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Understanding safety and risk in skateboarding

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Understanding safety and risk in skateboarding

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It's recommended that beginners adhere to these safety protocol!

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You'll need to make sure you've got the right equipment.

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Skateboard Buying Guide & Size Chart | Tactics

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Our skateboard buying guide defines the types & sizes of boards for each style & skill-level of skateboarding. Check it out if you’re new to skating or buying a gift.

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Just as important as your skateboard, your shoes will be your connection to your skateboard.

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If you're just starting off skateboarding, we'd like to give you some tips on how to choose skate shoes. There's a lot of variety out there and different skate shoes suit different types of skateboarders. Whether you're a high impact skateboarder who likes to jump off things, someone who likes to skate flatground or ledges, or one that loves transition and pools, there are different things to look for in a skate shoe to suit each of these styles of skateboarding. Material, type of rubber, boardfeel, grip, and cushioning are just a few. And of course, how could we forget ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃｓ? Skate fashion is constantly evolving, but knowing the ins and outs of a skate shoe will help you to find a pair that best suits your needs. With this in mind, let's find out how to choose skate shoes today!

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Step 1: Vulcanized or Cupsole?

Are you in the vulcanized rubber camp or the cupsole camp? Essentially, this is referring to the rubber outsole and all skate shoes come in either one form or the other. Both types of rubber skate differently and so serve different purposes. It's all a matter of personal preference in what you choose.

Vulcanized - The rubber is heated in high temperatures and pressed a lot quicker. While it's gummy and very soft, it gets applied directly to the sole of the shoes. As a result, vulcanized soles are a lot softer and provide amazing boardfeel and grip. They are also more flexible and break in quickly as well. The trade-offs, however, is impact protection as it is softer than the rubber used for cupsoles. It is also not as durable and lacks the heel support that cupsoles offer.

Cupsole - Cupsole construction is where the sole is either stitched, glued together, or a combination of both. Cupsoles are unique in that they offer more protection in regards to foot/ankle support and impact absorption. They also tend to be more durable. Of course, the downside is less boardfeel and durability, although some shoe companies are greatly improving on the feel of cupsoles.

Step 2: Low-tops, Mid-tops, or High-tops?

Based largely on personal preference, there are some pros and cons to each.

Low-tops - Sits below the ankle. Provides more freedom of movement but less ankle support and security.

Mid-tops - Sits around ankle level. Offers more support than low-tops but not as bulky or restrictive as high-tops.

High-tops - Sits above the ankle. Offers the most protection for your ankles but can hinder your mobility.

Step 3: Discover All the Layers

Also when learning how to choose skates shoes, you'll need to know about all the layers involved. First off is the cushioning. Most of the cushioning you'll find lies in the midsole, insole, and the heel. Typically, skate shoes with more cushioning will have less boardfeel, although that's slowly changing. If you like chucking yourself down flights of stairs or gaps, skating large handrails or hubbas, or catching huge airs, you'll need a pair of skate shoes with superb cushioning to absorb impact and prevent heel bruises. There is also the tread which refers to the grooves and pattern of the outsole.

Midsole - Most often made of EVA foam which is lightweight and flexible, midsoles lie just above the outsole and provide a good amount of cushioning. Other materials used include PU foam (lasts longer) or polyurethane.

Insole - The insole lies on top of the midsole and is often made of foam, gel, or a combination of both. For shoes that feature a removable insole, you can take them out if they're not providing good enough cushioning and drop in another pair that does. If the insole is thin enough, you can even add a second insole although boardfeel will be sacrificed. There are even companies that specialize in making skate insoles (Footprint, Remind, and Etcetera).

Heel cushioning - Some shoes feature extra cushioning in the heel in the form of gel inserts or airbags.

Tread Pattern - The tread of a skate shoe's outsole can really affect boardfeel and grip. Two very popular tread patterns include the Herringbone tread and the Waffle sole that is prominent in most Vans shoes. The majority of skate shoes will feature a tread pattern that is similar to one of these two types.

Step 4: Know Your Material

This is mostly referring to the upper material used for skate shoes as it makes the most contact with a board. Consider the skateboarding you'll be doing to find the right material for you. Material plays a huge part in durability and a good amount for feel and flick.

Suede - Possibly the best material for skate shoes. It is durable, can handle a good amount of abuse, and flick wonderfully. The skateboarding gods graced the skateboarding world when they introduced suede.

Pig Suede - Pig suede is a lot softer than regular suede producing better flick and feel. However, durability is the trade-off. It's more expensive and rarer to find too.

Full grain leather - Includes all layers of a side of leather. It's the most durable material although it doesn't provide very good flick or grip. Most skateboarders aren't into it.

Nubuck leather - Leather that's buffed on the outside for a velvety feel. More durable than suede but doesn't skate as well. It's harder to find on skate shoes as well.

Canvas - Canvas is basically cloth that is lighter and more flexible. Not known for being very durable or proving good flick, its best uses are for transition skating and casual cruising

Synthetics - Essentially man made materials that simulate the look and feel of real leathers. Probably as good as the real thing. Also perfect for vegetarians and vegans.

Step 5: Find the Right Fit

No pain, discomfort, or loss of circulation.

Not too tight/loose; snugness is a matter of preference.

Very minimal or no heel lift.

Tips On How to Size Skate Shoes

Try shoes on in-store for the best fit, then buy them online if they're cheaper.

Take into account that most shoes loosen up as you break them in. Don't let first fittings fool you!

Wear socks while fitting and shop in the afternoon when your feet have swelled to its largest size.

Optional: Learn Skate Shoe Lingo

When you ask someone how to choose skate shoes, a good number of people will talk about boardfeel. Boardfeel refers to how sensitive your shoes are in feeling your board underneath you (as you may have guessed). This allows for better flick, catch, feeling, and all in all a better bond with your skateboard. As we've discussed, vulcanized soles have more boardfeel than cupsoles, but offer less cushioning and support. Many shoes have a thinner toe area to increase boardfeel while leaving the heels thicker for more protection. If you're more into flatground, technical, or ledge skating, you'll appreciate skate shoes with lots of boardfeel.

Equally important as boardfeel is grip, or, how well your shoes can stay on your skateboard without any slippage occurring. Grip is directly correlated to the type of rubber a shoe uses. Stiffer rubbers don't provide very good grip while very soft rubbers can make it hard to flick. It's really up to you to find the right amount of grip for you. Typically, however, vulcanized shoes provide better grip than cupsoles because of its softer nature.

A rubber toecap can be added to the front of the shoe to increase durability. Many popular styles of skate shoes sport toecaps these days, and they are worth every penny!

Most skate shoes feature double or triple stitching to increase durability and prevent blowouts. Of course, you could always go for one piece toecaps to prevent blowouts from ripped stitching altogether.

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How to Choose Skate Shoes - Tips, Advice, & Selection - Athlete Audit

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If you're just starting off skateboarding, we'd like to give you some tips on how to choose skate shoes. There's a lot of variety out there and different skate shoes suit different types of skateboarders.

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Make sure to feel comfortable with these basics before attempting more difficult tricks.

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Three Basics For Your Safety

The following very simple exercises are precisely where you should begin as someone who is new to skateboarding. Try to be relaxed and at ease, yet focused as you practice. These exercises relate to mounting your skateboard, initiating forward motion, and stopping. The earliest stage of learning to skateboard is also one of the most dangerous. Injuries at this stage are not uncommon and if it makes you feel more at ease it is highly advisable that you take advantage of the protection and reassurance that protective equipment will provide you. If you (most likely still in your younger days then!) might be concerned with how the so called 'cooler-cats' and how he or she or they might react to your precautionary enthusiasm, get ready to practice the joy of owning and smiling back at what taunts you! Now, learning the exercises below in the most basic way shouldn't take all that long, so go have some beginner's fun.

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Mounting Your Skateboard

'In the beginning, there was mounting your skateboard.' Here's a 'how to guide' broken down into four steps.

Position Of Front Foot

Keep your back foot on the ground and place your front foot over the front hardwares. Your front foot toe should be flared forward.

Stance

By the way, if you are wondering to yourself, " Wait, which of my feet is supposed to be the front foot?," well, it's up to you. Choose whichever feels most natural to you. In skateboarding, there is the 'Regular stance' (left foot is forward) and the 'Goofy stance' (right foot forward). The 'regular' stance is far more common, hence the name, but neither is better or worse than the other.

Position Of Backfoot And Body Weight

Now place your back foot over or just behind the the tail side hardwares of your board. In this position it makes sense to spread your weight evenly over your to feet. However, when it comes time once again to remove your back foot for the purpose of pushing yourself forward, be very conscious to shift your weight back over to your front foot. Getting adept at shifting your body weight from one foot to the other, or one side of the board to the other, or evenly over the center, is a critical aspect of improving your abilities on the skateboard.

A Neutral Form

With both feet now on the board, you should learn to gently pivot your feet so that you can adjust their position. As a starting point, the image below is a good point of reference for the general angles your feet can assume as you stand un-moving on your board.

Start To Move

Pushing Skateboard

Now let's generate some forward motion. Mount your skateboard, and place your back foot on the ground roughly just to the side of the center of your board. Remember, your front foot should be flared forward. Keep the weight of your body bearing down on your front foot, and push off the ground with your back foot. Bingo, you're moving forward.

Reassume a Centered Balance

After pushing off with your back foot, go ahead and place your back foot over your back hardwares. In the process of bringing your back foot back onto your board, focus on maintaining your body weight bearing down on your front foot. Then, with the back foot now on the skateboard, go ahead and get used to shifting your weight so that it bears down on both feet more or less equally. As the skateboard is now in motion, you have to balance yourself so that you stay centered over it AS IT MOVES. This part takes some getting used to!

*This motion is called " Pushing "

Stop and Get Off

Back Foot to the Ground

When you want to stop, take your back foot from your board and place it on the ground as a braking mechanism. The faster you are going, the more you need to properly judge the correct amount of force to apply to your back foot when braking. It can be dangerous the faster you go, so get comfortable breaking at very slow speeds to begin with and gradually familiarize yourself with how it feels to break at faster speeds.

Front Foot Direction

This is a matter of personal comfort, but in general it seems that most skaters have an easier time bringing their skateboards to a gradual halt if they maintain their front foot flared in a forward facing direction.

Getting Off

After your board stops, dismount your board. As a beginner, getting off such a dangerous seeming plank on wheels is probably your body's overriding instinct, so the dismount should come very naturally to you. It's simply a matter of properly transferring your weight from board to ground.

ALL TOGETHER

Keep practicing until you get used to the series above. Remember that it's not at all a bad idea to wear protective gear. Actually, in the simplest of terms, wearing protective gear is the smart thing to do. Try and practice in an area relatively free from automobile and pedestrian traffic, and the smoother the ground, the better. Be safe, and enjoy!

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The following very simple exercises are precisely where you should begin as someone who is new to skateboarding. Try to be relaxed and at ease, yet focused as you practice. These exercises relate to mounting your skateboard, initiating forward motion, and stopping. The earliest stage of learning to skateboard is also one of the most dangerous.

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The skateboard ollie is when you jump and the board sticks to your feet. You can learn how to ollie right here.

The ollie is the proper name for a skateboard jump. It was first done on a skateboard halfpipe back in 1977. It didn't look much like what modern street skaters do these days. It took many talented skaters experimenting to learn how to pop ollies on flat ground as high as we do today.

I have taught many people how to a skateboard ollie in twenty minutes with this technique. The ones who were successful followed each direction. They did this and they learned to ollie on a skateboard a short amount of time.

Be patient, follow these steps and you will too!

The Skateboard Ollie Things to Know First.

The ollie is important and one trick everyone wants to learn. There are tons of things to learn before you focus on it. Rolling well. Good balance. Pushing, stopping and turning. Get these easy skateboard tricks figured out first. Then try an ollie.

Try the basic skateboard tricks too. If you can do them then you will have the balance and coordination needed to ollie. Saving yourself a lot of time sucking at skateboarding. You will get a time savings and you will already know a few tricks too.

Learning the Ollie

Learn the ollie while standing still on pavement or concrete. You don't need to be rolling. But you should learn on a surface that will let you roll back and forth. The hard surface is important to get used to.

You need to be able to balance on your rolling skateboard if you hope to do this trick. Learning it in place where the wheels do not roll is awkward. Rolling lets you develop balance. If you have learned the basic skateboard tricks then you should have no problem with this.

Once you can pop the tail on this trick you need to start trying it while rolling. Even rolling slow makes the skateboard ollie work much better. It is easier to do skateboard tricks when rolling there is a good scientific reason why.

When you are moving in a certain direction your board and your body will continue to move in that direction. This make things stable and easier to control. When rolling your stay lined up over your skateboard. See how the ollie works with physics here.

The other added bonus is that if you are comfortable rolling when you pop your ollie. You will have the balance to land the ollie and roll away. The moving ollie should be your goal.

How to Pop the Ollie

Learn these two moves. They give proper foot placement and balance. Then put them together and pull an ollie in no time.

The Jump
While rolling crouch down at the knees. Using your crouched knees, jump up and land back on your board. Crouch for balance

The While standing still on the skateboard, pop the tail by hitting it down on the ground hard. Stay on the board

Get these two down solid. Make sure your can jump and land without falling off. This gives you all the balance you need to land the ollie.
Get so you can smack the tail hard on the ground. This will allow you to pop the board off the ground.

Doing these two steps together with the proper timing will give you a good skateboard ollie.

Your First Ollie

You have both the jump and the pop down well. Now you will use timing to put them together and get into the air.

Your goal at first should be to crouch down, then jump and pop at the same time. Do not worry about how high you are doing it. The height will come with practice. You need to focus on the proper timing first.

If you follow these steps you will have done an ollie. It may not be big but that comes with practice.

Many people will tell you to slide your foot while learning to ollie. Sliding the foot allows you to level out or tweak your ollie. It is a more advanced ollie technique. Develop the timing and pop of the ollie first. Get off the ground now. Then worry about height and style.

Once you are ready then go to the next steps.

In brief:

The key is to time leaving the ground with the pop of the tail.

In detail:

1. Place your feet
Back foot on the tail with the curve of your foot matched up with the curve of the tail.
Front foot in front of the midpoint of the board. The ball of your foot (just behind your big toe) should be over the middle of your board. In the imaginary line between the bolts. Turn both feet to a duck stance with the heels closer than the toes. It looks like a ducks feet.

3. Jump
Once couched don't waste time. Begin jumping and begin to pop the board like in the next step.
This is the tough part for timing. If you have practiced this part it will come much easier.

If you follow these steps you will have done an ollie. It may not be big but that comes with practice.
The key is to time leaving the ground with the pop of the tail.

Tweaking your Ollie

You have the timing down on your ollie. See how to ollie higher and longer.

If you can ollie and do the basic skateboard tricks you will be able to learn new tricks faster. Think about some ollie variations like:
Switch ollies, fakie ollies and nollies.

Return from Skateboard Ollie to Skateboard Trick List
Return from Skateboard Ollie to skateboardhere homepage

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The skateboard ollie is when you jump and the board sticks to your feet. You can learn how to ollie right here. The ollie is the proper name for a skateboard jump. It was first done on a skateboard halfpipe back in 1977. It didn't look much like what modern street skaters do these days.