Tips For Skateboarding
Posted by in Skateboarding on July 17, 2011
It doesn’t matter if you have years of experience skateboarding or just bought your first board yesterday, we could all use some tips if you are going to spend significant amounts of time on a skateboard. Here are some helpful tips for skateboarding to help keep you on the right path. These tips can also save you a ton of pain.
Unfortunately, skateboarding just wouldn’t be skateboarding without injuries and pain. Even the pros take falls on a regular basis. I suppose if you can’t handle a fall every now and then, my best advice is to quit, because there is no other way around it. However, keeping some helpful tips in mind, you can keep the injuries and pain to a minimum. Probably the easiest thing you can do is where the appropriate protective gear, such as a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. And for the guys, it’s also not a bad idea to wear a cup too, especially if you are working on a lot of flip tricks. Have you ever kicked your board up, it spun around and hit you right in “the boys”? It’s not a good feeling, and you may want to have kids one day. I do realize that wearing protective gear is a helpful habit that is difficult to get used to (kind of like flossing), but it’s not just to protect you from injury. Protective gear also helps diminish the fear and you will actually get better quicker. I also know a skater who fell on his head (no helmet) and he cracked a hole in his skull, had a concussion, and went into a coma for a week. He even forgot 3 months of his life. True story.
Another good tip to keep in mind is to always skate within your ability. What this means is while it is natural to advance in your skills and always trying new and better tricks, take it slowly and start with the easiest tricks, and slowly work your way up. Don’t jump on your first skateboard and attempt the hardest and most dangerous stunts first. Read the rest of this entry »
Shoes For Skateboarding – Shred The Half-Pipe, Not The Sole
Posted by in Sports Equipment on July 17, 2011
When looking around for new shoes for skateboarding, one has a few things to consider. After all, no one wants to have his or her shoes falling apart on the first day. Of course, fit and comfort are particularly important metrics to judge shoes by. Nevertheless, there are various idiosyncrasies that come with different brands of skate shoes.
Etnies is one of the more famous brands, and they have a great line of girl’s shoes for skateboarding. These shoes are sometimes criticized for their laces, but each brand has their own quirks to work around. Etnies are relatively long lasting shoes, and this may very well be their strongest point. Both Etnies and Etnies Girl are part of the Sole Technology group, who are quite active in biomechanical skate shoe research.
However, all people eventually destroy their skate shoes. This is inevitable, whether they’re Etnies or any other brand. When this happens, a special type of rubber cement called Shoe Goo can help to repair them. In fact, it might be very useful as preventative medicine against damage caused by the abrasive surface of grip tape.
This is especially true for discount brand buyers, like those who wore the Mike McGill endorsed brand Air Speed. Beyond products such as this, many skaters have turned towards duct tape in a pinch. When comparing different products, look for durability options like toe cap plastic and action leather.
DC Shoe Company is sometimes criticized as having become too much of a mainstream brand, but they still produce high quality shoes for skateboarding. For those that want to shred in less than ideal conditions, the H2Zero line shoes are treated to make them more waterproof. Moreover, they come with extra tread that provides great grip. This can translate into more control when things get a little wet. Read the rest of this entry »