What advice do you give?

[SneakySecrets]

There has been a strong uptick in little kids at my local park trying to skate whatever board they just got for Christmas.  They and/or their parents often ask me for advice on how to learn how to skate.

Besides the obvious answer of just riding the fucking thing, anyone else have any go-to advice?

My go-to’s are learning to tic-tak and lifting the nose up to get over a crack.  That way they can get used to shift their body weight around and figuring out how to balance.

I figure that if the kid has the good taste and self-respect to get a skateboard over a razor scooter, they’re at least worth 5 min of my time.

[burn_to_live]

Practice just riding around at first, so the kids have a sense of control.

[thomas kook]

bending knees while trying anything. so many kids just standing there thinking the ollie will magically appear when they pop and slide, boy you gotta jump! i know it's scary just bend those dang knees and jump!!!

don't do it too often though or they all start coming for advice or keep lingering in your general area or whatever and that's a sesh ruined

[shit_for_brains]

They should immediately get on their ledge game and start working on lines.

[pizzafliptofakie]

I always tell people starting out to just worry about getting comfortable on your board and rolling around before getting hung up on tricks. Even just with ollies I feel like people want to try them right away even if they can barely stand on the board, and then they just get frustrated and stop.


Beyond that, if they can ride a skateboard fine and are actually learning to “skate” at a park I always encourage people to at least get familiar with tranny. Even if they’re not actually doing tricks on it, I think getting comfortable just navigating different transitions carries over pretty well to overall comfort on a board.

[HyenaChaser]

Rolling down hills is a pretty formative first step, and skating at its simplest

[ducky darnsworth]

"pay your taxes and keep doing what your doing."

[billy.pepperidge]

Riding off curbs is crucial.
Skate fast [eat ass] then learn your new tricks fast. Don't skip on the basics, powerslides. Board control is your foundation that tricks rest on.

[ChuckRamone]

don’t quit.

[layzieyez]

Don't get fat. It's murder on your knees.

[PincherBug]

When learning new tricks J Scott's wife told him "Baby, why yo hands flailing? Just keep them hands down baby..."

I added the babys for dramatic effect.  Actually I made up the quote but it was something along those lines.

[SneakySecrets]

When learning new tricks J Scott's wife told him "Baby, why yo hands flailing? Just keep them hands down baby..."

I added the babys for dramatic effect.  Actually I made up the quote but it was something along those lines.

Haha, something doesn’t have to be true to be honest.  I think that’s how the saying goes.  I think that’s a saying.

[SpankerChief]

Style matters most of all, and I cannot repeat the importance of this fact.....


You can look like a wizardy kook of the highest degree however it looks like shit if you don't have style and grace.

[Nomad Lad]

I feel like one of those kids... 

Just starting skating... at 32 and 240lbs   

[Bagelskate]

Don’t hold a fence to try and Ollie.

[givecigstosurfgroms]

Tic tacking is skating.

[Mystical Leader]

Fight and kill everything insight..

..Because hellride and skate and destroy

edit: remember to bend your knees.

[Tarquin]

Push as fast as you can with your front foot and make as much eye contact with everyone as possible.

[shit_for_brains]

If you're at a spot in a new city or at a new park for the first time, bring flowers and kiss all the locals. Don't be a kook.

[8.125]

I tell kids there is no reason to wait to learn to ride switch. The earlier you get comfortable riding both ways the better.