Author: nufive1
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Is Skateboarding Hard to Learn?
So you just received your first skateboard, And you’re anxious to get started
You have heard stories of your friends and family getting hurt on their first skateboard.
The fact that skateboarding is challenging is usually not questioned. There is a legitimate reason why some parents are concerned about letting their children start skateboarding.Parents fear their children falling and getting hurt with a potentially debilitating injury.
Fortunately, Learning skateboarding today is much easier than in our parent’s generation. The invention of YouTube has brought a plethora of online skateboarding learning resources. The availability of Skateboarding lessons at the skateboard park has flourished. It is now easier than ever before to learn skateboarding.
What are the first steps to learning skateboarding?
Each skater must make sure that they have proper gear prior to getting enrolled in any skateboard training program. A suitable skateboard that matches skater size, age, and skateboarding goals is absolutely necessary. Sadly, many skateboarders first start on poor quality in properly sized skateboards. Due to the poor equipment choices, The risk of injury becomes greater. An inadequate skateboard can also make learning skateboarding more challenging.
What exactly do I need to learn skateboarding?
An adequate skateboard. (How to choose the right board)
A properly fitting helmet.
Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards.
A teacher, Or a training manual.
A safe place to skateboard. (How to find a good place to skateboard)
Part 1 – Getting Started
1.1.- Pick the Board Shape
—-You will need a skateboard that fits your body size and matched your skateboarding ambitions.
——-Most new skaters start with a regular skateboard. This is also called a “popsicle” shape. A popsicle board allows multiple uses for the board.
——-Some skateboarders opting for the hills and roads only will be more suited for a longboard.
——-Other novelty shapes may not be best suited for a beginner and could limit progression or board use.
1.2.- Find the Appropriate Equipment Size
———-Kids, ages 4-7, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 6.75″ and 7.25″
———-Kids, ages 8-13, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 7.25″ and 7.5″
———-Adults, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) 7.5″ or larger
- A beginner skateboard should cost between $60-$150. Buy a pre-assembled skateboard or ask the skateboard shop to set up board for you. As a beginner, the last thing you need is backwards trucks or bearing to stifle your learning progress.
- Don’t be fooled by the low prices of Walmart or Target skateboards. They will snap quickly and are hard to learn on. Go to a real skate shop.
1.3.- Wear Appropriate Footwear
Safe skateboarding starts with proper shoes. Flat-soled shoes are imperative for board control and balance.
Never attempt to skate in sandals, clogs, boots, or footwear with a separate heel platform. Improper footwear could result in serious injury.
1.4.- Wear Safety Gear
Beginners must have a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards. There is no reason to negligently learn skateboarding without pads. Do not risk it.
A bicycle helmet is not a substitute. A skateboard helmet is more effective than a bicycle helmet because such a helmet has been specifically designed to handle skateboard crashes. Make sure the helmet fits your head properly. The under-chin strap should be fastened and the helmet should not wiggle.
Wrists must be protected. Wrist guards protect against some of the most common injuries for beginners.
1.5.- Find a Suitable Place to Learn
Smooth and flat ground is an ideal place to learn skateboarding.
A level, concrete driveway or parking lot is a good place to start getting comfortable on the board. Make sure there isn’t anything in your way and be wary of cracks, loose stones, and potholes. Running over a little pebble can account for a whole lot of crashes, especially with hard wheels.
- Avoid getting roughed up on aged, cheese-grater pavement. If you can clearly see small gaps between the pavement rocks, it’s not a good surface for skateboarding. When choosing at ground surfaces, polished concrete will be the friendliest for learning. New or sealed asphalt is also suitable.
- Skateparks are great places to skate once you’ve got some experience. If you’re just trying to get the board to stay under you without falling down, parks might be a little intense. If there’s one in your area, go watch some skaters for tips, but stay on the sidelines.
1.5.- Get a Seasoned Skateboarder to Oversee You
The first day can be overwhelming. Despite watching every YouTube skateboard video, reading every “how to” article, and the perfect skateboard, learning skateboarding is always safer with expert guidance.
Call 800.403.2405 to Have an Expert from GoSkate.com Come Help You.
So how long does it take to learn skateboarding?
Learning skateboarding is a lifelong process. Skating is an activity with never-ending progress. The journey of learning new tricks, styles, and skills Is a large part of the reason why many people become infatuated with skateboarding.
Learning Transportation
Skateboarding for the purposes of transportation is a different story. In order to use a skateboard for the basics, a skateboarder must know how to push turn stop and properly navigate around basic, street obstacles.
These basics of skateboarding can be learned with proper instruction in as little as four hours of practice. Each skateboarder is different. Some participants are blessed with greater balance and agility and will learn in 4 to 6 hours. Others, who are less familiar with board sports, can take up to 10 hours to learn the basics.
Learning in Lessons
In skateboarding lessons and classes, Participants usually need a minimum of 3 to 4 lessons. Most skateboard schools, like Goskate.com, recommend 4 to 6 lessons.
What do I start learning first?
Did transportation skills are the foundation for skateboarding.No skateboarder will progress without a firm understanding these skills. Proper balance, proper turning, and an understanding of how to handle the skateboard are required in order to perform basic tricks.
Once mastering this, skateboarders typically start by learning to ollie.
The “Ollie” is a fundamental trick which is the starting point for most skateboarding tricks in general. It is similar to how a bunny hop on a bicycle, Is the starting point to any of the biking drinks. An “Ollie” is like a Bunnyhop. In an “Ollie” all wheels are lifted off the ground.
Other basic tricks to learn:
The pop shove-it.
The kickflip.
The heelflip
The 180.
The acid drop.
News
How Much do Skateboard Lessons Cost?
This page is to summarize the average costs for skateboarding lessons.
Skateboard Classes
$200-695. – Small group classes at the local YMCA and public recreation departments are usually the least expensive options. They are generally in the price range of $95-195. The typical class has about five sessions. Private camps through skateparks and skateboard schools will be pricier- $395-1395.
Private Skateboard Lessons
$365-499 (Four) Lessons – One hour-long session with an instructor
$455-699 (Four) Lessons – Two hour-long sessions
$565-799 (Six) Lessons – One hour-long sessions
$859-999 (Six) Lessons – Two hour-long sessions
Geographical Differences
New York, California, Illinois, and Hawaii typically have the highest prices for lessons. Skate lessons are 32% higher in these areas. Prices also tend to be higher in cities and higher-income areas. Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee have shown to have the cheapest prices for skateboarding lessons.
Skateboard Camp Prices
From Camp Woodward ($1300-1500) to PointX ($795) to GoSkate ($900), there are several differences in pricing. Some camps include cooking, lodging, and equipment. Camps usually run for five to seven days. Longer camps may cost $1500-2000 for 14 days.
How Much Does a Single Skateboard Lesson Cost?
Most schools do not offer a single lesson. You will likely find pricing as part of a class or a group of lessons. Skateboarding can’t be learned in a single session. However, you may be able to find a single session for around $79-159.
How Much Do Skateboard Lessons in Europe Cost?
The running price in Europe tends to be the same as in the United States. London has the highest prices in Europe. Average prices in London can run 20% higher than in the United States. Eastern Europe has the lowest prices on lessons. There, a single lesson can be purchased for $35 or less.
Skateboard Lessons
Skateboard Size Calculator
Pick the wrong size skateboard, and you will fall more often.
Yes- skateboard size is that important! An oversized skateboard could Triple the amount of time it takes you to learn skateboarding!
Skateboarding is a thrill, lifestyle, and athletic activity. It has gained popularity over the past couple of decades and many people have started riding a skateboard for the first time. Many people riding skateboards that are inadequate for themselves.
1.1.- With the Help of Our Calculator, Find the Appropriate Equipment Size…
———-Kids, ages 4-7, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 6.75″ and 7.25″
———-Kids, ages 8-13, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 7.25″ and 7.5″
———-Adults, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) 7.5″ or larger
Find out your Exact Size Using Our Size Calculator!–>
Part 2 – Pick the Board Shape
—-You will need a skateboard that fits your body size and matched your skateboarding ambitions.
——-Most new skaters start with a regular skateboard. This is also called a “popsicle” shape. A popsicle board allows multiple uses for the board.
——-Some skateboarders opting for the hills and roads only will be more suited for a longboard.
——-Other novelty shapes may not be best suited for a beginner and could limit progression or board use.
- A beginner skateboard should cost between $60-$150. Buy a pre-assembled skateboard or ask the skateboard shop to set up board for you. As a beginner, the last thing you need is backwards trucks or bearing to stifle your learning progress.
- Don’t be fooled by the low prices of Walmart or Target skateboards. They will snap quickly and are hard to learn on. Go to a real skate shop.
- Try our skateboard size calculator
2.2.- Wear Appropriate Footwear
Safe skateboarding starts with proper shoes. Flat-soled shoes are imperative for board control and balance.
Never attempt to skate in sandals, clogs, boots, or footwear with a separate heel platform. Improper footwear could result in serious injury.
2.3.- Wear Safety Gear
Beginners must have a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards. There is no reason to negligently learn skateboarding without pads. Do not risk it.
A bicycle helmet is not a substitute. A skateboard helmet is more effective than a bicycle helmet because such a helmet has been specifically designed to handle skateboard crashes. Make sure the helmet fits your head properly. The under-chin strap should be fastened and the helmet should not wiggle.
Wrists must be protected. Wrist guards protect against some of the most common injuries for beginners.
2.4.- Find a Suitable Place to Learn
Smooth and flat ground is an ideal place to learn skateboarding.
A level, concrete driveway or parking lot is a good place to start getting comfortable on the board. Make sure there isn’t anything in your way and be wary of cracks, loose stones, and potholes. Running over a little pebble can account for a whole lot of crashes, especially with hard wheels.
- Avoid getting roughed up on aged, cheese-grater pavement. If you can clearly see small gaps between the pavement rocks, it’s not a good surface for skateboarding. When choosing ground surfaces, polished concrete will be the friendliest for learning. New or sealed asphalt is also suitable.
- Skateparks are great places to skate once you’ve got some experience. If you’re just trying to get the board to stay under you without falling down, parks might be a little intense. If there’s one in your area, go watch some skaters for tips, but stay on the sidelines.
2.5.- Get a Seasoned Skateboarder to Oversee You
The first day can be overwhelming. Despite watching every YouTube skateboard video, reading every “how to” article, and the perfect skateboard, learning skateboarding is always safer with expert guidance.
Call 800.403.2405 to Have an Expert from GoSkate.com Come Help You.
What Did You Think? Did This Help You? Comment Below…
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How to Skateboard – 6 Steps (With Pictures)
Skateboarding is a thrill, lifestyle, and athletic activity. It has gained popularity over the past couple decades and many people have started riding a skateboard for the first time. These circumstances have presented the ubiquitous, all-so-common question, “How do I ride a skateboard?”
Part 1 – Getting Started
1.1.- Pick the Board Shape
—-You will need a skateboard that fits your body size and matched your skateboarding ambitions.
——-Most new skaters start with a regular skateboard. This is also called a “popsicle” shape. A popsicle board allows multiple uses for the board.
——-Some skateboarders opting for the hills and roads only will be more suited for a longboard.
——-Other novelty shapes may not be best suited for a beginner and could limit progression or board use.
1.2.- Find the Appropriate Equipment Size
———-Kids, ages 4-7, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 6.75″ and 7.25″
———-Kids, ages 8-13, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) between 7.25″ and 7.5″
———-Adults, should purchase a skateboard deck (“the wood part”) 7.5″ or larger
- A beginner skateboard should cost between $60-$150. Buy a pre-assembled skateboard or ask the skateboard shop to set up board for you. As a beginner, the last thing you need is backwards trucks or bearing to stifle your learning progress.
- Don’t be fooled by the low prices of Walmart or Target skateboards. They will snap quickly and are hard to learn on. Go to a real skate shop.
- Try our skateboard size calculator
1.3.- Wear Appropriate Footwear
Safe skateboarding starts with proper shoes. Flat-soled shoes are imperative for board control and balance.
Never attempt to skate in sandals, clogs, boots, or footwear with a separate heel platform. Improper footwear could result in serious injury.
1.4.- Wear Safety Gear
Beginners must have a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards. There is no reason to negligently learn skateboarding without pads. Do not risk it.
A bicycle helmet is not a substitute. A skateboard helmet is more effective than a bicycle helmet because such a helmet has been specifically designed to handle skateboard crashes. Make sure the helmet fits your head properly. The under-chin strap should be fastened and the helmet should not wiggle.
Wrists must be protected. Wrist guards protect against some of the most common injuries for beginners.
1.5.- Find a Suitable Place to Learn
Smooth and flat ground is an ideal place to learn skateboarding.
A level, concrete driveway or parking lot is a good place to start getting comfortable on the board. Make sure there isn’t anything in your way and be wary of cracks, loose stones, and potholes. Running over a little pebble can account for a whole lot of crashes, especially with hard wheels.
- Avoid getting roughed up on aged, cheese-grater pavement. If you can clearly see small gaps between the pavement rocks, it’s not a good surface for skateboarding. When choosing at ground surfaces, polished concrete will be the friendliest for learning. New or sealed asphalt is also suitable.
- Skateparks are great places to skate once you’ve got some experience. If you’re just trying to get the board to stay under you without falling down, parks might be a little intense. If there’s one in your area, go watch some skaters for tips, but stay on the sidelines.
1.5.- Get a Seasoned Skateboarder to Oversee You
The first day can be overwhelming. Despite watching every YouTube skateboard video, reading every “how to” article, and the perfect skateboard, learning skateboarding is always safer with expert guidance.
Call 800.403.2405 to Have an Expert from GoSkate.com Come Help You.
2. – Mastering The Basics
2.1.- Standing on the Board
2.1A Front Foot
- Determine which foot will be your front foot. Most people use their least dominant foot for the front.
-“Goofy footed” means the right foot is placed down first while the left foot pushes the skateboard forward.
-“Regular footed” means your left foot is the front foot as the right foot pushes.
Fun Fact #1
Why the name goofy?
-The stance names originated from surfing. The name Goofy is believed to be born out of the 1937 Disney cartoon, Hawaiian Holiday; a film in which Goofy goes surfing with his right foot first – hence the name – Goofy.
Don’t worry- there’s nothing goofy about riding this way!
2. Place the front foot on the board. Place it within the green area below:
The front foot has a 45-degree angle which will most adequately prepare skaters for learning to ride. A front foot perpendicular to the edge of the board is also acceptable.
Do not put your back foot on the board first!
2.1B- Back Foot Placement
- Place the back foot on the four screws (bolts), the green area, of the back of the skateboard. The back foot should be perpendicular to the board’s edge. Toes will face the edge.
2. Slowly slide the back foot to the skateboard’s tail while keeping a center of balance between both feet. The back foot will stay perpendicular to the side of the skateboard as shown in the photo above.
Notice the toes of both feet face the edge. The front foot may be slightly angled, as well.
3. – Start Pushing
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How to Unblock Skateboarding Games at School
Your school has blocked access to games on computers, but you want to play these games anyways. There are a few options to outsmart the school’s software and get these games working!
Here are some of the ways to play skateboarding games at school:
-
Use a Proxy Server.
A proxy server will allow you to encrypt the URLs of the games you are visiting and allow you to visit sites that are currently blocked. As long as your school hasn’t blocked proxies, you should be able to access nearly any blocked website or game when you use a proxy. Here are some proxies which you should try:
https://www.hidemyass.com/proxy
2. Try an Unblocked Game.
Only an iota of skateboarding games can be accessed on school computers. Some of the URLs have been changed or the games have been made to “trick” game blocking software.
Here are some free online games to try:
Sewer Skater: https://sites.google.com/site/unblockedgames4me/sewer-skater
Skateboard City: http://www.espn.com/free-online-games/sports/action/_/gid/89/skateboard-city
Skateboard City 2: http://www.surfertoday.com/games/skateboard-city-2
Energy Skate Park: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park-basics/latest/energy-skate-park-basics_en.html
Keep in mind: game blocking software varies from school to school. Some or all of these games may work for you. If you get bored of the above, go ahead and try more games below:
Other Skateboarding Games: http://skateboarding-games.weebly.com/
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Death of Skate? – The Declining Popularity of Skateboarding
by Susan Mann
It’s a sad reality to confront. There are signs the popularity of skateboarding is declining:
RIP Skateboarder Magazine
- Fewer people are looking for skateboards and skate parks online than ever before, as shown by the fact that skateboarding searches on Google are decreasing.
- Industry studies show skateboarding involvement is down for nearly every age group, including the youth.
- Participation in skateboarding has declined. In the past ten years, parks are less crowded than they have ever been.
- Skateboarding companies are closing.
Skateboarding is definitely in a slump. Although the following data is depressing, and we are greatly concerned about skateboarding, this is not the first time skateboarding has been hit with a decline. Skateboarding faced a crash in popularity in the 1970s, when skate park construction halted and parks closed. Rising insurance costs and declining attendance were blamed for causing the ”˜70’s crash. Similarly, the Great Recession of 2008 unquestionably hit the industry hard.
Is skateboarding dying? To get a clear picture of how grim the current stats are, let’s look at the data from Google.
The following graphs show the total number of searches:
Google Searches for “Skateboards” have Fallen Steadily.
Source: Google Trends 2017.
The number of searches for “skateboards” online has dropped at a relatively slower rate. This slower rate of decline may be due to the rise of skateboard e-commerce.
Google Searches for “Skateboard Parks” are Dying.
(Google searches for “skateboard parks” from 2004-2017.)
Google searches for “skate parks” from 2004-2017 dropped over 85% and might indicate fewer people are skateboarding. The Skate Park of Tampa saw a 38% decrease in skate sessions between 2004 and 2012.
Fewer people are going to skateboard park site directories. Skatepark.com and SkateboardPark.com have seen declining traffic since 2013 according to Compete.com.
Google Searches for “Skateboarding” Dropped 90%.
(Google searches for “skate parks” from June 2004 -2017. The precipitous drop ended and stabilized in 2013. )
Skateboarding searches fell 90% based on information from Google.
Participation in Skateboarding Has Declined Also
Participation numbers are suffering. Fewer skaters are going to the skatepark than in recent times. In the seven years between 2006 and 2014, the number of skateboarding participants aged between six and 17 years decreased from 8.75 million to less than four million. Youth participation dropped 50% in the last seven years.
Surveys, conducted by the skateboard and action sports market in the past few years, show a similar narrative. The number of youth participants in the United States decreased by almost 6 million participants between 2006 and 2014.
Industry Surveys Show Youth Participation has Dropped by Almost 6 Million.
| Year | Participants (in millions) | Annual Percentage Drop |
| 2006 | 8.75 | |
| 2007 | 5.78 | -44% |
| 2008 | 5.47 | –5.40% |
| 2009 | 4.97 | -9.20% |
| 2010 | 4.38 | -12.12% |
| 2011 | 3.74 | -15.62% |
| 2012 | 3.8 | 1.60% |
| 2013 | 3.48 | -9.43% |
| 2014 | 3.29 | -5.46% |
| 2015 | 3.08 | -6.49% |
Total Drop (2006-2015) |
-64.80% |
(Source: Statista.com, 2017)
In the seven years between 2006 and 2014, the number of skateboarding participants aged between six and 17 years decreased from 8.75 million to less than four million.
A similar trend is happening with snowboarding, skateboarding’s step-child; Google searches have dropped 90%. Burton, a developer of snowboarding products, is struggling to break out of just appealing to snowboarders and become a popular lifestyle brand.
Contest participation levels have also dropped. On the other hand, scooter use is rising.
Scooters are taking over the skate parks.
Some refute all evidence of the decline in skateboarding, although most agree on one thing — the increasing visibility of scooters at skate parks. Many skaters are taking out their frustrations on scooters in websites like Skateboard-City.com and SkatersCafe.com, where most complain about getting snaked by scooters or increasing crowds. Skaters, of the late 1990’s saw the death of rollerblading, and many thought the same demise would return to scootering. It has not yet happened.
Scooters are swarming local skate parks – more than ever before. The youth play on scooters while millennials and generation x’ers have stuck with skateboarding. It also seems fewer people are starting skateboarding than ever before.
Scooter use is hurting the skateboard industry. The youth are choosing scooters over skating.
Interestingly enough, scooters are more popular in Europe than America. Spain, Switzerland, and France are experiencing a larger scooter boom. The interest, measured by search frequency, shows Western Europeans search for “freestyle scooters” at nearly ten times the rate as Americans.
Scoot Fest is dubbed as one of the largest, annual scooter events and takes place yearly in United Kingdom. It lasts two days and draws visitors and sponsors from around the world. A media company, Scoot Mag, is one of the leading scooter publications online and in the newsstand and is headquartered in UK. Despite this, the X-Games woefully partnered with Razor Scooters in 2012 and introduced “freestyle scootering” into X-Games events.
Skateboarding’s Trouble on Wall Street
Sadly, the drop in interest in skateboarding has had a ripple effect on the skate industry.
If any company could by in financial trouble, the last corporation to come to mind, might be DC Shoes. DC, purchased by Quicksilver, has taken a tumultuous turn–Quicksilver ousted CEO, Andy Mooney, and declared chapter 11 bankruptcy. Since then, Quicksilver (ZQK), hasn’t maintained enough value to remain on the New York Stock Exchange, and it was delisted at the end of 2015.
Quicksilver isn’t alone. PACSUN (PSUN), known for its iconic skate and surf apparel, filed bankruptcy, and was delisted from NASDAQ in 2016. Zumiez (ZUMZ) finished 2016 with profits which fell 50% from the prior year. Skate and snowboard apparel companies are now looking overseas for growth.
Converse, Nike, and Adidas now entered the skateboard market, yet for most industry players, they wouldn’t necessarily call Converse an action sports brand. Same goes for Nike which continues to move into action sports with skateboarding (and owning Converse), and surfing (and owning Hurley). Nike abandoned snowboarding and skiing in 2014 due to declining sales. Nike’s skateboarding team retains big names, Eric Koston and Paul Rodriguez, so it is unlikely we will see Nike SB’s demise soon.
Private indoor skate parks have seen many casualties. Vans Skate Parks had closed locations in Ontario CA, Morristown NJ, Denver CO, Milpitas CA, Potomac VA, Houston TX, Novi MI, and Orlando FL. Vans had a claim to the largest indoor parks in the country. Skaters drove hours to skate the awe-inspiring terrain. Public skate park construction simultaneously boomed and likely hurt Van’s admissions.
Chris Overholser, a Vans spokesperson said, “If kids have a choice of skating in a free municipal park or paying $7 or so a session to skate in ours, they’re going to go to the free park,”
Skateboarding Companies Are Closing
CCS, Zumiez, and local skate shops may have been impacted by the downturn.
The list of casualties is long: CCS, 411VM, Digital, Fuel TV, Aesthetics, City Skateboards, Skateboarder Magazine, Arcade, and Vehicle Skateboards are all gone. Hundreds of local skate shops have closed their doors. ZERO and Fallen are suffering from the downturn, and Dwindle recently swooped in to save them. Jamie Thomas said about the skateboard depression, “Skateboard sales have been sucking this year.”
Chris Nieratko, owner of NJ Skateshop, remarked about the industry on ESPN, “I own three NJ Skateshop stores in New Jersey and this past Holiday season was our worst in seven years. I have friends across the country that have owned skate shops three times as long and they’re saying the same thing.”
Pro Skateboarders like Tony Hawk, Greg Lutzka, and Dan Murphy, have recently seen sponsors either reduce their salaries or say their farewell due to the bad economy
At the beginning of the decade of 2000, skateboarding was extremely popular. In fact, were more Americans skateboarding in 2000 than playing baseball. In 2001, teenagers were watching more action sports than college football and basketball.
This led to the creation of a promising skate, surf, and snow channel, Fuel TV, that helped people stay connected to action sports, including skateboarding, nearly 24/7 on their cable box. Its birth by FOX in 2003 was unprecedented exposure for skateboarding, although it lasted less than ten years before capitulating to the ever-growing interest in UFC fighting. Fuel canceled all skate shows to make room for more UFC shows.
Action sports are now becoming less valued by teenagers.
Volcom, skate, swimwear, snowboarding outfitter, who bills itself as “a creative modern lifestyle brand” and Quicksilver have fallen dramatically as a “most preferred” brand among 13-25-year-olds as indicated by the North American Youth Culture Studies for both Spring and Fall.
What are the Ramifications?
Let’s be clear; this is not easy news to swallow. We are not here to dig the grave for skateboarding, but to shed light on its status in order to turn it around.
Limited to America, the downward trend happening for almost a decade now is not present in parts of Europe, Japan, and China. Asia remains a flourishing market. The world’s largest skate park opened in China and skate shops are quickly multiplying.
However, in the U.S., a lack of popularity means fewer dollars in skateboarding, lower salaries for pros, and hurting skate shops. A reduction in demand will likely have a domino effect on much of the action sports industry.
The silver-lining is not everyone is suffering.
Vans hit a record-breaking milestone, $2 billion in revenue in 2015, which is a huge leap from the $320 million it grossed 10 years ago. Vans has been diversifying their portfolio, expanding globally, and penetrating the surf market.
Street League Skateboarding continues to grow as it expands internationally through a partnership with FOX Sports 1. The league is the first time skateboarding has had year-round contest exposure on television. Street League has added a women’s league to appeal to a larger market.
So long as skateboarding remains viable as an industry within the United States, it will remain viable as an industry in other countries as well. The United States is not just the birthplace of skateboarding; it is also its driving force in the world. The American skateboarding industry is built on genuine interest and, while this might have declined, it remains significant.
Positive Trends in Skateboarding in the Last Twenty Years
Any discussion of the future of skateboarding, should begin with a look of the positive trends of the past. In the last twenty years, we have seen skateboarding:
- The rise of decent skate parks
- Creation of clothes, shoes, and accessories specifically for skaters
- Skateboarding moving everywhere, not just California, but all over the U.S. and in Europe
- The presence of skate videos readily available on the Internet
- Skating became cool to the public
- Skateboarding has become more positive and democratic, and kinder – the environment
Coming back soon?
The Resiliency of Skateboarding
Skateboarding bounced back from a dive in the late 1980’s, so it’s resiliency proves it can thrive again. There are significant signs that skateboarding will not only survive, but increase in popularity.
Emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and South America are likely to prove fertile grounds for future skate booms. In major nations, such as Russia, India and Brazil, interest in skateboarding is far more stable and not yet showing signs of meaningful decline.
Additionally, there are ways to that those who love skateboarding can encourage and improve interest in the sport.
Show the benefits of skateboarding, among them:
- Skateboarding provides participants with fun, adventure, and confidence.
- Skateboarding rules are minimal and, thus, skateboarding allows self-expression.
- Skateboarding builds individual self-confidence.
Interest in skateboarding can bounce back by encouraging young women to participate in the sport, offering more classes at skateboard parks, and continuing to increase the appeal of skateboarding clothing and accessories to those who are not participants in the sport.
There is a culture associated with skateboarding, one that has not always had a positive image. It is important that going forward, all of us involved with the skateboarding industry create a universally positive image of the sport.
In August of 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted unanimously to include skateboarding in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. The emerging ”˜90s punk scene and the 1995 X-Games saved skateboarding in the ”˜90s – Will the Olympics be skateboarding’s “saving grace?”
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Win an All-Expenses Paid Skate Trip to San Diego with Killian Martin
The trip includes ALL of your travel costs in San Diego, California. This is a one day trip. It cover EVERYTHING including your food.
Includes a FREESTYLE SKATE LESSON with Killian Martin
Who is Killian Martin?
Kilian Martin is arguably the most unique individual style in skateboarding. Some might call it freestyle, others might say he skates like Rodney Mullen. What ever you believe, Kilian calls it skateboarding, because that’s exactly what it is.
See the Contest
Ways to Enter The Contest.
There are three ways to enter the Killian Martin Contestâ„¢ and our two all-new bonuses this week.
- If you’re NOT a GoSkate.comâ„¢ student yet: Submit an entry form on this website before Friday, November 30th at midnight Eastern.
- If you’re already a GoSkate.comâ„¢ student: Do NOTHING. You are already will be automatically entered FIVE times!
- Share this contest on your website or Facebook: Share this contest on Facebook or your website for EXTRA chances before Friday, November 30th at midnight Eastern. Every share will count as an entry.
I WANT TO ENTER THE KILLIAN MARTIN CONTEST!
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How to Find a Good Skateboard for Kids
Skateboardforkids.com is your best choice for buying a beginner’s skateboard. Their goal is #1 simplicity, and #2 quality, and all the while, we keep the skateboarding equipment and skateboards inexpensive.
All of the kids skateboards they sell are tested and tried by skateboarders around the country, and we bring the best – “The Goskate Board” here for your convenience. The best part is that you don’t have to pay the prices you’ll find in many skate shops – When comparing value for value, Skateboardforkids.com is your best choice.
Whether you are the skateboarder, or you are purchasing a skateboard for a new skateboarder, the types of skateboards offered on their site always have the most aspects of beginner skateboarding in mind: Reliability; Safety; and Performance. These details coupled with the stylish designs of their boards, and the valuable free instruction we provide with each purchase, makes Skateboardforkids.com the only visit you need to make.
Biggest Mistake: Compromising Quality For Price
We recommend a skateboard set that they have determined to work most suitably for children based on the price and quality of the board and equipment, and you can be sure that every skateboard they sell is offered because their experienced team of professionals have tested and recommended them.
Helmet, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads – You Need Them
Another thing to remember when looking for a beginner skateboard is the protective gear. Safety equipment is probably the most important part of any new skater’s outfit. The safety gear is what will give the child the confidence he or she needs to try new tricks. Our “Timesaver Beginner’s Package” can take the extra time out of buying skateboards and skateboarding helmets and pads. Each package contains high quality elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards, combined with a top quality skateboard helmet, and board, so instead of driving around to buy a beginner’s skateboard, you can do all of the work in a few minutes online..
Why do we mainly recommend fully assembled boards? Because we know that novice skateboarders need to develop their style and preferences, so instead of making the tough decisions of what kind of skateboard bearings, wheels, and trucks to purchase, you can believe in our expertise and get the complete kids skateboard here with the belief that you have everything you need to get started skateboarding.
What’s Wrong With Walmart Boards?
Many new skateboarders and their parents will shop for the first board at Walmart, Target, or a similar store. These boards have lower quality bearings, making the board “slow”, and making the learning experience more difficult. The boards are often made of inferior material that is likely to crack or break soon after your purchase, so instead of saving money, the replacement cost makes the decision more expensive.
The “Goskate Board” is made of American Maple, and is guaranteed to hold up and perform. The bearings and trucks are top quality, so the result is an exceptional board, at a very low price!
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Watch This 22 Month Old Skating Toddler Who is Raising Eyebrows Worldwide
This skateboarding toddler is gaining an international reputation for his skills after just a few months on the board.
Wyatt, only 22 months old, has been learning to skate alongside his three siblings at the Young Gun Skate School afterschool care programme in Auckland.
Instructor Simon Thorp said Wyatt “pretty much learnt to skate and walk at the same time”.
Wyatt has been building an international reputation through videos of his skills on the board.
The boisterous kid has already mastered some of the basics. “There’s five-year-old kids that can’t even do that.”
Wyatt began attending the skate sessions in a stroller and was soon “chasing skateboards everywhere”.
“It’s like he wants to learn how to skate, you can tell him to do something and he’ll try do it. He’s funny, he’ll just keep trying till he gets it.”
The videos of Wyatt’s antics have caught the attention of skateboarding enthusiasts around the world. Thorp estimated there had been some 5 million views all told.
“He’s definitely got a following now, yeah.”
Claims that Wyatt is the world’s top skateboard toddler are “nothing factual”.
“But he could well be, he probably is.”
The school doesn’t normally teach children as young as Wyatt.
Thorp has been running Young Guns Skate School for the past six years, teaching some 80 children during lunch time lessons, three after school groups and a holiday program.
“It’s huge, skate parks are the new playgrounds.
“Basically we just teach kids skateboarding, and promoting safety responsibility, and respect, and having fun on the skateboard.”
Skating is a confidence building exercise for the children who learn, Thorp said.
“A lot of the kids pick up friends from it as well”¦ some kids go from being quite shy to being quite, you know, loud little things.”
If young Wyatt is anything to go by, it seems he is right.
“There’ll be more coming up soon too.”
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