How to Start Learning to Skate As an Adult

Skateboarding has never followed a set of rules, which means that at some level, an article on how to skate is likely to challenge its countercultural roots. And while it has boosted the global community, ice skating is a solo sport, which is probably why it became the new adult entertainment during the pandemic.

As someone who grew up in figure skating, I was amused by several recent stories written by guys who, in their 30s, went to a skate park for the first time to escape the loneliness that is engulfing the pandemic. Watching adults learn to turn, ollie, and walk on a ramp is a funny sign of society’s collective unease during COVID, but I salute everyone who jumped on the board because they rightly thought skateboarding would be an outlet for adventure.

Here’s how you might learn to skate as an adult. Just don’t be surprised when you go to the skatepark and be surrounded by children who are cutting much harder than we ever have.

Buy actual board

A complete skateboard consists of several parts: a taped skate deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and possibly risers to cushion your metal trucks hitting the board. There are also eight bolts and locknuts to secure the trucks to the wooden deck.

Don’t skimp on buying a real board – you really don’t need something from Walmart (or any other big box retailer) made of crappy wood, and trucks of flimsy metal. Unlike learning how to play drums or another instrument, you are not looking for low-quality equipment when you start out because cheap things can make it easier for you to self-harm.

I would recommend putting on a mask and heading to your local skate shop and asking the people who work there what you should get. But in reality, if you buy your board and accessories from legitimate manufacturers, you are in good shape. When you buy a board, there are many great – even iconic – legacy companies: Flip, Baker, Element, Girl, Toy Machine, and Enjoy (among many others) are great options.

It’s the same with trucks and wheels. Companies like Independent, Venture, and Tensor (among others) are good options for trucks, while wheels from Spitfire, Pig, Bones, and many others should interest you. You will find a crossover when it comes to companies that make skateboards as well as other products – sometimes companies that make boards also make wheels, but usually truck companies focus solely on that.

The main point I’m trying to do is trust the name brands. Companies that make legal boards and merchandise almost always sponsor professional skaters, make skateboard videos, and make their own clothing. You can tell the difference between a real skateboard and an imitation one pretty quickly if you become familiar with authentic skateboarding products.

Find a comfortable ski spot and move on

Don’t expect to be walking down the hills like an animal just yet (but if you want to take inspiration from someone who does just that,look no further ). What you need to do is find a pleasant, indulgent environment to collect your first bruises. I was lucky that I grew up in a dead end that allowed me to wander around without fear of colliding with a car, but you probably don’t have that luxury.

Find an outdoor tennis or basketball court to learn to push, pivot, and ollies. You want a smooth surface that is easy to move on. Get familiar with the feel of the board underfoot and trust your instincts when it comes to learning new tricks. Once you are more comfortable and able to trust your balance, you will likely begin to develop your taste for tricks and obstacles.

Writer Steve Russo , who took up skateboarding during the pandemic, recommends setting low expectations and forgiving yourself for the cool curriculum that comes with the sport.

“Just go at your own pace,” he says. “Celebrate whenever you learn something new, no matter how insignificant or unimpressive you think it is compared to ‘real’ skateboarders.”

Be inspired

Much of the creative impulse in this sport comes from energizing other skaters. Skateboarding videos introduce a vast canon of styles to identify with and also provide important lessons in the history of the sport. When it comes to drawing inspiration, Rousseau puts it this way:

Just watch a bunch of skate videos! There are so many different styles, vibrations and ways of riding – find one that you like. Don’t look at skating as a set of tricks that you want to learn, but as a style that you want to emulate.

With all that said, there really is no “right” way to learn how to bet. Just understand that you will fall frequently, but this is part of the process, even for the most experienced skaters. The bottom line is, if you have a board, place it on the sidewalk and move from there.