Lukas
Summer is here, which means it is the perfect time to take up a new outdoor hobby like skateboarding! It might not be the first sport that comes to mind, but there has never been a better time to get into skating. The hobby is being thrust into the spotlight with the upcoming Tokyo Olympics being the first Olympics to feature skateboarding as a sport, giving it even more mainstream coverage.
As well as being great fun, there are plenty of other benefits to skateboarding that you might not be aware of. But luckily, Fuzzable’s got you covered! Here are our reasons that you should give skating a go.
Socially-distant fun
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that a lot has been put on pause, including spending time with friends. But there’s no need to worry with skating: it can be as individual or as social as you like. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys your own company, skating can give you some much needed alone time. Just pop in your headphones and shred away!
However, if you’re looking for a way to spend time with friends safely, skateboarding allows you to keep your distance whilst learning new skills together! There’s no need to get too close, and it means you can have a much needed catch-up when you meet up in an outdoor area. Plus even if you have no one to learn with, you’ll soon be chatting to the other skaters at your nearest skate park. Everyone was a beginner once so don’t be intimidated, just put yourself out there and say hello! You might come away with some lifelong friends.
Regardless of your situation you can always find other beginner skater friends on the dedicated subreddit r/NewSkaters, where everyone is welcome to share their progress, ask for tips and find like minded people to chat with. Check out the wiki section for videos and tutorials for everything from assembling your first deck to perfecting your kickflips.
Exercise
To the untrained eye, a beginner skateboarder is simply standing on a board. But you might be surprised to know that learning to skate is a great workout, even when you’re not pulling off crazy tricks!
Skateboarding tones up your lower body and can really get your heart pumping when you push yourself, meaning you can definitely get a cardio workout in. You’ll definitely feel it in your legs the next day if you haven’t properly stretched before and after your session. Not only that, but a key aspect of skating is becoming aware of your centre of gravity, your balance and your core. Once you’ve caught the skating bug you’ll be coming back again and again, pushing (literally) through the aches and pains. Trust us, you’ll never skip leg day when you’re skating.
Explore your local area and beyond
Skating will encourage you to get outside. As long as the weather is nice and dry, you can pretty much skate anywhere in your area. Not only that, but skating will turn you into an urban explorer, always looking for the smoothest roads and the best obstacles to show off your latest tricks. You’ll never look at a handrail or set of stairs the same way again! When you get comfortable with skating around your neighbourhood, nothing’s stopping you from seeking out new places to skate, or ‘spots’, further from home.
You can easily incorporate skating into your daily commute to work, school or university: it’s quicker than walking and FAR more fun! Just make sure you prioritise learning how to stop safely, you don’t want to hurt yourself or others.
Life lessons
This one might sound a little out there, but hear us out.
The fact of the matter is that, especially in the beginning, you will fall off your board… more than once. But what you will learn is that it’s not about how many times you fall, it’s about how many times you get back up again. This is a lesson you can apply to other areas of your life! Just like in life, you might occasionally fall and you might gain some bruises, but they will fade and you can always get back up. Any time spent on your board is time you are learning and improving. As you become more familiar with skating and falling, you will learn how to safely roll to minimise the bumps and scrapes. Stay resilient and committed and your hard work will pay off.
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As with all other forms of exercise, skating can be a great mood-booster, especially when you make it a habit. If you’re prone to boredom during the summer holidays, skating gives you a reason to go outside, get some fresh air, see your friends, challenge yourself and get exploring! Once you’ve got the basics down, you can specialise as you see fit – whether you want to cruise around on a Penny board, carve hills on a longboard or show off your tricks in the skatepark, there is a board and style for you!
So what are you waiting for? Tighten your helmet straps, get padded up, go out there and shred!
Looking for other solo activities to do during the pandemic? Here are 10 activities you can do whilst social distancing
What do you think, are you going to take up skating? Let us know over @Fuzzable on Twitter!
