Ever felt like a conspicuous beginner at the skate park, tripped by a pebble or awkwardly practicing ollies, wishing you were invisible? Well, you’re about to chuck that feeling and trade it in for something much cooler! This isn’t just about transforming your image to not look like a beginner, but learning how to shred the pavement like you were born on a board. In this post, I’ll spill the beans on consistent posture and balance, creating a killer skate line, loosening your trucks, and picking up crucial acts like stop, push, put down, and pick your board!
Do you want to skate like you know your game?
To shed that beginner skater aura, the journey starts with focusing on a blend of poise, precision, and technique—a finesse that’s borne out of practice and a gnawing love for the sport. Proper technique not only enhances the style of your moves but also pitches your confidence towards the stratosphere.
But just like working on a new piece of music or a dope piece of graffiti, getting the lay of the land first will save a lot of faceplants and frustrations later. Seasoned skaters tell you, ‘chill; it’ll come with time! But there’s more—a method to that madness or something like that! I’ve compiled a list of five things you need to focus on.
Some might contradict everything you know about skateboarding, but it’s the stuff you wouldn’t want to miss for a world.
Bones REDS Skateboard Bearings
- High-speed
- Pre-lubricated
- Inexpensive
I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
10 Tips on How to Not Look Like a Beginner Skater
While everyone has to start somewhere, there are ways to fast-track your journey and blend in with the more experienced skaters at the park. Here are ten tips to help you avoid common rookie mistakes and confidently carry yourself on four wheels.
1. Nail the posture and balance
All the viral skating fails have one common trait: wonky balance. How do you not fall flat? Get your posture and balance on point. The stance is probably your first hello to the skateboarding world, so it should scream a mix of style and stability. Skating with a distinctly awkward stance is like riding around with a giant neon sign saying, ‘Hey, I’m a noob!’. Not the vibe we’re going for, are we?
Your posture determines how well you take to the flow of the ride. If you’re deliberately perched on your board, it’s a visible roadblock in your path to some serious shredding. Lock down a solid stance, with your feet roughly on the bolts of your skate, your head held high, and your way collecting all your focus.
Your eventual goal is to ace a low center of gravity with your knees bent; that’s when you roll like a pro. Start by taking your skateboard to the streets, riding uneven surfaces, and dodging the cracks and pebbles. Before you know it, you’ll be ollie-ing over obstacles like a boss.
2. Create a line that you skate
Okay, so you’re reasonably comfortable with basic tricks, but where’s the style? Where’s that flow? Conquer a unique street line that’s unmistakably yours! This is a surefire recipe to add some creative variety to your skating. The goal isn’t to go from Point A to Point B; it’s about seamlessly combining your tricks into a sweet-flowing run.
Risking the overuse of the term, a killer line is like the chorus of your favorite song; it’s where the magic happens. How do I get there? Start small and nail a simple string of movements, adding unique elements as you get comfortable. Remember, it’s about adding more personality to your skate line than just ticking off a list of tricks.
Even carving left and right and throwing in an occasional ollie can make a solid statement if you maintain flow. Gradually, your line will become this living entity, cherishing older tricks while adding new, exhilarating ones. It pretty much becomes your skating signature!
3. Loosen your trucks
Loosening your trucks might seem sketchy advice, but it’s an underutilized trick to add more flow to your riding. Sure, you risk the dreaded wheel bite, and it’s tougher to balance, but hey, no gain without a bit of pain, right? Besides, we’re in this to brush off the beginner vibe, and with skating, that usually requires taking the road less trodden.
Looser trucks will make your skateboarding style seem more fluid. Yes, it’ll take a session or two to get used to, so keep your patience hat on! Overall, it’s an opportunity to work on your balance and precision, which will elevate your skateboarding style. If you constantly feel like you’re falling off your skateboard, it’s a clear sign to loosen those trucks.
4. Master the stop, push, put down, and pick up
These basic maneuvers should be your bread and butter before you get onto the ollies and kickflips. They might sound super basic, but stopping, pushing, putting down, and picking up your skateboard gracefully can give you an air of confidence that tricks can’t. It goes a long way toward improving your board control and, in the long run, your progression in skateboarding.
The critical thing about these maneuvers is the pace—like they say, slow and steady wins the race. Nail down the basics, and once you’ve cooked up enough confidence on the board, start to speed things up a bit. Whether trying to outrun the board speed or looking cool when picking it up, a well-executed basic maneuver can make a lot of difference. It’s a must-do on your journey to stardom!
5. Engage with the community
Here’s an extra one for good measure! Avoid the lone wolf approach and engage with the skating community. Trust me, it can be an enriching experience beyond measure! Break your bubble, see different styles, and benefit from others’ experiences. Sharing a skate park with others is an underrated aspect of learning to skate.
This doesn’t mean you have to jump headfirst into the depths of skate culture if you don’t want to. Sometimes, simply being around people progressing in their journey of skateboarding can be incredibly inspiring. Plus, the skateboarding community is tight and always willing to lend a helping hand or a useful tip. So, don’t hesitate! Engage, watch, learn, and improve!
6. Embrace your fear
Push past your comfort zone. It’s easy to get comfortable doing the same tricks repeatedly. But remember, growth happens when you venture into the unknown. A trick that scares you today might be your go-to move tomorrow. Lessons learned from failure are usually the ones that stick.
Overcoming fear requires mental strength. Take small steps. Visualize yourself nailing the trick. Most importantly, handle failure with grace. Every fall brings you one step closer to nailing that technique.
3. Practice makes perfect
No surprise here, but practice is key to banishing beginner vibes. Stay consistent. Schedule your skateboarding sessions regularly.
Skateboarding is just as much about muscle memory as it is about technique. Consistent practice will make your movements smoother, hence improving your overall style. Lastly, remember to be patient and persistent; mastery takes time.
3. Stay healthy
Like any physical activity, maintain your health. Stretch before and after every session to avoid injuries. Include exercises that strengthen your core and legs. A good health regimen helps improve your balance and agility on the board. A well-rested and well-nourished body can learn and adapt faster than a neglected one.
4. Experiment with styles
Don’t stick to just one type of skateboarding. Try stepping outside your usual routine and experimenting with street, park, or vertical skating styles. Each style has unique moves and techniques that enhance your overall skills. Who knows? You might love vert skating after being a hardcore street skateboarder or something like that!
5. Invest in quality gear
Last but not least, having the right gear matters. A quality board and shoes can improve your control and ease of motion. This makes learning and practicing tricks smoother and safer.
Gear suited to your skating style and preferences can significantly enhance your overall experience and progression rate. Remember, the best board isn’t expensive, but it fits your comfort and needs the best!
Free Download: My 20 Essential Skateboard Tricks PDF
Sign up to receive my 20 Flatground Tricks Checklist—a systematic approach to tracking and landing flatground tricks.
My journey to enhance my skateboarding style
Being relatively new to skateboarding, the journey to carving out my style has been one of continual learning and first-hand experiences. There have been nerve-wracking times, head-scratching moments, and obviously, a lot more embarrassing falls than I’d have preferred!
I realized that every skater’s journey to finding their style was like writing their novel, unwritten by anyone else, including someone with as much clout as Nigel Houston. My skating style isn’t going head-to-head with the most celebrated pros on the block. But it reflects my learning curve and the obstacles I’ve managed to skate past, literally and figuratively.
“Every skater’s journey to finding their style is like writing their own novel, unwritten by anyone else.”
It’s a journey, and with every trick nailed and the balance not lost, I understood how much my style was intertwined with my journey, starting from being a beginner to not merely “not looking” like one but quite genuinely skating as I own it!
Advantages and disadvantages of improving skateboarding style
Improving your skateboarding style has its perks and drawbacks. Your skating style reflects your skills, personality, and creativity. It adds uniqueness to your gameplay, ultimately setting you apart from the crowd. But let’s deeply dive into this mission’s advantages and flip side.
Advantages
- Self-expression: Skating style is a creative outlet that reflects your personality and individuality on the course.
- Boosts confidence: Nailing tricks with style naturally increases your confidence on the board.
- Enhances skill: Focusing on style helps improve balance, control, and technique.
Disadvantages
- Can hamper the learning pace: Beginners obsessed with style may overlook the importance of nailing the basics first.
- Risk of injuries: Trying to add style to maneuvers before getting them right can increase the risk of injuries.
- May promote unhealthy competition: The desire to outstyle peers may sometimes promote unhealthy competition among skaters.
If you are a visual learner, check out the video below from YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You might still question improving your skateboarding style and shedding that beginner aura. Let’s tackle some commonly asked queries to clear the air.
Can I improve my style without mastering all the tricks?
Absolutely! Your skateboarding style is not about the array of tricks you can pull off; instead, it’s how you execute the ones you know. Even a simple ollie can be your statement if done with a unique style and flow. For more details on mastering tricks, check out my previous post.
Does skateboarding style differ based on the type of skateboarding?
Yes, different styles of skateboarding, be it street, park, or vert, have distinct styles. Each type’s environmental factors, maneuvers, and techniques contribute to the varied styles.
How long does it take to develop my style?
There’s no hard-and-fast rule to this. Some may find their style after a few months, while others may take years. It largely depends on the time you invest, your willingness to experiment, and your perception of skateboarding as an art form or something like that!
Final thoughts
Finding your skateboarding style holds a charm beyond just not looking like a beginner. Style isn’t about being superior or about overpowering someone else’s game. It’s about showcasing personality while nailing the tricks. The journey to finding your skating style is no bed of roses, but the result is incredibly rewarding, transforming your time on the board into an extension of yourself—a rhythmic play of passion!
Are you ready to hit the park and start carving out your style? And did I cover everything you wanted to know? In the comments section below, I read and reply to every comment. If you found this article helpful, share it with your skate buddy, and don’t forget to check out my full blog for more tips and tricks on skateboarding. So keep pushing, keep rolling, and, as always, stay stoked!
Key takeaways
This blog post aims to guide beginner skaters through improving their skateboarding style. Here are some key takeaways:
- Master the art of posture and balance to enhance your on-board control.
- Try new tricks, create a unique line, and inject your style into it.
- Loosening your trucks can add more control and fluidity to your movements.
- Basic maneuvers like stopping, pushing, putting down, and picking your board are as crucial as mastering tricks.
- Engage with the skateboarding community for encouragement and inspiration.
EN 
ES 
FR 
DE 
IT