Skateboarder's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Skateboarding (Start-Up Sports series) - Softcover

Werner, Doug; Badillo, Steve

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1884654347 ISBN 13: 9781884654343

Publisher: Tracks Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Providing updated and revised chapters on safety, equipment, and basic skills, this instructional guide discusses the fundamentals of skateboarding. Presented in a helpful question and answer format, beginners will find information on buying a first board, where to plant one’s feet, how to stay safe while learning new stunts, and the history of this exciting sport. From ollies to kickturns, detailed techniques are presented on the 15 tricks every skater should know. Honest and humorous interviews with skating professionals are included, along with an invaluable list of resources—including books, camps, museums, skate parks, shops, websites, and magazines. With more than 500 new images, step-by-step instructions and photographs illustrate the foolproof methods to turn skateboarding novices into experts.

About this title

About the Author

Doug Werner is the founder of Tracks Publishing and the author of 17 books on sports and fitness, including the books in the Start-Up Sports series. He lives in San Diego, California. Steve Badillo is the coauthor of several top-selling skateboard guides, including Skateboarding: Book of Tricks, Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks, Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks 2, and Skateboarding: New Levels. He has worked as a stunt double and actor in numerous commercials and films featuring skateboarding, including Lords of Dogtown. He lives in Oxnard, California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Skateboarder's Start-Up

A Beginner's Guide to Skateboarding

By Doug Werner, Steve Badillo

Tracks Publishing

Copyright © 2009 Doug Werner
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-884654-34-3

Contents

Cover, 
Title Page, 
Copyright, 
Acknowledgements, 
Preface(s), 
Introduction: Because of the rush, 
1. Safety is in your head, 
2. Skateboard, anatomy of, 
3. Getting a feel for it: Basics, 
4. Foundations: 14 tricks you should know, 
5. Genesis:A history, 
Glossary, 
Bibliography, 
Resources, 
Index, 
More skate guides by Steve Badillo, 
About the authors, 

CHAPTER 1

Safety is in your Head

"I think you just need to watch where you're going — that's very important — to watch what's going on around you.

But there are no terms of etiquette, like Oh, is it your turn, Charles? or Did you take a number? or Please form one line! — it's not really like that."

— Todd Huber/SkateLab

Safety/Courtesy: Balancing caution with aggression

Top competitors make it look easy, but it took them countless hours of relentless, calculated practice to build the confidence and expertise to perform their feats. Furthermore, they paid attention to all the rules of skateboarding safety.

It's an easy bet that without wearing the proper safety gear on their climb to the top, our top skaters wouldn't be around to impress us with their skating skills.

Safety is in your head

Know your skill level. Know what you can pull off safely. Build your expertise one skill at a time. (Image 1.1)

Protect your head, wrists, elbows and knees

Wear a helmet. Even with head protection you must be careful. If you fall on your head and feel dizzy, get a headache or experience blurry vision — you may have a concussion (brain shock). If it happens, it's very important to get medical attention right away.

Wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts helps. Better to also wear knee and elbow pads to prevent scrapes, bruises, cracked or broken bones. Tear wrist guards and sneakers with nonskid soles. (Image 1.2)

Falling

When you go down (and you will go down!) it's natural to extend your arms to break the fall. But the best way to fall is to tuck elbows in and roll on your shoulder. Kick your board away before you tumble and try to relax as you roll.

On ramps or in pools, land on your knee pads and slide. If all else fails, at least try to land on a fleshy part of your body.

Also ...

Avoid skating in the rain. Urethane wheels slip on wet pavement.

It is wise to invest in some fitness training and to stretch before you skate.

Know how to take care of your skateboard. Make sure bolts are tight (if you can loosen with your fingers, they are not tight enough). Replace wheels when necessary. Beginners can adjust trucks so they don't wobble.

Learn new tricks one step at a time. Each trick requires a set of skills. Learn each separately before trying to put it all together. Build up to it!

At least remember this:

Avoid traffic!

Avoid tows from motor vehicles!

What the experts say: How dangerous is skateboarding?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that in 2001, more than 104, 000 people went to hospital emergency rooms with injuries related to skateboarding. Most had sprains, fractures, contusions and abrasions. Deaths due to collisions with cars and falling also were reported. About one

Edition details

• Publisher: Tracks Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1884654347
• ISBN 13: 9781884654343
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 192