Skateboarding through the ages Advice for first-time skateboarders, kids, teenagers and adults

So, you’ve purchased your skateboard, and you’re back looking for more advice? Get outta here! I'm just kidding. Whether you’re an actual kid (or concerned parent), a teenager (yeah, right, you’re not going to listen to my advice), or you're fully grown—the maiden voyage out on your skateboard is always going to be scary. 

That's why I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide which understands any jitters you might have, regardless of your age, when you first step on the skateboard. 

Before we go any further, friends

For los hijos:  I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles 

The teens:                      Deep Fried Frenz - MF DOOM 

The OGs:                         Friends - Levitation room 

When you decide to learn how to skateboard, having a friend around is almost always a good idea. 

For the little ones, having parents around is one thing (especially if they’re also on a skateboard), but we’re social creatures, and learning with your peers is a great motivator and confidence booster.

Though the skatepark is definitely not a playground (more on that later), skateboarding is inherently playful, and whether you’re keeping your inner child alive or you actually are one, having your friends around will make these first steps a little less intimidating. 

(And for all the teenagers who definitely aren't reading, skateboarding is a great way to make new friends, reconnect with old ones and peer-pressure each other to reach new heights. Being a teenager on a skateboard is also a valid way to gain approval from your peers and feed that codependence.)

Now, respectfully, my elders. Skateboarding knows no race or creed, and the ‘I’m getting too old for this’ is a tired excuse. Nowadays, most indoor skateparks have 18+ sessions, which is a great way to meet other adults who are also starting out. 

You’ll find that even the more experienced older skaters are usually friendly and welcoming to anyone looking to start out, regardless of their age (as long as you’re not on a scooter). 

With your feet on the board and your head (hopefully not) on the ground 

For everyone:                    Where Is My Mind?  - Pixies 

The Youths:               Where’s Your Head At  - Basement Jaxx

The grown:         Who Know’s Where the Time Goes  - Fairport Convention

With skateboarding, like with real estate, it’s location, location, location. 

When you first pick up the skateboard, you might have some idea about the kind of skateboarding you want to do. Maybe you want to get super awesome mega air time on the half pipe, maybe you want to fire off a Nollie Tre flip to crooked grind on a handrail, or maybe you just want to ride to the shop and back. Each of these is cool, but there’s a place best suited to it. 

Riding 

Imagine you want to take up show jumping, dressage or being a cowboy. You can’t just jump in at the deep end. First, you need to be able to ride a horse, confidently. 

The first day of skateboarding should look pretty similar for everyone. It should be somewhere with smooth concrete and not too many people around. 

Empty car parks are ideal. This is where my friends and I could regularly be found on our asses, getting to grips with starting, stopping, pushing and turning on our skateboards. The lack of an audience made it ideal for us as self-conscious teenagers.

Super-Ultra-Mega-Park 

Your first trip to the skatepark is like your first step onto the playground on the first day of a new school. It’s intimidating. 

Everyone (except you) seems to know what they’re doing, and though it's not clear at first, there are several underlining rules that people are following. 

And boy, do I wish I were you because I’m going to give you a rundown of the Unwritten Bible of Skateboarding—“Skatepark Etiquette.”

Skatepark Etiquette

The Nirvana, or safe heaven for skateboarders of all ages, is a public place made just for us. Or so it seems until you rock up on a Saturday morning or during half-term and find the place crawling with unattended under-5s with no spatial awareness and a collective death wish. 

Watching the unaware is a great way to get a sense of what not to do: 

Keep Ya Head Up - 2Pac

The skatepark is like the jungle, ever-changing and unpredictable. Most skateparks are designed with particular lines in mind so that multiple users can skate simultaneously. The best way to ascertain these (particularly if you’re a beginner) is to watch for a while before jumping in. 

Now, having said that, more confident cats may carve out new lines that cut across several lines, weaving the park together in ways that might not be obvious at first. This is why, before we drop in anywhere, we look all around us to make sure we’re not on a collision course. 

Don’t be a snake 

The skatepark is open to everyone. If you pick out a line or obstacle you want to skate, chances are other people will want to use it as well. Skatepark etiquette involves a usually unspoken but very real system of taking turns. 

Say, I’m skating the half-pipe, and several others are also skating it. The best way for me to avoid snaking everyone (pushing in front and annoying the world) is to go after the same person each time. When you rock up late to the party - wait to see that everyone who’s skating that obstacle has had their turn before taking yours.

Street 

At first, street skating is just a case of ‘stop, look, and listen.’ Like learning to ride a bike or crossing the street on your own, it’s all about confidence, spatial awareness and reaction times. Once you’re more comfortable manoeuvring your board you might start hitting some obstacles.

Be wary - not all civilians (pedestrians) dig the skate in the way they should. You’re gonna p*ss off a few people and, while some of them are gonna be Karens and busybodies - who you can take with a pinch of salt, others, the security guards and policemen of the world - you’re going to need to exercise a little more caution. 

Essentially, when you’re skateboarding on the street, just practice those street smarts, be aware that you’re louder, faster and potentially more dangerous than other pedestrians, so bear that in mind and have fun with it. 

The Inspiration Station 

Getting inspired is kind of like going to the dentist. No one else can do it for you. 

However, this list rather neatly corresponds to general skater crowds with age-appropriate inspirational viewing. 

Classics - Dogtown & Z-Boys (documentary), Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (stream)

Video parts - Video Days (Spike Jonze), Baker 3, Rodney Mullen Vs. Daewon Song 

Instagrams -  Freeskatemag, Quatersnacks, Thrasher 

(You’ll notice that the formats follow a general decline in attention span the younger the intended viewers.)

But this is just a start. 

Like your favourite bands—your favourite skaters and skate media will come to define your unique style—should you choose to follow in their footsteps. 

Waddaya Still Doing Here? 

It’s time to take your new-found insight, quit studying, and get out there and go skate! Remember, take a buddy, keep ya head up and have fun. 

Thanks to our expert Olly Lightfoot for this amazing insight and look out for his next instalment😄