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KilaTsunami
October, 2024

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Getting started: Skateboarding

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-MK-
Posts: 3253 - Karma: 5,332
I am really interested in skateboarding. Everyone does it and I always have kind of ignored it. Recently a few of my friends started picking it up and I really would like to start but first I need your help guys.

Since NS is a large skate community you guys are perfect to ask these questions

What size deck do I need?

Whats a good starting set up that is nice and affordable?

AND, should I make a custom set up or buy a complete?

Thanks NS, you never disappoint

Jul 10 2013 3:46AM
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Peachbutt
Posts: 623 - Karma: 601
Depends. How much time you've spent, how hard you've pushed yourself, how fast you're physically able to progress. When I started I was a fatass 5th grader who skated maybe a couple hours a week and I could barely ride. My buddy who started in 8th grade and is extremely athletic and rode 20+ hours a week was hitting 4-5 stairs by the end of 3 weeks.
Aug 17 2013 12:25AM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
Threads.

I'm moving at a slow pace. I'm just starting to get close to doing fs 180's. I can do them on grass, but when I go to try them while moving my board has a spaz attack and flies away from me.
Aug 23 2013 11:34AM
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Peachbutt
Posts: 623 - Karma: 601
When spinning, focus on keeping your spin centered. Instead of just throwing yourself and the board 180, make sure you keep the board under you. The center of the spin should be in the center of the board
Aug 23 2013 10:55PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
Thanks for the advice! Tomorrow I will work on them more.
Aug 24 2013 1:33AM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
T
H
R
E
A
D
S
Aug 28 2013 2:40AM
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Filmore
Posts: 460 - Karma: 861
Im not very good, i started skating a few months ago and i just now ollied up a curb. It took forever but i was satisfied when i finally landed it
Aug 28 2013 3:24AM
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jabroni.
Posts: 662 - Karma: 235
im awful at skateboarding
ive been pushing mongo for 12 years and have no plans to do otherwise

Click for larger image

Aug 28 2013 3:44AM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
Just last week a kid came into the park I work at and asked if I could help him figure out why his board was skating so fucked up. turns out he had bought trucks at zumiez and they gave him two different sized trucks! fucking idiots..
Aug 29 2013 11:39AM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
haha oh my god.

Anyway, I'm starting to get more consistent on my ollies and I've landed only a few fs 180's, so I'm currently working on those.
Aug 29 2013 12:49PM
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Kretzschmar
Posts: 6707 - Karma: 98,278
probably gonna go buy a deck and shit from my local shop. i really want something to do in my free time haha

also, why the hate for mongo pushing, i never really understood it. is it because its a noob move or what?
Sep 12 2013 1:58PM
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
longboarders push mongo, you don't have as much control pushing mongo, its harder to push mongo around tight skate parks, the balance of mongo is sketch and may make you face plant. Mongo pushing while in switch is generally accepted though.
Sep 12 2013 4:15PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
I've been quiet for too long...WHAT THE FUCK IS PUSHING MONGO? My guess is: Pushing with your foot on the back of the board?
Sep 12 2013 8:08PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
Not back, the bottom or tail of the board.
Sep 12 2013 8:08PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Mongo is pushing with your front foot while standing on your back. Rear steering is bad, so mongo is unstable. Imagine trying to drive you car backwards all the time. No good. It's much easier to steer and push at the same time if you're standing on your front foot and pushing with your rear, aka normally.

It's also a total n00b maneuver. Although I push mongo in switch, probably to maintain the same pushing foot. Right footed and goofy might be the issue too.
Sep 12 2013 8:58PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
I knew it. I push mongo when going switch.

Also I can now ollie much higher and consistently! Fs 180's are landed I'd say 4 out of every 5 times. I'm just starting to get bs 180's. Pop shuvits are getting better.
Sep 12 2013 9:20PM
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Kretzschmar
Posts: 6707 - Karma: 98,278
when i start to learn proper pushing, should the pad of my foot be right on the bolts or more in the middle of the board?
Sep 12 2013 9:41PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I don't think it matters, it's what you're comfortable with I guess. I believe that when I'm pushing very fast, my foot gets closer to the middle so there's less steering input. Right on the bolts should steer easiest.


Sep 12 2013 10:07PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
Totally this. I've noticed when I go fast with my foot on the front bolts my board shakes and I sometimes get unbalanced and have to step off
Sep 12 2013 10:19PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
when i go to front lip the board gets stuck and i fly away why lord why

also i cant fucking kickflip for my life, and ive been skating 11 years
Sep 12 2013 10:31PM
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Gsince93
Posts: 203 - Karma: 286
Threads
Sep 12 2013 11:22PM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
I got pretty into it last winter, then summer rolled around and I stopped, now its getting cold again and I've been going more. I think the cold makes me think I'm skiing so it's auto-fun. When I started last winter I kept track of my hours and I only saw improvements when I was logging like 2 hours a day, occasionally over 4 hours, then I splinted my shins from pushing which pretty much obliterated what momentum I'd built over a few months. Basically, I agree it's really hard.

Really important to just chill and progress naturally though. Don't expect to be doing anything besides riding for a long long time. Ride switch, push regular and mongo (helps with tendon/bone issues), practice any balancy thing that feels hard before you move into anything fancy. At least that's my plan and I found I didn't suffer all that bad by following it last time. I don't skate park, I go out at night and explore the city.

With skiing I used to aim for getting like 40 days in, so like 160-200 hours of pure skiing. Aim for triple that over your skate season, it makes you have to be consistent to keep up with the hours.

Pain... I find it hurts bad the first few times per spot then your nerves pretty quickly get ruined and falling doesn't hurt so much.

Most importantly you have to have fun most of the time, absolutely crucial, but frustration is also part of it. It's like life, you'll have good days and bad days, just keep going.
Oct 14 2013 3:09AM
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shitpoop
Posts: 667 - Karma: 1,479
I am a mongo pusher.....


Mongo: easier to learn no comply tricks, faster pushing, easier to fall when starting up/ when skating, looks bad.

Normal pushing: Steering while pushing, very stable, looks good
Oct 14 2013 11:59AM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
I now have my ollies and 180's down.

Working on a pop-shuvit. Moving pretty slow...
Oct 14 2013 1:13PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,628
(re)threads for my second attempt at learning to skate. It took me all of 45 minutes to break my arm a few months ago...
Oct 18 2013 11:01PM
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cheener12
Posts: 2881 - Karma: 5,884
andddd 9 months later I landed my first kickflip!!!!! insanely stoked right now
Oct 19 2013 2:33PM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
What ever you do break that dirty fucking habit of pushing mongo NOW!

Only retards and homosexuals push mongo. Just start pushing regular and you'll feel stupid for ever pushing mongo. First try pushing regular in your opposite stance. So if you're regular stance push regular when you're goofy or the opposite if you're goofy. Helped me pick it up a lot easier.


Oct 19 2013 2:45PM
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shitpoop
Posts: 667 - Karma: 1,479
Yeah dont worry. I can push regular now; and my switch is even better since mongo. Glad i switched over.
Oct 19 2013 2:57PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
I'm going to bump this thread because newschoolers is full of good advice. I want to get into skateboarding and after reading this thread I think I know what I want but If my foot is size 12 what size deck and is pushing a skateboard similar to pushing a cruiser?
Nov 23 2013 10:11AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
I'd recommend an 8.125 or maybe 8.25, but ideally if you should someone who has a deck and will let you borrow briefly to get a feel for the dimensions and whether or not you like them. Pushing, use your back foot so you once you're done pushing you step on and your feet are set.
Nov 26 2013 2:12AM
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Yaraelpoof.png
Posts: 1556 - Karma: 6,418
or a year
Nov 26 2013 10:14AM
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Gsince93
Posts: 203 - Karma: 286
thredz
Nov 26 2013 10:31AM
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mski
Posts: 4791 - Karma: 3,803
Shake Junt Bearings and OJ Wheels FTW
Nov 26 2013 4:01PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
What difference do bigger/smaller boards make b
Nov 27 2013 7:00PM
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shitpoop
Posts: 667 - Karma: 1,479
smaller boards = less space to land on (so if you skating a gap and a little piece of your shoe touches the ground, you'll fall), less weight
Bigger boards = more space to land on, but heavier (hard to ollie, etc)


Most people find the "perfect middle" between (rare cases) 7.75, 8 (most common and preferred) or 8.25 (rare, but more common than 7.75). Anything over 8.25 in my opinion should only be used for skating tranny since there so heavy. I skate 8 because it is the most universal size plus all the trucks on the market are easier to buy for such a widely used size, unlike 8.5, 7.75, etc.
Nov 27 2013 7:08PM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
What the previous poster said, but mainly it's just how much you like the feel. Skinnier boards technically are easier to flip since there is less weight away from the center.
Nov 27 2013 7:17PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
Alright cool. If I make my own board based on the previous recommendations what will it run me?
Nov 27 2013 7:28PM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
I think you can get a decent setup for about a hundred bucks. A blank(or shop deck) should be like 30, trucks for like 35, reds bearing for 15, and some wheels for 25. Craigslist always has people selling brand new shit for mad cheap so you could always check that too.
Nov 27 2013 7:32PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
+k man you've been super helpful
Nov 27 2013 7:39PM
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ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
I'm getting oh so close to kick flips, my front foot is being a dick and won't land back on the board
Nov 27 2013 11:12PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
SAME

and @Jokes I made my own board on skatewarehouse.com and if you build it yourself (which is super easy) it only costs like $65. It's weird it says $95 when you go to check out but after you get everything and you get the receipt it'll say -$30 because it's not put together.
Nov 30 2013 2:09PM
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Tacocat
Posts: 658 - Karma: 356
Not really. I was hyped on Reds so I bought them. Well, they broke after 1 day of skating. I probably just had bad luck, but if you're looking into other Bearings, try Independent or Flip.
Nov 30 2013 2:41PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
Alright so after a week I've gotten Ollie's semi consistently but does anyone have any advice on doing them while moving? I always slip out from my back wheel.
Jan 7 2014 2:28AM
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PizzaKid
Posts: 297 - Karma: 309
The thing that helped me to ollie while moving was to keep my body over my front foot more. So you just gotta kinda lean forward when getting down for the ollie, then you pop and slide up just like you normally would
Jan 7 2014 5:24AM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
Alright awesome thanks
Jan 7 2014 3:01PM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
Start while moving extremely slow, like just rolling even at an impractically slow speed. Slowly you can adapt to ollieing(sp?) at faster speeds. Also focus on jumping straight up still. I had this same probably and found I was leaning towards my back foot a lot and almost jumping backwards away from the way I was riding.
Jan 7 2014 8:22PM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
I'm beginning to think that I got too big of a board. Its an 8.125 for a beginner and it's not the easiest to pop. Any tips that could help me out to get more consistent good Ollie's and tips to start hitting curbs.
Jan 30 2014 1:20AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
Just keep trying. Ollie height will come with time. A lot of it has to do with timing. Slowmo YouTube vids would probably help more than me explaining the Ollie in pieces
Jan 30 2014 1:55AM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
I've watched tons I'm just kinda inconsistent. Non moving are pretty alright but when I move it's a bitch.
Jan 30 2014 2:04AM
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MilaKunis
Posts: 1480 - Karma: 3,646
Bump for my help.
Jan 30 2014 3:57PM
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