How To Skateboard Like a Pro: Fundamentals

Skateboarding is not just a sport; it's a lifestyle, a culture, and an art form. Whether you're gliding through the streets for fun, learning tricks, or hoping to turn professional, mastering the basics of skateboarding is essential. But what exactly does it take to skate like a pro? In this article, we'll explore the fundamental techniques, tips, and mindset that every aspiring skateboarder should know to progress toward professional-level skating.

The Skateboard Setup

Before diving into the techniques, it's crucial to understand the parts of the skateboard and how to set it up. A well-prepared skateboard can make a significant difference in how smoothly you ride and execute tricks.

1. The Deck

The deck is the flat part of the skateboard where you stand. Decks come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, but for beginners, a standard 8.0-inch width is ideal. It offers a good balance between stability and maneuverability. As you progress, you may choose a wider or narrower deck depending on your personal preference and the type of skateboarding you plan to do.

2. The Trucks

Trucks are the metal components that connect the wheels to the deck. They come in different widths and are adjustable in terms of tightness. A pro skateboarder knows how to fine-tune their trucks based on the type of skating they do. For example, tighter trucks are ideal for technical street skating, while looser trucks might be better for cruising and carving.

3. The Wheels

Wheels are made from urethane, a durable material that offers a good grip on various surfaces. Skateboard wheels come in different durometers (hardness) and diameters (size). Softer wheels (78A to 87A) are ideal for rough terrain and cruising, while harder wheels (95A to 101A) are better for smooth surfaces and technical tricks.

4. The Bearings

Bearings are the small metal rings that fit inside the wheels, allowing them to rotate. High-quality bearings can make your ride smoother and faster, which is essential for pro-level skateboarding. Standard bearings are rated by the ABEC scale, with higher numbers indicating faster and smoother performance.

5. Grip Tape

Grip tape is a rough adhesive material that is applied to the top of the deck to provide traction. Having the right grip tape is critical for controlling the skateboard while performing tricks.

Getting Comfortable on the Skateboard

Once you have your skateboard set up, the first step to skating like a pro is getting comfortable riding it. Skateboarding is all about balance, and it's essential to understand your stance and how to maneuver your board.

1. Find Your Stance

There are two types of stances in skateboarding: regular and goofy. Regular stance means you ride with your left foot forward, while goofy stance means you ride with your right foot forward. To determine your stance, try pushing a skateboard and see which foot you naturally use to lead.

• Regular: Left foot forward
• Goofy: Right foot forward

Once you've determined your stance, it's important to practice riding around and getting a feel for the board. Start by rolling on flat ground, focusing on balancing with both feet evenly spread apart.

2. Learn to Push

Pushing is the fundamental movement that propels you forward. To push, place your back foot on the tail of the board and use your front foot to propel yourself by pushing off the ground. Start slowly, then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.

3. Balance and Posture

One of the key aspects of skateboarding is maintaining proper balance and posture. Keep your knees slightly bent, your body centered over the board, and your weight distributed evenly between both feet. As you gain more experience, you'll start to instinctively adjust your posture for different movements and tricks.

Turning and Carving

Once you're comfortable rolling in a straight line, the next step is to learn how to turn. Turning is essential for maneuvering around obstacles and setting up for tricks.

1. Leaning to Turn

The most basic way to turn on a skateboard is by leaning. To turn, shift your weight in the direction you want to go. If you want to turn left, shift your weight to the left side of the board, and if you want to turn right, shift your weight to the right. This method works best for slow, wide turns and is commonly referred to as carving.

2. Kickturns

A kickturn is a more advanced method of turning that allows you to make sharper turns. To perform a kickturn, you lift the nose of the board with your back foot and pivot on the back wheels. This maneuver requires good balance and timing but is a key skill for technical street skating and transitioning in bowls.

Stopping Techniques

Knowing how to stop is a critical skill for any skateboarder, whether you're cruising around or attempting tricks. Here are a few common ways to stop safely:

1. Foot Braking

To foot brake, place your back foot on the ground while keeping your front foot on the board. Gently drag your foot along the ground to slow down the board. This is a good method for beginners as it's easy to control.

2. Heel Drag

The heel drag is a stopping technique used by many street skaters. It involves dragging the edge of your back heel on the ground to slow down. It's a smooth method, but you'll need to practice it to get the timing right.

3. Power Slides

Power slides are a more advanced stopping technique that involves sliding the board sideways to bring it to a stop. To perform a power slide, shift your weight to your back foot and then push the board outwards with your back foot. It takes a lot of practice and requires a good understanding of control.

Learning Tricks

Now that you've got the basics down, it's time to start learning tricks. Skateboarding tricks are what set pro skaters apart from beginners, and mastering them takes dedication, practice, and a good understanding of the fundamentals.

1. Ollie

The ollie is the foundation of almost every skateboard trick. It's a technique that allows you to lift your board off the ground without using your hands. To perform an ollie:

• Start by crouching down with your knees bent.
• Use your back foot to pop the tail of the board on the ground.
• As the board begins to rise, drag your front foot up the grip tape to level the board.
• Pull your knees up to gain more height.

The ollie is the first trick to learn because it leads to so many others, like kickflips, heelflips, and grinds.

2. Kickflip

The kickflip is an intermediate trick that involves flipping the board 360 degrees along the axis that extends from nose to tail. It starts with an ollie, but instead of dragging your front foot up, you flick it to the side, causing the board to spin.

To perform a kickflip:

• Begin with an ollie.
• As you reach the peak of the ollie, kick the edge of the board with the side of your front foot.
• Jump high to allow the board to complete the flip, and then land back on it.

3. Heelflip

The heelflip is similar to the kickflip, but instead of using the side of your foot, you flick the board with your heel. The key difference is the angle and timing of the flick.

4. Grinds and Slides

Grinds and slides are essential tricks for street skaters. These tricks involve sliding along an edge (such as a rail or ledge) while the skateboard's trucks make contact with the surface. Some basic grinds to learn are the 50-50 grind and nose grind . Similarly, slides like the boardslide are fundamental for skaters who want to do more technical maneuvers.

5. Shuvit

The shuvit is another foundational trick where the board spins 180 degrees beneath your feet while you stay planted. It's an essential building block for more advanced tricks.

Developing Pro-Level Skating Skills

As you progress, it's important to focus on continuous improvement. Here are some tips for developing professional-level skills:

1. Consistency is Key

Pro skaters don't land every trick on their first try. The difference between an amateur and a pro is consistency. Pro skaters can land tricks reliably, even in difficult situations. Practice regularly, and keep challenging yourself to progress.

2. Improve Your Stamina

Skateboarding, especially at a professional level, requires a lot of stamina. You'll need to skate for long periods, perform multiple tricks in a row, and push yourself to the limit. To improve your stamina, focus on aerobic exercises like running, swimming, or cycling.

3. Mentorship and Feedback

Having a mentor or coach who can provide constructive feedback is invaluable for any aspiring professional skateboarder. Watch other pro skaters, analyze their techniques, and learn from their performances. You can also record yourself skating and review your footage to spot areas for improvement.

4. Stay Injuries-Free

Skateboarding is physically demanding, and injuries are part of the journey. To prevent injuries, always stretch before skating, wear protective gear (like helmets and pads), and listen to your body. Take breaks when needed and never push yourself too hard.

Conclusion

Skateboarding is an exciting, rewarding, and challenging activity that requires dedication and skill. To skate like a pro, it's essential to start with the fundamentals: setting up your skateboard, getting comfortable on the board, learning how to turn, and mastering tricks. From there, consistency, practice, and self-improvement will help you advance to the next level.

Remember, skateboarding is all about progression. Even the pros started from scratch. So keep practicing, stay motivated, and most importantly, enjoy the ride!

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