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Skateboard 101: Part 3 - Skateboard Stance
 In Skateboard 101 Part 2, we talked about skateboard style. Now I want to hit something I get a LOT of email about, and that gets you actually onto your board - your skateboard stance.
I remember back when I first started skating, one of the biggest questions I wrestled with was, which skateboarding stance am I?! Looking back it seems funny - I didn't worry so much about how to push, I was worried that somehow I had the "wrong" skateboard stance, and that this would mess up my skateboarding from here on out.
For all of you new skaters out there, don't worry about it! Relax! Picking your skateboarding stance is easy, and to be honest, you can't go "wrong". But there's probably one way that will be more natural for you. I'll start from there beginning (since this IS skate 101):
The two different ways to stand on your skateboard are - Goofy (skating with your right foot forward) and Regular (skating with your left foot forward). Here's one tricky way to figure out which stance you are. Go get a ball or something like that, and sit it on the ground in front of you. Now kick it. Whichever foot you kicked it with will likely be your back foot. You want the balancing foot in the front, and the kicking foot in the back.
Did that work for you? If you want to read a couple more clever tricks to figure out your stance, read Skateboard Stance - How to Find Your Skateboard Stance. If you have some tricks for figuring out your stance that YOU want to share, post 'em below! Skateboard 101: Part 3 - Skateboard Stance originally appeared on About.com Skateboarding on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 14:41:42. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Posted on 11 March 2010 | 9:41 am
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month!
 I look at that headline, and I think, really? An entire month dedicated to brain injury awareness? Wow. But, it DOES give me the perfect opportunity to bring up helmets!
Most of the skaters I see at my skatepark wear helmets, and even skaters who are riding around town, but I live in Oregon, where skateboarding is mostly accepted, and you do it at your own risk (no suing the city because you're an idiot and bit a curb after skating through a construction zone - it happens). So if you don't wear a helmet, and you end up donating your brains to the pavement, well ... good for you? So most kids here wear helmets.
I would like to encourage you to do the same. This is a pulpit I'm happy to preach from. If you aren't wearing a helmet because you don't want to mess up your hair, or because they're uncomfortable, then grow up! Most likely your hair looks FAR nastier than you think it does, and no one will care how nice you hair looks if you end up a vegetable. And it's VERY easy to scramble your brain - shockingly easy, in fact. Our brains are soft and vulnerable, and rumor has it they're important! Read Do I Need to Wear a Helmet? for more.
You can also read other skater's stories and post your own in how Has a Helmet Saved Your Life? Once you're convinced, check out the Top 10 Skateboard Helmets list and pick one out.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! originally appeared on About.com Skateboarding on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 15:36:38. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Posted on 9 March 2010 | 10:36 am
Skateboarding, Like Life, Requires Balance...
 Jenni wrote in and asked, "I'm just learning how to longboard and I'm finding that when I remove my back foot to push I lose balance and sometimes will fall forward a bit or to either side..." Bummer! Having poor balance makes skateboarding very tough. I think I have pretty great balance, but when I got onto my friend's Nintendo Wii balance board, it made fun of me, asking me if I have a hard time walking. Jerk machine! So how to we get better balance?
Practice!
That's the key. Like everything else in skateboarding, you just need more time doing it. But, there ARE things you can do to improve your balance.
- Cruise around more - this is the easiest, most natural fix. Ride your skateboard or longboard around, and you WILL improve your balance.
- Home balance training - things like standing on one foot with your eyes closed, for as long as you can (it's actually pretty tough!). Things like this will help improve your sense of balance, and will strengthen the little muscles that help it all happen.
- Use a balance board - the best one of these I've ever used is the Indo Board, but there are several out there. Practice on one of these while watching TV, talking on the phone, anything at all! They work wonders.
I hope this helps! If you have any ideas of your own, share them below! Skateboarding, Like Life, Requires Balance... originally appeared on About.com Skateboarding on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 19:37:25. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Posted on 6 March 2010 | 2:37 pm
The Legend of Wildredo Gomez
 HBO made a short video in their "How to Make It in America" series about legendary NYC skateboarder Wilfredo Gomez. If you haven't heard of him, Wilfredo is a possibly insane, mysterious, bigfoot-esqu, overwhelmingly talented skateboarder who haunts New York City.
The video features guys like Eric Koston, Gino Iannucci, Guy Mariano, Mark Gonzales, Andrew Reynolds, Heath Kirchart and many more. Here's a quote from the video from Attiba Jefferson, professional skater photographer:
"We get to the spot and Wilfredo's there and you can tell he looked a little rough from the night before... he throws up and he goes to try the trick, and on that try he makes it, and on his way back he looks at me and says: It's that easy. And from then on I knew he was the man."
The video features mature content, so you will be asked to register before viewing it. And if you are a little kid, well, ask your parents. Then leave a comment below about what you think about Wilfredo! It's funny how these guys all talk about how incredible he is, but how seriously unlikable he is ... What do you think? Have you known anyone like Wilfredo? Do you think he's even real?
The Legend of Wildredo Gomez originally appeared on About.com Skateboarding on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 14:39:29. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Posted on 3 March 2010 | 9:39 am
Skateboard 101: Part Two - Skateboard Style
 On Skateboard 101: Part One, we talked about Skateboard Slang. Now we're trying to tackle an even harder topic - Skateboard Style. Skateboard style is a strange thing to talk about. No matter how much I think that people should just wear what they want to, we all know that skateboarding has its own "style".
But not all skaters dress alike - not at all! I like my clothes baggy and sloppy, while some guys wear pants that are so tight, I don't think they'll be able to have children. But still, between these two extremes, you can still tell most skaters on sight, can't you?
Again, just like with Part One, I'm not trying to tell you how to pretend to be a skater. In fact, I'm not trying to tell you how to dress at all! But, I get a good amount of e-mail from new skaters who really want to blend in with the skater crowd, and who don't know what to do. For some of us, fasion just doesn't come naturaly! So, for skaters like this, I have As a Skater, How Should I Dress? Read it, and see what you think. And if you have anything to add to the conversation about skateboard style and fasion, write a comment below!
Skateboard 101: Part Two - Skateboard Style originally appeared on About.com Skateboarding on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 17:07:58. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Posted on 1 March 2010 | 12:07 pm
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Posted on 12 March 2010 | 5:08 am
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