Quite often, getting into skateboarding can seem overwhelming, especially when starting out as a beginner. It is not unusual to trip and fall regularly and gets intimidated when the pros perform moves that seem magical to your face. However, every skill in life takes time to learn and perfect. Furthermore, skateboarding comes with numerous benefits to your health and wellbeing, which means that you have more than a few reasons to perfect your skills.
Well, to do so, you need to be armed with the right gear and equipment. These include an assortment of items to get you moving, protect you from injuries, and enhance the entire experience. So, Are you planning to start skateboarding but have no idea what you need to get first to get the wheels rolling? If yes is your answer, you are looking at the right page. Read on below to discover some skateboarding essentials that will help propel you to the next level.
Helmet and Other Protective Gear
Truth be told, you won’t avoid falling when you start skating. Only the experienced skaters hardly fall. Since you are just starting out, you will want to ensure you get the appropriate protective gear and a quality skating helmet to protect you from injuries whenever you fall. As pointed out at thrillappeal.com/best-skateboard-helmet, safety is crucial when skateboarding regardless of your prowess level. They opine that since the head is the most delicate organ when it comes to skating, always ensure you have a quality helmet on before embarking on your thrill.
As a beginner, you should also have additional protective gear for your knees, elbows, wrists, etc. The best thing is that sourcing skateboarding protective gear is never much of a hassle. You can easily find them online or at your local store where they stock sporting items.
The Right Size Skating Board
The size of the skateboard you choose matters. Skateboards are designed in different sizes to suit different riders. These include shortboards, longboards, penny boards, and so forth. So, what do you need to know about skateboard sizes? When we talk about skateboard sizes, we are actually referring to the width of the board. During skateboard shopping, you will always find out that there are full-size skateboards as well as the junior-skateboards to choose from. For beginners, it is recommended you consider getting a skating board based on your age and height. Consider getting a junior-sized skateboard if you are under the age of 10 years and 5ft tall. If you are over 10 years of age and over 5ft, then you can comfortably start out with a full-sized skateboard.
Get a Good Quality Skateboard
Quality is another thing you can’t afford to overlook when it comes to getting yourself a skateboard. Good quality skateboard wheels roll more easily, are more stable, and turn easily compared to the substandard versions. For example, skateboards made with 7-ply maple have quality standards. They give you the perfect lock and drop! When buying a skateboard, shopping from reputable local skate shops and online stores will go a long way. They usually have the right skating products and expertise to guide you through the whole process. While at it, consider a skateboard with fewer plastic parts to none.
Complete Skateboarding Setup for Beginners
Even if you’re new to skateboarding, you may think that picking the right setup is challenging, but the truth is it isn’t. Additionally, it doesn’t even have to be expensive, although you would definitely want to go for something convenient and reliable. You should know the right parts to choose from. Having said this, a beginner’s skateboard setup should have several parts. These include a skateboard deck between 8 and 8.25 inches, wheels between 50 and 54 mm, wheel hardness of between 96A to 99A, shock pads, quality trucks matching the deck’s width, wheel bearings, the hardware, grip tape, and – optionally – a skate tool. All the different parts work together to make skating possible and give you a wonderful experience.
The Right Board Shape
Skateboards come in different shapes that can get you confused to understand as a beginner. Many beginners may think that all boards are flat, of which they are not. Their shapes vary from radio, progressive, flat-cave, convex, w-concave to asymmetrical, all helpful if you want to perform certain tricks better. However, for your first skating board, this isn’t much necessary since you are learning. For that matter, when getting your first board, you don’t have to worry about the shape but instead ensure the board you get is comfortable enough to stand on.
Skateboarding is one of the most exciting and fulfilling sports in the world. Not only is it a form of art, but it is also a recreational activity that has numerous benefits to our wellbeing. So, if you are looking forward to getting started on this fun activity, then we’ve got you covered. We strongly believe that this piece will get you started on the right foot. Good luck!
