shalom, PALS.

[ok boomer]

With my son, I've got him on the board and mostly get him to wiggle his hips so the near moves back and forth. To get used to how the wheels feel underneath you. Then the leaning for turning. We haven't advanced past that

[SneakySecrets]

Personally, I’d just set em loose and leave them to their own devices.  If they really want to learn to skate, they’ll figure it out.

[Mbrimson88]

I had the exact same situation with a couple of kids who came to the indoor park and wanted to skate the other week.  Both had really bad cheap setups so had not skated much at all, so I got them on a couple of our loan boards just to see where they were at, which was worrying to say the least.

After being shown where to put their feet (look at the deck bolts) and how to position their body, how to step on and off (which included pushing) and how to tic tac (also included putting the tail on the ground), they were off and picked so much so quickly.  The dad who brought them in was amazed.

At least at that age, they are much more likely to want to learn, compared to the the junior sessions or very young kids who sit on their boards more than anything else.

[Mr. Stinky]

With my son, I've got him on the board and mostly get him to wiggle his hips so the near moves back and forth. To get used to how the wheels feel underneath you. Then the leaning for turning. We haven't advanced past that

Not a bad idea; I took them out tonight and all of them were able to stand on the board without falling, a little more comfort with how the wheels shift while stationary would definitely help them get their skate legs, or whatever.

I had the exact same situation with a couple of kids who came to the indoor park and wanted to skate the other week.  Both had really bad cheap setups so had not skated much at all, so I got them on a couple of our loan boards just to see where they were at, which was worrying to say the least.

After being shown where to put their feet (look at the deck bolts) and how to position their body, how to step on and off (which included pushing) and how to tic tac (also included putting the tail on the ground), they were off and picked so much so quickly.  The dad who brought them in was amazed.

At least at that age, they are much more likely to want to learn, compared to the the junior sessions or very young kids who sit on their boards more than anything else.

Great advice, I will definitely focus on those things and see where that gets them. A couple of them were using my setups with pretty loose trucks and they were even getting pretty sturdy pushes after a few minutes, so yes, kids that age are built to learn, apparently.

Personally, I’d just set em loose and leave them to their own devices.  If they really want to learn to skate, they’ll figure it out.

A solid first instinct, but their parents asked, so...

[ibuproficient]

Get out and do some sidewalk surfing with them. Practice kick-turns on steep driveways for a few months and they’ll be much more confident when you take them to the park.

[SneakySecrets]

Expand Quote

Personally, I’d just set em loose and leave them to their own devices.  If they really want to learn to skate, they’ll figure it out.

[close]

A solid first instinct, but their parents asked, so...

I feel you... that’s just my inner bitter “back in my day” old man speaking.   

[ziggy]

11 to 13 is already too late if you wanna catch Trae the tank

[Mr. Stinky]

11 to 13 is already too late if you wanna catch Trae the tank

Give one of them a tire iron and let’s see if that’s actually true.

I feel you... that’s just my inner bitter “back in my day” old man speaking.   

Personally, I learned to skate with what ended up being my high school crew, and I’m hoping this could be a similar situation with these brothers/cousins. They’re great kids, and they are just sitting around the house losing their minds and driving their moms and dads crazy. This is what uncles are for.

[Dooky-shoes]

Private lessons with Danny Way on the mega-ramp.
No reason to pussy foot around.

[j....soy.....]

Show them carving around and tick tac'ing.....the premises of shuvs and ollies....give them excercises whether it be getting around cones or ollieing up a sheet of plywood. 

The stupid strawberry milkshake trick or dropping in on a curb cut.  The idea is to give them some building blocks but also things to work on and give them some sense of accomplishment.  Pretty much the opposite of what was done back in the day......

Maybe pursue YouTube and find some decent instructional videos? 

[Noble Experiment]

Get them on a board with super loose trucks so that’s all they know, they’ll just view super loose trucks as normal and they’ll learn how to skate their boards like that; better to start them off on that path than have em skate a super tight board and have them get too used to that to where they can’t skate a board that isn’t super tight.

[Mr. Stinky]

Show them carving around and tick tac'ing.....the premises of shuvs and ollies....give them excercises whether it be getting around cones or ollieing up a sheet of plywood. 

The stupid strawberry milkshake trick or dropping in on a curb cut.  The idea is to give them some building blocks but also things to work on and give them some sense of accomplishment.  Pretty much the opposite of what was done back in the day......

Maybe pursue YouTube and find some decent instructional videos? 

More sage advice. I’m checking out YouTube as we speak and I’m getting some ideas. Anyone got a favorite instructional video from transworld or whatever from back in the day? NOT THE WILLIE SANTOS ONE.

Get them on a board with super loose trucks so that’s all they know, they’ll just view super loose trucks as normal and they’ll learn how to skate their boards like that; better to start them off on that path than have em skate a super tight board and have them get too used to that to where they can’t skate a board that isn’t super tight.

I thought you were joking at first, but then I thought about it for a second and it’s honestly probably way better like that than eating shit because your board won’t turn.

[EdLawndale]

I'll give you the same advice I told that one 35 year old woman that came to UWTB trying to learn how to skate earlier this year:

I would just watch your nephews run and throw themselves on the ground for about 20 minutes. 

Without a board.

Once they're able to successfully tumble forward and do a shoulder roll out and land safely on their feet, uninjured, they're ready to ride a board.

[UselessAsshole]

The fact that there are 2 of them probably helps since they already have a homie they can learn with. Find em a smooth empty parking lot that they can learn how to push preferably with some curbs that they can learn to pop ollies onto and off of. Maybe show them some older parts you grew up watching since they're less overwhelming and more relatable. Let them put the boards together themselves and help them out when they need it, not sure why but I feel like kids get hyped on that.

Also this:

[Mr. Stinky]

The fact that there are 2 of them probably helps since they already have a homie they can learn with. Find em a smooth empty parking lot that they can learn how to push preferably with some curbs that they can learn to pop ollies onto and off of. Maybe show them some older parts you grew up watching since they're less overwhelming and more relatable. Let them put the boards together themselves and help them out when they need it, not sure why but I feel like kids get hyped on that.

Also this:

.

Three; two brothers and a cousin who are very close, so even better for a tight knit little squad. Thank you for the link to that video, it’s absolutely perfect and I’d never have thought of it because I wasn’t skating when it came out.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. If some PALS could hand out some gnars for these good people, I would greatly appreciate it.