What do I need to start skateboarding?
If you have a growing interest in this sport, we're happy to say that you've made a great choice! Skateboarding is a fun way to try out fresh ways to move your body while building on fitness areas such as strength, balance and coordination. Whether you were inspired by skateboarding videos or a role model in your life, you've come to the right place.
This article will explain the skateboarding resources you need in three parts: the essential skateboarding equipment and where to buy them, skateboarding places you should visit for individual practice, and where to learn how to skateboard for beginners. Let's get skating!
Where is the best place to buy a skateboard?
Begin by getting yourself the proper skateboarding equipment.
Let's face it: no one wants to spend their money getting into a new hobby only to find out that they've wasted their money buying faulty equipment. You may also be worried that skate shop owners may trick you into purchasing old stock if they knew you were buying a skateboard for beginners. We hear your concerns, and that's why we'd like to recommend these best places for all things skateboarding:
Wheel Love Skateshop
This is one of the best skateboarding places to visit as it has received many happy customer reviews and offers a variety of skateboarding equipment to choose from. You can easily look for skateboard parts, longboards and even cruisers in their online shop and have your order shipped directly to you. Make use of the chat feature and ask about their latest sales so that you can get the best price for your skateboarding needs.
If you are based in Kuala Lumpur, you can also book an appointment to check out their skateboarding equipment in person. Here are the details of the skate shop:
Location: 1st Floor, 20A, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (closed on Mondays)
Decathlon Malaysia
You can find several outlets of this sports brand across Malaysia, but did you know you can also find great skateboarding equipment and accessories on their official site? While this brand is known for selling all sorts of sports equipment, we recommend checking out their website as they offer attractive deals for skating needs and often have clearance sales.
You can get protective gear, skateboard shoes and quality adult skateboards that come with a warranty period of up to 2 years. Their Click and Collect option also lets you pick up your order on the same day if you are eager to start skateboarding.
In addition to your skateboard for beginners, you should definitely include these skateboarding accessories that would be helpful to your practice:
- A helmet made for action sports
- Knee and elbow pads to protect you during falls
- Grip tape to help you stay gripped to your skateboard
- Wrist guards to reduce any potential injury
Get yourself equipped at the best skateboarding places and reap the amazing benefits of skateboarding.
Where can I practise riding a skateboard?
After getting your skateboarding equipment, it's time to look for places where you can practise skateboarding and have fun doing it! You should explore the options below if you are unsure about where to skateboard in your area.
Visit your local skate park
This is the best option if you are just picking up the skateboard for beginners. You may feel anxious skating in front of strangers at first, but you'll quickly learn that skate parks are one of the best environments to be in if you want to be supported by others who also love the sport! You can even get solid skateboarding advice from experienced skaters and professionals who frequent your local skate park.
Here are some awesome skate parks in Malaysia to check out:
- Shah Alam Extreme Skatepark, Selangor
- Penang Youth Park Skatepark, Penang
- The Jungle Skatepark, Kota Kinabalu
Some skate parks also offer skateboarding classes for all levels!
Try skateboarding at a park near you
You can also try skateboarding at community parks that people often visit to jog or exercise. Even staying on your skateboard for an entire lap around the park can be a challenge for beginners! Bonus points if the park has a playground area - the rubber tiles are a perfect safety surface to practise new tricks like the pop shuvit or half cab.
Design a practice space at home
If you want to start learning new techniques while skating indoors, this could be the option for you. It's important to designate a space to skateboard at home, especially if there are others living with you under the same roof. You just need an open, cemented area (think driveway or patio) where you can practise safely. How about making your own DIY launch ramp at home?
To improve the safety of your skateboarding, keep in mind that you should always:
- Inspect your skateboard for any loose or cracked parts before getting on
- Wear protective equipment at all times
- Practise on regular, even surfaces
Find out more about what makes skateboarding so special here.
Where to take skateboarding classes near me
There are a lot of fantastic skateboarding tutorials on the Internet, and we agree that you should maximise this resource for your skateboarding needs. Watching tutorials online is a great way to learn about new tricks that you can try on your skateboard while also letting you check whether you have been performing your tricks correctly.
Nevertheless, we recommend that you take skateboarding classes with a professional if you want to take your skateboarding skills to the next level. Learning with a skateboarding tutor on Superprof, for instance, gives you a wealth of skateboarding knowledge, such as finding your right skateboard stance, perfecting your carving, or ways to take care of your skateboarding equipment.
Personalised, quality lessons are a given when you learn with a skateboarding tutor on Superprof. Check out our tutors' skateboarding videos on their Superprof profiles if you don't believe us! What's even better is that you don't have to be amazing at skateboarding to learn with a Superprof tutor - you can start out as a complete Beginner, work your way towards Professional, or learn at the Kids' level.
Apart from catering to all levels of learning, Superprof helps you get to know your tutor when you visit their profile: read up on your skateboarding tutor's years of teaching experience, style of teaching and reviews from previous students. To get you started, Superprof is offering new students their first skateboarding lesson for free. You just have to sign up at the Superprof Tutors page today!
How can I teach myself to skateboard?
Every fall you take on a skateboard is part of the learning process.
If you've ever come across skateboarding videos by famous skaters, you'll know that even the most experienced professionals will fall off their skateboards every now and then. As a beginner or intermediate learner at skateboarding, here are some things you should remember whenever you pick up your skateboard:
Focus on the ride
You'll be humbled by how you really need to immerse yourself in any single skateboarding trick if you want to have a shot at perfecting it. Skateboarding demands a lot of concentration as you have to always be aware of aspects such as your hand and foot placement, and even how to properly shift your weight to another side of your body. So, focus your attention towards the skateboard in every practice!
Rest and recover
It's no use visiting skateboarding places for practice if you don't give your body enough time to rest from all the hard work you are putting in. In fact, practising for long periods without a break can make your body more susceptible to injury, even if it is not from taking a hard fall. Be sure to take breaks in between your daily practice and avoid the activity if you are still recovering from a serious injury.
Work through your fears
Notice that we didn't say "Have no fear"! It makes complete sense that your body may be a little scared of leaping into the air or jumping onto a handrail for the first time. That is a good sign that your body understands its limits and wants to protect you from getting hurt. However, once you get through a fearful situation and gain more experience, you'll get better at challenging yourself and overcoming your fears.
Now that you have all the necessary skateboarding resources and tips, we're confident you can conquer any challenge that comes your way!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
The demand for unique skateboard auction reflects a growing appreciation for skateboarding history and culture. Meeting these needs requires meticulous curation and a keen understanding of market trends to ensure successful outcomes