I Learned to Drop In on a Half-Pipe in 30 Minutes
The Secret is to Stomp, Not to Step
The thought of “dropping in” on a skateboard ramp was terrifying. My instinct was to step on the board cautiously. This was wrong, and it caused me to fall every time. An experienced skater gave me the secret: you don’t step, you stomp. He told me to put my back foot on the tail, my front foot over the bolts, and then, with all my weight, slam my front foot down onto the board with aggressive commitment. The decisive, forceful motion is what keeps the board glued to your feet. The moment I started stomping, I was rolling away successfully.
The Secret to a Higher Ollie Is Not in Your Feet
It’s All in the Jump
I was practicing my ollies for months but could barely get the board off the ground. I was so focused on the flick of my front foot. I was completely missing the most important part: the jump itself. I started practicing by just jumping as high as I could on flat ground, bringing my knees to my chest. Then, I tried to replicate that exact same explosive upward jump on my skateboard. Suddenly, the board had room to come up with me, and my ollies were twice as high.
How to Build a Grind Rail for Your Driveway for $20
The Hardware Store Assembly
I wanted a rail to practice grinding on but couldn’t afford a pre-made one. I went to the hardware store and bought one long, steel pipe, two shorter pieces for the feet, and four elbow joints. I didn’t need a welder. I just screwed all the pieces together by hand. The result was a surprisingly sturdy, portable, and perfect-height grind rail that I had assembled in my driveway in about five minutes for less than $20.
I Restored a Waterlogged Skateboard Deck and It Worked
The Clamps and the Fan
I accidentally left my favorite skateboard out in the rain, and it became a soggy, warped, heavy mess. I thought it was ruined. As a last-ditch effort, I brought it inside and placed it between two flat boards. I then used several C-clamps to press the whole sandwich together tightly, forcing the warped deck back into its original shape. I aimed a fan at it for two days. When I took the clamps off, the deck was dry, stiff, and perfectly flat again.
The Most Common Mistake When Learning to Kickflip
Your Shoulders are the Problem
My board would always fly out in front of me when I tried to kickflip. I was focused on my feet, but the problem was my shoulders. Without realizing it, I was opening my shoulders and turning my body as I flicked the board. This motion is what pushed the board away from me. I learned to consciously keep my shoulders perfectly parallel with the board throughout the entire trick. The moment I stopped rotating my body, the board started staying right underneath my feet.
Why Pro Skaters Use Such Loose Trucks
Steering From the Ankles
I used to tighten my skateboard trucks as much as I could, thinking it would make me more stable. It just made it impossible to turn. I watched pro skaters, and their trucks were incredibly loose and wobbly. I tried loosening mine, and it was a revelation. With loose trucks, I could steer the board not just by leaning, but by using subtle ankle pressure. This gave me a much greater degree of control, and it’s the secret to deep carves and flowing lines.
I Assembled a Pro-Level Skateboard for Half the Price
The Power of the Blank Deck
I wanted a professional-quality skateboard but was shocked by the price of a pro-model deck with a cool graphic. I learned that the graphic is just paint. Many companies sell the exact same high-quality maple wood decks without a graphic on them, known as “blank” decks, for less than half the price. I bought a blank deck, some pro-level trucks and wheels, and assembled a skateboard that performed identically to a top-tier pro setup for a fraction of the cost.
The Unwritten Rules of the Skatepark
Don’t Be a Snake
The first time I went to a skatepark, I was intimidated. I learned there’s a simple set of unwritten rules. The most important one is to wait your turn and don’t “snake” someone (cut them off when they are about to start their run). You watch, you wait, and you make sure your path isn’t going to intersect with anyone else’s. Understanding this simple etiquette is the key to having a safe and fun session and being welcomed into the community.
How to Powerslide to a Stop (And Look Cool Doing It)
The 90-Degree Push
I needed a way to stop my skateboard quickly besides just dragging my foot. I learned the powerslide. The secret is to shift your weight onto your front foot, and then use your back foot to push the tail of the board out in front of you, breaking the wheels into a slide. You turn your shoulders and hips 90 degrees to the direction you are traveling. It takes a bit of practice, but it’s the fastest way to stop and, frankly, it looks incredibly cool.
The Skateboard “Trick” That’s Actually Just Physics
The Magic of the End-Over
A fun, simple “trick” I learned is the “end-over.” You put your foot on the tail of the board and give it a sharp push down. The board pops up and then flips over end over end, landing back on its wheels. It looks like a complex trick, but it’s just simple physics. Pushing on the tail creates a lever, and the curved shape of the board’s nose is what causes it to flip over perfectly every single time. It’s a self-working trick built into the geometry of the board.