Skate Punk culture is in full bloom, and there are skate parks appearing all over the world as this sport takes on a growing popularity. We thought we had seen it peak with video games and skateboarding greats like Tony Hawk, but that was really just the beginning. Controversy surrounds it, with bumper stickers that carry such slogans as “Skateboarding Isn’t A Crime”. If you’ve never been skateboarding, get on out into the world and start learning the glories of this amazing sport. After all, if you can’t beat them, Go Skateboarding Day is your opportunity to join them.
History of Go Skateboarding Day
Skateboarding is a sport with a long history, starting off with some of the most basic of designs, wooden boxes and boards with wheels. Originally they were formed from Crate Scooters, which were pretty much exactly what they sounded like, wheels attached to a wooden crate with a pair of rudimentary handlebars. By the time the 1950’s rolled around it had taken on an indelible bond with surf culture, so much so in fact that it was called “sidewalk surfing” and the skaters of that time took to embodying surfers culture without hesitation.
The real revolution for the sport happened in the 1960’s, when skateboarding started taking on a larger and larger following. The first competition was started in 1965, and John Steverson said of this era:
Today’s skateboarders are founders in this sport—they’re pioneers—they are the first. There is no history in Skateboarding—it’s being made now—by you. The sport is being molded and we believe that doing the right thing now will lead to a bright future for the sport.
Already, there are storm clouds on the horizon with opponents of the sport talking about ban and restriction.
The sport has gotten so incredibly popular in the years that followed, and now more people under 18 have picked up the skateboard than played baseball. That’s a sport come into its prime!
Health Benefits of Skateboarding
There are some amazing health and social benefits to skateboarding that you might not know about. Not only does it help you burn calories as part of a great exercise routine, but it can also build core muscles in your legs and torso. Slaving away at the gym is so yesterday when you got a skateboard close by! Skateboarding is also an amazing stress reliever; many people who suffer from anxiety can use skateboarding to give them a sense of freedom and release. It can also keep your mind busy and encourage you to get outdoors when you aren’t in the greatest of moods.
How to Celebrate Go Skateboarding Day
Seriously, do we even need to answer this question? It’s right there in the name, get out there and grab your favorite board and Go Skateboarding on Go Skateboarding Day!
There’s a hundred million different designs, and if you’ve never gone skateboarding this is your best opportunity to start! Check out your local sports stores and find a board that really says ‘you’. Whether you prefer a longboard or a standard one, you’re going to have a great time learning how to speed through your day with this excellent sport.
If you’re a complete beginner when it comes to skateboarding, do not fear! You can hit up a whole host of handy video tutorials online. Use Go Skateboarding day as a way to kickstart a brand new hobby that you absolutely love. It takes time and practice to get up to speed with skateboarding, but don’t give up. It’s a well known fact that boards don’t cooperate in the beginning, so keep this in mind! Once you find your flow, you will soon get the hang of it. As soon as you’ve mastered the basics, you can start with the more complex tricks!
Some Cool Tricks to Try This Go Skateboarding Day
Before you try and master any grand tricks, you need to accurately learn the techniques involved in skateboarding. You need to be able to balance, push, 10 and execute positive falls. As soon as you have mastered these simple moves you can move on to the fun stuff! Here are some of the easiest but coolest skateboarding tricks you could try if you have never given it a go before:
The Kick Flip Trick
If you are a beginner this is the trick for you! This involves lifting up the wheels of your board up to 180° off the ground. You simply raise the nose of the skateboard and slip it round quickly and accurately!
The Heel Flip Trick
In this trick you raise the nose of the board with your back foot. Using your back foot to lift the face of your skateboard up from the ground as you jump; as you’re up in the air place your thumb for it on the nose of the board and flick it up. Make sure you use your feet to land straight back on the board once you have completed the flip!
The Tick Tack Trick
This is probably the first trick you should try out as a beginner. “Tick Tacking” will come naturally as soon as your balance and agility skills come into play. This move is essentially moving from side to side as the cruise along the pathway on your skateboard.
Make sure you check out some video tutorials to improve your skateboarding skills and see some of these funky tricks in action! Whether you’re just starting out or completely new, there will always be some form of skateboarding trick for you to try out.
Don’t forget to wear knee and elbow pads and a helmet, it’s Go Skateboarding Day, not Go To The Hospital Day